Noninvasive ventilation in patients with chronic obstructive airway disease

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Authors: Gopi C Khilnani, Amit Banga

Published Date October 2008 Volume 2008:3(3) Pages 351 - 357

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/COPD.S946

Gopi C Khilnani, Amit Banga

Department of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi, India

Abstract: Recent years have seen the emergence of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) as an important tool for management of patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Several well conducted studies in the recent years have established its role in the initial, as well as later management of these patients. However, some grey areas remain. Moreover, data is emerging on the role of long term nocturnal NIV use in patients with very severe stable COPD. This review summarizes the evidence supporting the use of NIV in various stages of COPD, discuss the merits as well as demerits of this novel ventilatory strategy and highlight the grey areas in the current body of knowledge.

Keywords: noninvasive ventilation, nocturnal, COPD, ventilatory strategy