Treatment of acute respiratory failure with non-invasive intermittent positive pressure ventilation in haematological patients.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess whether non-invasive positive pressure ventilation delivered intermittently (Ni-IPPV) by means of a facial or nasal mask is beneficial in haematological patients suffering from acute respiratory failure.


METHODS
Prospective, open, non-randomised study.


METHODS
University Hospital, medical intensive care unit.


METHODS
Eighteen haematological patients with acute respiratory failure which occurred before, during or just after therapeutic aplasia were ventilated with Ni-IPPV delivered via an individual nasal mask or a standard facial mask. Non-invasive ventilation was achieved until weaning (success (S)) or intubation (failure (F)).


RESULTS
Twelve patients were ultimately intubated and died (F group). Seven needed intubation within 3 hours following admission because of the inability of Ni-IPPV to provide adequate ventilation in six patients and after cardiac arrest, probably related to cardiac aspergillosis in one patient. Six patients were not intubated and were discharged alive (S group). Of 11 patients who received Ni-IPPV for more than 3 hours, the respiratory rate decreased significantly (p < 0.05) from 33 +/- 7 breaths/min to 24 +/- 5 breaths/min with Ni-IPPV and the PaO2 increased significantly from 6.6 +/- 1.7 kPa upon admission to 17.7 +/- 5.5 kPa during Ni-IPPV. Mean daily ventilation was 12 +/- 7 hours for a mean duration of 5.5 +/- 4.4 days. Pressure support was used in nine patients and appeared the most efficient ventilation mode of non-invasive ventilation. The duration per day of Ni-IPPV was shorter and PaCO2 values during Ni-IPPV were lower in the S group than in the F group.


CONCLUSIONS
This technique is able to provide adequate ventilatory support for many haematological patients and allows avoidance of ventilation in some.
Tognet
E
E
Service de réanimation, Hôpital E Herriot, Lyon, France.
Mercatello
A
A
Polo
P
P
Coronel
B
B
Bret
M
M
Archimbaud
E
E
Moskovtchenko
J F
JF
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007385:Intermittent Positive-Pressure Ventilation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D007938:Leukemia / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010313:Partial Pressure; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors