First line treatment for COPD should be NPPV
Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) is an effective first
line treatment for respiratory failure resulting from exacerbation of
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and should be used as
early as possible to reduce mortality. In a systematic review of eight
randomised controlled trials, Lightowler and colleagues found fewer
endotracheal intubations, less treatment failure, and better blood
gases when NPPV was added to usual care of COPD (p 185). NPPV also
reduced length of stay in hospital and the number of treatment
complications.
(Credit: ADAM HART-DAVIS/SPL)
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- Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation to treat respiratory failure resulting from exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis
- Josephine V Lightowler, Jadwiga A Wedzicha, Mark W Elliott, and Felix S F Ram
BMJ 2003 326: 185.[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
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