The role of continuous positive airway pressure in acute cardiogenic edema with preserved left ventricular systolic function.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of the study was to compare the effect of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in patients with acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema (ACPE) with preserved or impaired left ventricular systolic function with regard to resolution time.


METHODS
In a prospective, preliminary observational cohort study, 18 patients with preserved left ventricular systolic function (group A) and 18 patients with systolic heart dysfunction (group B) with ACPE underwent CPAP (10 cmH(2)0) through a face mask with standard medical therapy after a morphologic echocardiographic investigation shortly before CPAP.


RESULTS
Resolution time did not differ significantly between the 2 groups of patients (64 +/- 25 minutes in diastolic group vs 80 +/- 33 minutes in systolic group). One patient in preserved left ventricular systolic function group required endotracheal intubation (not statistically significant). No patient died during hospital stay. Arterial blood gases improved after a trial of CPAP in both groups of patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this preliminary study show that resolution time is not significantly different in patients with ACPE with preserved or impaired systolic function submitted to CPAP.
Emergency Unit, Ospedale Valduce, Via Dante 11, Como 22100, Italy. andreabellone@libero.it
Andrea
A
Bellone
Marco
M
Vettorello
Massimiliano
M
Etteri
Chiara
C
Bonetti
Giancarlo
G
Gini
Massimo
M
Mariani
Vittorio
V
Berruti
Dante
D
Clerici
Chiara
C
Minelli
Italo
I
Nessi
Carlo
C
Maino
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure; D003971:Diastole; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000628:therapy*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013599:Systole; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left