xlung

Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) for acute respiratory failure (ARF) has its best results in patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cardiogenic pulmonary edema. In both conditions, NIV use, compared to conventional treatment, is associated with lower mortality and rate of intubation. On the other hand, the success rates of NIV in the treatment of hypoxemic ARF are much lower. Furthermore, some studies have shown that patients with hypoxemic ARF in whom NIV fails have a higher risk for death. For these reasons, although NIV is not contraindicated for these patients, it should be used cautiously.