USE OF BILEVEL POSITIVE AIRWAY PRESSURE VENTILATORY SUPPORT FOR PATHOLOGICAL FLAIL CHEST COMPLICATING MULTIPLE-MYELOMA

Multiple myeloma is a common disease that universally involves the ske letal system.Although rib involvement mag; occur, the development of p athological flail chest is rare. We describe the treatment and course of this condition in an elderly female, and the use of the bilevel pos itive airway pressure (BiPAP) ventilatory system in providing pneumati c stabilization, while definitive chemotherapy mas given to heal the p athological fractures, Our experience with this patient suggests that, despite its dramatic clinical manifestation, the association of hail chest with multiple myeloma nay not predict a poor prognosis. We have also found that pneumatic stabilization can be achieved by using the b ilevel positive airway pressure ventilatory support through a tracheos tomy.