Noninvasive ventilation (NIV)
What is Noninvasive ventilation (NIV)?
Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) supports the patient’s breathing without the need for intubation or a tracheotomy. In acute settings, NIV delivers effective therapy with less risk of infection and improved survival in patients with respiratory failure1,2.
During acute decompensation of COPD, NIV can support the patient by:
- delivering the right inspiratory and expiratory pressures to support
- their individual ventilatory demands
- supporting alveolar minute ventilation
- unloading the respiratory muscles
The benefits of noninvasive ventilation
NIV is gaining acceptance around the world as the preferred choice of treatment2 over invasive ventilation and is considered standard practice for acute respiratory failure3. Suitable for patients in the hospital or the home, noninvasive ventilation:
Can help patients use more of their lung capacity. This in turn decreases the work of breathing1, which could help patients complete their daily activities.
Helps alleviate a range of symptoms. Morning headaches, daytime fatigue and shortness of breath are just some of the daytime symptoms that may occur due to low levels of oxygen or accumulated carbon dioxide. By helping to normalize CO2 and O2 levels in the body, noninvasive ventilation therapy helps relieve symptoms over time to improve the patient’s quality of life4.
May reduce time in hospital and prevent diseases from worsening. Patients treated with noninvasive ventilation therapy tend to spend less time in the hospital5. By ensuring adequate ventilation, NIV patients may be able to avoid respiratory failure5.
References
- Source: Hill NS. Noninvasive ventilation for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Respir Care 2004;49(1):72-87.
- Source: Mehta & Hill NS. Noninvasive ventilation. State of the Art. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2012;163:540-577.
- Source: Hess DR. Noninvasive ventilation for acute respiratory failure. Respir Care 2013;58(6):950-969.
- Source: solaki V et al. One-year non-invasive ventilation in chronic hypercapnic COPD: Effect on quality of life. Respir Med 2008;102:904-911.
- Source: Lightowler JV et al. Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation to treat respiratory failure resulting from exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ (Clinical Research ed) 2003;326(7382).