[Non-invasive ventilation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with acute respiratory hypercapnic failure in a conventional hospital ward].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) subjects in acute hypercapnic failure who were treated with non-invasive mechanical ventilation in a general respiratory ward.


METHODS
This was a two-year prospective study of 35 patients with acute exacerbation of COPD and mean FEV1/FVC relation in stable condition of 55.3 +/- 14.8% of predicted that were treated with positive pressure respiration using a facemask in a general respiratory ward. 17 (48.5%) receive long-term oxygen therapy. Analysis was made of blood gases, before and after treatment of non-invasive ventilation, complications, and failure during treatment.


RESULTS
A significant improvement in blood gases was observed 24 hours after non-invasive ventilation treatment. The mean hospital stay was of 15.0 +/- 9.1 days and failures were registered in 3 cases (8.5%). Facial scares were the most common complication (13 patients) but it was possible to continue treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Non-invasive ventilation is a viable treatment for patients with chronic obstructive lung disease and acute hypercapnic failure being treated in a general respiratory ward.
González Barcala
F J
FJ
Servicio de Neumología, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Santiago de Compostela.
Zamarrón Sanz
C
C
Salgueiro Rodríguez
M
M
Rodríguez Suárez
J R
JR
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006935:Hypercapnia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D007385:Intermittent Positive-Pressure Ventilation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010362:Patients' Rooms; D011446:Prospective Studies; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014797:Vital Capacity
Ventilación no invasiva en pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica e insuficiencia respiratoria aguda hipercápnica en una sala de hospitalización convencional.