Early prehospital use of non-invasive ventilation improves acute respiratory failure in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the use of prehospital non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.


METHODS
36 adult patients were treated by prehospital NIV or standard oxygen therapy.


RESULTS
Prehospital NIV was described as feasible by the paramedics. Prehospital improvement of respiratory rate and dyspnoea was significantly better and the length of intensive care was significantly lower in NIV patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Prehospital NIV can be managed by a trained emergency team with high but sustainable workload. Dyspnoea and length of intensive care may be significantly reduced.


BACKGROUND
ISRCTN47620321.
Schmidbauer
Willi
W
Department of Emergency Medicine, Bundeswehrkrankenhaus Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Ahlers
Olaf
O
Spies
Claudia
C
Dreyer
Anke
A
Mager
Georg
G
Kerner
Thoralf
T
D000328:Adult; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000628:therapy; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000379:methods*; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000628:therapy*