Recent studies suggest that noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) administered by nasal or oronasal mask avoids the need for endotracheal intubation, rapidly improves vital signs, gas exchange, and sense of dyspnea, and may reduce mortality in selected patients with acute respiratory failure, but few controlled trials have been done. The present study used a randomized prospective design to evaluate the possible benefits of NPPV plus standard therapy versus standard therapy alone in patients with acute respiratory failure. Patients to receive NPPV were comfortably fitted with a standard nasal mask connected to a BiPAP ventilatory assist device (Respironics, Inc., Murrysville, PA) in the patient flow-triggered/time-triggered (S/T) mode, and standard therapy consisted of all other treatments deemed necessary by the primary physician, including endotracheal intubation. The need for intubation was reduced from 73% in the standard therapy group (11 of 15 patients) to 31% in the NPPV group (5 of 16 p...

Randomized, prospective trial of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation in acute respiratory failure.

Central Sleep Apnea: Pathophysiology and Treatment

Side effects of nasal continuous positive airway pressure in sleep apnea syndrome. Study of 193 patients in two French sleep centers.

https://www.cgsmedicare.com/jc/mdcorner/pdf/chest_effects_of_humidification_on_nasal_symptoms_and_compliance.pdf

David A. Strumpf

Papers

Massive epistaxis from nasal CPAP therapy.

The management of chronic hypoventilation.