1. When is non-invasive ventilation indicated? There is strong evidence that non-invasive ventilation should be used for the initial management of acute respiratory failure in patients with exacerbated COPD, acute pulmonary edema, disorders with concomitant immunosuppression as well as to facilitate extubation in patients with COPD who have failed weaning attempts[1]. In postoperative patients,...

Mild to severe respiratory dysfunction is still a common issue after cardiac surgery. Postoperative respiratory complications are associated with prolonged hospitalization and worse survival. In this high-risk surgery, non-invasive ventilation could have relevant positive effects. The present narrative concise review aims to summarize available data on the role of non-invasive ventilation befor...

Respiratory infections are the most frequent nosocomial infections after those urinaries and surgicals. We analysed respiratory infection incidences in patients treated with different kinds of respiratory assistance (non-invasive ventilation and invasive mechanical ventilation trough tracheostomy), studying 640 patients recovering in the intensive area of respiratory disease from 2010 to 2013. ...

Record keeping for patients on non-invasive ventilation (NIV) at St. Georges Hospital is poor. The initial NIV prescription is often not recorded, and changes to the NIV prescription or the rationale for the changes (ABG results) are also poorly documented. This leads to confusion for nurses/doctors as to what the correct settings are, meaning patients could receive ineffective ventilation. The...

Acute respiratory failure is a dreaded and life-threatening event that represents the main reason for ICU admission. Respiratory events occur in up to 50% of hematology patients, including one-half of those admitted to the ICU. Mortality from acute respiratory failure in hematology patients depends on the patient's general status, acute respiratory failure etiology, need for mechanical ventilat...

We hypothesised that applying the active cycle of breathing techniques (ACBT) in patients with acute hypercapnic respiratory failure undergoing non-invasive ventilation would improve patient outcome. Thirty-four patients were randomised so that 17 patients with acute hypercapnic respiratory failure received the ACBT and non-invasive ventilation (ACBT group), and 17 patients received non-invasiv...