Noninvasive ventilation in hospitalized patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
The use of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) of lungs during the last two decades significantly improved the results of management of severe COPD patients with acute or chronic respiratory failure during both periods of ex- acerbation and stability. At present, NIV is considered to be the first-line therapy for acute exacerbation of COPD with hypercapnia and respiratory acidosis. This method of airway support turned out to be effective in patients after extubation both for the relief of excommunication from a respirator and for prophylaxis and treatment of postextubation respiratory failure. NIV was proven to be successful in patients with a combina- tion of COPD and obstructive sleep apnea (overlap syndrome), in COPD with pneumonia and in postoperative COPD patients who have undergone lung resectional surgery. The efficacy of NIV under intensive care and intensive therapy unit conditions has stimulated the interest to the use of mask ventilation in hospitals and out-patient departments (for a prolonged domestic therapy). This article presents a review of NIV use in pa- tients with COPD during both periods of exacerbation and stability.