INTRODUCTION Nomenclature Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) refers to the provision of ventilatory support through the patient’s upper airway using a mask or similar device. This technique is distinguished from those which bypass the upper airway with a tracheal tube, laryngeal mask, or tracheostomy and are therefore considered invasive. In this document NIV refers to non-invasive positive pressur...

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the commonest indication for domiciliary non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in Europe. However, there is a paucity of evidence to support its use. A number of short-term randomised controlled trials (RCTs) failed to show any consistent benefit from NIV. In a crossover study comparing 3 months of bilevel ventilation plus long term oxygen therapy (LTOT)...

The lungs of premature infants are more vulnerable than term infants to the effects of invasive positive pressure ventilation. Published literature supporting the use of non-invasive respiratory support with CPAP, bi-level CPAP mode, such as, SiPAP and Nasal Intermittent Positive Pressure Ventilation (NIPPV), and surfactant administration strategies are discussed. This review focuses on non-inv...

Non-invasive mechanical ventilation has been increasingly used to avoid or serve as an alternative to intubation. Compared with medical therapy, and in some instances with invasive mechanical ventilation, it improves survival and reduces complications in selected patients with acute respiratory failure. The main indications are exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiogenic ...

BACKGROUND Independent bench studies using specific ventilation scenarios allow testing of the performance of ventilators in conditions similar to clinical settings. The aims of this study were to determine the accuracy of the latest generation ventilators to deliver chosen parameters in various typical conditions and to provide clinicians with a comprehensive report on their performance. MET...