NONINVASIVE MECHANICAL VENTILATION AFTER LUNG-TRANSPLANTATION

Background: Non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIPPV) is an accepted choice of treatment in patients with chronic pulmonary disease and/or acute respiratory failure. Recently NIPPV was also proposed in the po stoperative weaning period. Patients and Methods: Six of 30 patients a fter lung transplantation were extubated despite a weaning failure was predicted using well accepted weaning criteria. Therefore, the 6 pati ents were treated with intermittent non-invasive ventilation using ass isted modes of mechanical ventilation (PSV/CPAP). Results: Both, oxyge nation (increase in paO(2): 18 mmHg during PSV, 11 mmHg during CPAP) a nd pulmonary mechanics (decrease in respiratory rate: 14/min during PS V, 10/min during CPAP; increase in tidal volume: 5 ml/kg during PSV, 3 ml/kg KG during CPAP) improved and the energy expenditure decreased ( 19% during PSV, 12% during CPAP). Conclusion: Non-invasive ventilation after lung transplantation enables earlier extubation and prevents we aning failure.