The role of NIV in chronic hypercapnic COPD following an acute exacerbation: the importance of patient selection?

ABSTRACT: Recently, clear benefits have been shown from long-term noninvasive ventilation (NIV) in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure. In our opinion, these benefits are confirmed and nocturnal NIV using sufficiently high inspiratory pressures should be considered in COPD patients with chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure in stable disease, preferably combined with pulmonary rehabilitation. In contrast, clear benefits from (continuing) NIV at home after an exacerbation in patients who remain hypercapnic have not been shown. In this review we will discuss the results of five trials investigating the use of home nocturnal NIV in patients with prolonged hypercapnia after a COPD exacerbation with acute hypercapnic respiratory fail

SUBMITTER: Duiverman ML 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5933565 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature