title: Techniques to avoid intubation: noninvasive positive pressure ventilation and heliox therapy.
abstract: NPPV is useful in decreasing the intubation rate in carefully selected patients with acute respiratory failure--particularly in patients with COPD. The results of some studies also suggest a survival benefit for use of NPPV with acute respiratory failure associated with COPD. Heliox therapy may be beneficial for selected patients with large airway obstruction or asthma. The use of heliox for other indications is unclear. Heliox may adversely affect the function of respiratory care equipment such as flow meters, ventilators, nebulizers, and pulmonary function monitors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Care, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston 02114, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hess
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chatmongkolchart
mesh_terms: D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000628:therapy; D000403:Airway Resistance / Q000187:drug effects; D004867:Equipment Design; D005544:Forecasting; D006371:Helium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000628:therapy; D008397:Masks; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D010100:Oxygen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D018579:Patient Selection; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation / Q000502:physiology; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000628:therapy; D012122:Ventilators, Mechanical
chemical_list: D006371:Helium; C038949:heliox; D010100:Oxygen