NONINVASIVE VENTILATION IN INTENSIVE-CARE

Non-invasive ventilation has been in use for many years to provide lon g-term home ventilatory support to patients with chronic respiratory f ailure. In recent years, it has emerged on the intensive care scene as a means of avoiding intubation in acute respiratory failure. The resu lts of several studies indicate that such an approach can lead to a re duction in mortality and duration of hospital stay compared to convent ional mechanical ventilation with endotracheal intubation. The purpose of this article is to explore the various ventilatory techniques avai lable, the choice of respirator and ventilatory mode in various clinic al conditions, and to discuss some of the logistics involved in the op timal use of this technique.