title: Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation.
abstract: Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) has been used in treatment of a variety of clinical conditions, including acute respiratory failure (ARF) due to status asthmaticus. We present the case of a patient admitted with acute exacerbation of asthma who had ARF and required mechanical ventilation. After extubation, he had respiratory distress and was successfully treated with NPPV. NPPV was continued for approximately 24 hours, with clinical improvement and avoidance of reintubation. Despite the benefits of NPPV (ie, improved patient comfort, reduced need for sedation, and avoidance of complications associated with mechanical ventilation), it has not been widely used. Understanding the clinical indications for and limitations of NPPV allows successful use of this noninvasive method of mechanical ventilation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, Va., USA.
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Lahren
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration / Q000379:methods*; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000628:therapy*