[Noninvasive self-ventilation--successful transition aid in the waiting period before lung transplantation?].
BACKGROUND
Non-invasive mechanical ventilation is used with success for ventilatory failure due to derangements of the respiratory pump. Efficacy in pulmonary diseases is controversial. Still non-invasive intermittent ventilation is reported as a mean of bridging the period till lung transplantation can be performed.


METHODS
We report of 20 patients from 5 centers who were treated with non-invasive intermittent ventilation while lung transplantation was planned.


CONCLUSIONS
Non-invasive intermittent ventilation was seen as successful in 14 patients. Of these 4 are transplanted after up to 2 years, 4 are still waiting, 2 have not yet entered a lung transplantation program, 1 continued non-invasive intermittent ventilation after refusal to be enlisted, 3 meanwhile died. In the group of non-successful non-invasive intermittent ventilation 2 patients were transplanted after a short waiting period. All remaining 4 patients died. It seems that non-invasive intermittent ventilation may be helpful in prolonging the period of survival while waiting for lung transplantation.
Wiebel
M
M
Thoraxklinik Heidelberg-Rohrbach.
Laier-Groeneveld
G
G
Schönhofer
B
B
Orth
M
M
Karg
O
O
D000328:Adult; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D007385:Intermittent Positive-Pressure Ventilation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000628:therapy*; D016040:Lung Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008397:Masks; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D009927:Tissue and Organ Procurement; D014850:Waiting Lists
D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D010100:Oxygen