Daytime mechanical ventilation in chronic ventilatory insufficiency

Background: Nocturnal hypoventilation is associated with chronic ventilator y insufficiency (CVI). Noninvasive mechanical ventilation (NIV) performed o vernight relieves symptoms of hypoventilation and improves daytime blood re s in CVI. In order to test whether the efficacy of NIV depends on its being lied during sleep we conducted a prospective case controlled study compari ng daytime mechanical ventilation (DV) in awake patients with nocturnal mec hanical ventilation (NV) given in equal quantities. Patients and Methods: We enrolled 34 clinically stable patients (age: 56,1 +/- 12,1 years, 20 female) with CVI due to both restrictive lung and chest wall disorders and neuromuscular disease. Using a prospective case-control design, matched subjects were allocated alternately to DV and NV. Results and Conclusions: There were no significant differences between the groups in the improvement of the measured parameters; (e.g. PaCO2; DV: Hg, p < 0,0001). We conclude that in many respects, when compared to NV, DV in awake patients is equally effective for the treatment of CVI.