title: Noninvasive ventilation for post-pneumonectomy severe hypoxemia.
abstract: ARDS remains a lethal complication after major lung resections. The reported mortality ranges from 50% to 100%, with increased incidence and mortality rates in pneumonectomy patients. The pathogenesis of early ARDS is still not fully understood, and the majority of patients will require  mechanical ventilation. A review of the literature reveals that the role of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) in ARDS after lung resection is unclear, in contrast to its well established benefits in other types of respiratory failure. NIV is a technique of augmenting alveolar ventilation delivered  by face mask, without introducing an endotracheal tube. NIV may reduce the need for endotracheal mechanical ventilation and improve clinical outcome in patients with acute respiratory failure after lung resection, avoiding complications related to intubation. We present a case of early ARDS  following left-sided pneumonectomy, where bi-level positive airway pressure ventilation prompted a successful outcome.
authors.affiliation: Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, General Hospital G Papanikolaou, Thessaloniki, Greece. harisdoc76@yahoo.gr
authors.forename: Charilaos-Panagiotis C
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Koutsogiannidis
authors.forename: Fotini C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Ampatzidou
authors.forename: Olga G
authors.initials: OG
authors.lastname: Ananiadou
authors.forename: Theodoros E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Karaiskos
authors.forename: George E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Drossos
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*