title: Efficacy and tolerability of non-invasive ventilation delivered via a newly developed helmet in immunosuppressed patients with acute respiratory failure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess efficacy and tolerability of a newly developed helmet for the delivery of non-invasive ventilation in patients with acute respiratory failure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten consecutive immunocompromised patients with acute respiratory failure admitted to our intensive care unit were included in the study. The patients were equipped with the helmet and non-invasive ventilation (NIV) was performed. Oxygenation and tolerability were assessed during the first 24 hours of NIV.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All patients tolerated the helmet well and their oxygenation improved. Two patients developed septic shock and had to be endotracheally intubated during the study period, eight patients survived to be weaned from NIV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NIV delivered via the helmet is effective and may serve as a better tolerated alternative to endotracheal intubation and to NIV via a standard face mask.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. werner.rabitsch@akh-wien.ac.at
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rabitsch
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schellongowski
authors.forename: Wolfgang J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Köstler
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Stoiser
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Knöbl
authors.forename: Gottfried J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Locker
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sperr
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Burgmann
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Herkner
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Keil
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frass
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Staudinger
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007964:Leukocytosis / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000150:complications; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000150:complications; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D013577:Syndrome; D013997:Time Factors