title: [Efficacy and safety of non-invasive positive pressure ventilation therapy in acute pulmonary edema].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) is an effective treatment for acute respiratory failure in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. We assessed the efficacy and safety of this therapy in acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema (ACPE).
  
  
  METHODS
  In addition to routine therapy consisting of oxygen, nitrates and diuretics, 60 patients (39 male, 21 female, mean age 72.5 +/- 15.8 years) were started on full mask NIPPV using a Sullivan VPAP II ventilator delivering pressure support 15 cm H2O, PEEP 5 cm H2O, FiO2 100%. Pressure support were titrated to achieve oxygen saturation (SaO2) > 95%. Physiological measurements were obtained in the first 2 h and at 3 h, 4 h, and 10 h. Outcome measures included arterial blood gas (ABG), Borg dyspnea score, vital signs, and need for endotracheal intubation (ETI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Initial mean values on FiO2 100% by non nonrebreather mask: pH 7.11 +/- 0.25, paCO2 67.7 +/- 17.5 mmHg, paO2 71.5 +/- 29.7 mmHg, SaO2 83 +/- 12%, lactate concentrations 4.7 +/- 2.3 mmol/L, Borg score 8.6 +/- 1.3, respiratory rate (RR) 41 +/- 7. At 60 minutes of NIPPV, improvement was statistically significant: pH 7.35 +/- 0.18 (difference 0.24; p < 0.0001), paCO2 43 +/- 13 mmHg (difference 24.7; p < 0.0001), paO2 102 +/- 10 mmHg (difference 30.5; p < 0.0001), SaO2 99 +/- 5% (difference 16; p < 0.0001), lactate concentrations 1.2 +/- 0.8 (difference 3.5; p < 0.0001) Borg score 3.6 +/- 0.9 (difference 5; p < 0.0001), RR 24.6 +/- 5 (difference 17.1; p < 0.0001). NIPPV duration ranged from 40 minutes to 24 hours (median 3 hours, 30 minutes). Fifty-six patients (93.4%) improved allowing cessation of NIPPV. ETI was required in four (6.6%) of 60 patients. There were non complications of NIPPV.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study of acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema, NIPPV is an effective treatment and may help prevent ETI.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Cardiologia, Ospedale Buccheri La Ferla Fatebenefratelli, Palermo. fsarullo@neomedia.it
authors.forename: Filippo Maria
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Sarullo
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: D'Alfonso
authors.forename: Ignazio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Brusca
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Michele
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taormina
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Di Pasquale
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Castello
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000628:therapy*