SciELO - Scientific Electronic Library Online

 
vol.22 issue3A Study on the Prevalence of Laryngeal Injuries and Dysphagia in Critically Ill Tracheostomized Patients due to COVID-19Compassionate-Use Ruxolitinib for Covid-19 Compared to Treatment with Chloroquines. Report on 100 cases at the Hospital de Especialidades Portoviejo, Ecuador author indexsubject indexarticles search
Home Pagealphabetic serial listing  

Services on Demand

Journal

Article

Indicators

  • Have no cited articlesCited by SciELO

Related links

  • Have no similar articlesSimilars in SciELO

Share


Revista americana de medicina respiratoria

On-line version ISSN 1852-236X

Rev. am. med. respir. vol.22 no.3 CABA Sept. 2022

http://dx.doi.org/10.56538/dava2524 

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Non-Invasive Ventilation in a Regular Hospital Ward

Ventilación no invasiva en sala de hospitalización general

Eduardo Borsini1  * 

Magalí Blanco1 

Glenda Ernst2 

Gabriela Robaina2 

Nora Sills3 

Martín Bosio2 

Alejandro Salvado2 

Claudio Rabec4 

1 Sleep and Ventilation Unit, Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires, Argentina.

2 Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires, Argentina.

3 Kinesiology Service, Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires, Argentina.

4 Service de Pneumologie et Réanimation Respiratoire, Centre Hospitalier et Universitaire de Dijon, Francia.

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

Clinical experience has allowed the use of non-invasive ventilation out side the acute-care setting. We describe the clinical profile and evolution of patients who received non-invasive ventilation in a regular ward.

Materials and methods:

Retrospective study in patients with ventilatory support for one year in a general hospital.

Results:

Non-invasive ventilation was delivered to 43 patients, 67.4% of which had hy percapnia. The male/female ratio was 1:1. Age and BMI (Body Mass Index) were 68.3 ± 12.4 years and 30.1 ± 12.3 kg/m2, and the main diagnoses were chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, neuromuscular disease and obesity-hypoventilation. One third of patients began non-invasive ventilation in the Intensive Care Unit, and two thirds had been using non-invasive ventilation at their homes before being admitted with exacerba tion of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (39.5%) or disease progression (14%). Hospital length of stay was 12.1 ± 7 d (14 ± 9 in survivors and 5.7 ± 3 in deceased pa tients). Arterial blood gas analysis on admission showed: PaCO2 (partial pressure of ar terial carbon dioxide), 52.7 ± 13.7 mmHg; PaO2 (partial pressure of arterial oxygen), 72.2 ± 16.2 mmHg, and pH, 7.36 ± 0.08. A pH level < 7.35 was found in 18.6%, and PaCO2 > 45 in 57.4%. PaCO2 values upon discharge were lower (46.1 ± 4.6; p > 0.05). The ST (spontaneous-timed) mode was used in 34 patients (79%). The ventilation period was 12.7 ± 10.2 days, using 6.9 ± 3.1 h/d. One third of patients received palliative care (13.9% of mortality). Three patients (7%) were transferred to the Intensive Care Unit due to clinical decline, and thirty-five were discharged with chronic ventilation (94.6%).

Conclusions:

there were few referrals to the Intensive Care Unit. Hospital mortality was low, and patients who died had advance directives.

Key words: Non-invasive ventilation; Respiratory failure; Mortality

RESUMEN

Introducción:

La experiencia clínica ha permitido la ventilación no invasiva fuera de unidades críticas. Describimos el perfil clínico y evolución de pacientes que recibieron ventilación no invasiva en sala general.

Material y métodos:

Estudio retrospectivo en pacientes con soporte ventilatorio du rante un año en un hospital general.

Resultados:

Se utilizó ventilación no invasiva en 43 pacientes, 67,4% con hipercap nia. La relación hombre/mujer fue 1:1. La edad y el IMC fueron 68,3 ± 12,4 años y 30,1 ± 12,3 kg/m2 y los diagnósticos principales, enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica, enfermedad neuromuscular y obesidad-hipoventilación. Un tercio inició la ventilación no invasiva en la unidad de cuidados intensivos, y dos tercios usaban ventilación no invasiva en domicilio antes del ingreso por exacerbación de la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (39,5%) o progresión de la enfermedad (14%). La estancia hospi talaria fue 12,1 ± 7 d (14 ± 9 en supervivientes y 5,7 ± 3 en pacientes fallecidos). La gasometría arterial al ingreso reveló PaCO2: 52,7 ± 13,7 mmHg; PaO2: 72,2 ± 16,2 mmHg y pH de 7,36 ± 0,08. Se halló pH < 7,35 en el 18,6% y PaCO2 > 45 en el 57,4%. La PaCO2 al alta fue menor (46,1 ± 4,6; p > 0,05). El modo ST se utilizó en 34 (79%) pacientes. El período de ventilación fue 12,7 ± 10,2 días con uso de 6,9 ± 3,1 h/d. Un tercio recibió cuidados paliativos (13,9% de mortalidad). Tres pacientes (7%) fueron transferidos a la unidad de cuidados intensivos por deterioro clínico y treinta y cinco egresaron con ventilación crónica (94,6%).

Conclusiones:

Hubo escasas transferencias a la unidad de cuidados intensivos. La mortalidad hospitalaria fue baja y los que fallecieron tenían instrucciones anticipadas.

Palabras clave: Ventilación no invasiva; Insuficiencia respiratoria; Mortalidad

INTRODUCTION

The efficacy of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in respiratory failure was described in the ‘90s. From that moment forward, it has been used to treat diseases that have traditionally been managed at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and car diogenic pulmonary edema.1

The use of NIV can reduce the need for intu bation, shorten the hospital length of stay, and reduce mortality, resulting in a rational use of the resources.2,3 The acquired experience has allowed its use outside the ICU.4 The failure or success can depend on the type of patient, the staff’s skill, and follow-up tools. Each institution has to design its own response protocol according to its resources.4-6

Frequently, patients with chronic respiratory failure show exacerbations that require hospital ization.2-9 To decide where to deliver NIV inside the hospital can be a complex decision involving several factors such as the kind of underlying disease, associated comorbidities, the severity of the physiological damage, and the patient’s preferences.5-9

On the other hand, NIV is used in environ ments without continuous monitoring, such as the patient’s home (HNIV), where the ventila tory treatment is guided by the health care team and the family, for the purpose of improving the patient’s quality of life.5-10

Finally, a group of patients with progressive diseases or advance disease stage develop respi ratory failure. In these cases, NIV can be used in combination with other treatments to mitigate dyspnea.10,11

In 2017 we organized a multidisciplinary team to deliver NIV at the regular hospital ward in patients without immediate indication for ICU admission in the absence of clinical severity signs (according to the Plant12 criterion) or advance di rectives for therapeutic limitation.

OBJECTIVES

To describe the clinical profile of patients who received NIV in a regular hospital ward and their clinical outcome.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Retrospective study in patients treated with NIV in a regular hospital ward.

The protocol was approved by the Ethics and Institu tional Review Committee of the Hospital Británico de Bue nos Aires, in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki (protocol: CRI# 1052, March 2020).

Population

The study included consecutive adult patients who had been admitted to the regular ward of the Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires between January and December 2019 (12 months), and received NIV. They were included when they were receiving HNIV and were admitted due to an acute event, or if they were transferred from the ICU to the regular ward. Patients with tracheostomy younger than 18 years were excluded.

Clinical data

The following information was obtained from the unique electronic medical record (EMR), SAP™: medical history, reeason for hospitalization, and previous use of NIV. Spi rometries performed in our institution (MedGraphics Paul. Saint Paul, USA, Nhanes III reference equation) up to 3 months before were taken into account.

Our center is a clinico-surgical general hospital with 350 beds and 40 beds for adult intensive care. The Respiratory Kinesiology, Pulmonology, Internal Medicine and Intensive Care Departments have residents and personnel on duty 24 hours a day.

The indication and use of NIV was decided by a multidis ciplinary team. Patients were examined when they began the NIV and two hours later, with daily periodic visits in the morning and at night.

The ventilation parameters were selected after the process of adaptation, gradually, taking into account the clinical status until the patient achieved a balance between efficacy (objective) and tolerance (comfort and compliance).

Ventilators were classified in the following way:

- Basic, level I devices: continuous flow generators for barometric ventilation with basic compliance monitor ing, without battery or alarms.

- Intermediate, level II devices: continuous flow genera tors for barometric ventilation with battery and high priority alarms, with ventilatory efficiency and compli ance monitoring.

- Advanced devices with life support (level III): volume-controlled or pressure-controlled ventilation, alarms of different priority levels, availability of internal and external battery and full monitoring.

The ventilator choice was based on clinical complex ity (acute, chronic, palliative care), hours of use and vital support requirement. The interface was selected for each patient. The monitoring was obtained through a ventilator-integrated software; Encore Pro II ™ and Direct View ™ (Philips-Respironics™. Murrysville USA) and ResScan 10.1™ (ResMed™. San Diego, USA).

Follow-up included clinical examination and physiologi cal parameters (vital signs, ventilatory mechanics, state of consciousness, and pulse oximetry: SatO2). The basal arterial blood gas (ABG) was obtained in the morning. Hy percapnia was defined as PaCO2 > 45 mmHg. The current protocol proposes that gasometry should be performed daily in unstable patients during the first hospitalization stage, and every 48 h or whenever there is clinical change during the patient’s stay in the regular ward. We suggested daily data download from the internal memory of the ventilators in accordance with our institutional protocol, with review of efficiency and compliance and possible parameter ad justment. The respiratory polygraphy was made whenever there was inconsistent monitoring information, or in cases of lack of clinical improvement after multiple parameter adjustments.

We reviewed the clinical outcome (death, hospital dis charge, inclusion in a palliative care program, limitation of therapeutic effort), hospitalization place, use of ventilatory support, and referral to and from the ICU.

The decision to discharge patients from the hospital was made jointly between participant services, once the patient showed clinical stability, family and social support, organized home care (in case this modality was applicable) and gasometric improvement. Upon discharge, the patient coordinated daytime visits to hospital and outpatient offices of the corresponding specialist physician. Figure 1 shows the current follow-up protocol.

Figure 1 Response protocol for integrated management and monitoring of ventilatory support. 

Statistical analysis

Categorical variables are expressed in percentages.

In the case of continuous variables with normal distri bution, results are expressed as mean and standard devia tion. Numerical variables without normal distribution are expressed as median and percentile (25%-75%).

Differences between groups were compared through the Mann-Whitney Test or the c2 Test for quantitative and qualitative variables, respectively. Comparisons including three or more groups were made through the Kruskal-Wallis Test and the non-parametric Cochran’s Q Test.

A p value > 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

The analysis was conducted with the Prism 8.02 software (Graph Pad, La Jolla, CA).

RESULTS

NIV was delivered to 43 patients of 68.3 ± 12.4 years with a body mass index (BMI) of 30.1 ± 12.3 kg/m2 for one year. 44.2% were obese and 67.4% showed hypercapnia. The male/female ratio was 1: 1.

The diagnoses were (n = %); COPD (17; 39.5%), neuromuscular diseases (16; 37.2%), obesity and hypoventilation (5; 11.6%), heart failure (3; 7.0%) and thoracic cavity restriction (2; 4.7%). Table 1 shows the characteristics of the population.

Table 1 Characteristics of the study population 

Reasons for admission were COPD exacerbation (39.5%), heart failure (21%), progression of muscle weakness (14%), pneumonia (11.6%), percutane ous gastrostomy (4.7%) and emergency surgery (4.7%), among other things (4.7%). Hospital length of stay was 12.1 ± 7 d for all the population; 14 ± 9 d for survivors; and 5.7 ± 3 d for deceased patients.

Twenty-eight patients (65.1%) were using HNIVat the time of admission. The remaining 15 patients (34.9%) began NIV at the ICU and were transferred to a regular ward after they were stabilized.

The barometric mode with backup frequency (S/T) was the most widely used (79%) (Table 2). Most patients (90%) used oronasal masks, and 21 (48.8%) needed supplemental O2, especially COPD patients (Table 2). The time NIV was use was 12.7 ± 10.2 d, with a compliance of 6.9 ± 3.1 h/d, and we could observe more extensive use in COPD (p < 0.01) (Table 2).

Twenty-nine patients had PaCO2 > 45 mmHg upon admission (67.4%); and 8 had pH < 7.35 (18.6%).

Table 2 Characteristics of ventilatory treatment 

Three patients (7%) were admitted to the ICU due to clinical worsening (2 for impaired conscious ness and one due to progressive hypercapnia), though none of them died.

Thirty-five patients were discharged with HNIV (94.6% of dicharged subjects). There were 7 (20%) new indications of home ventilation (Table 4). The PaCO2 upon discharge was lower (46.1 ± 4.6; p 0.05), even though 10 patients (27% of survivors) were discharged with PaCO2 > 45 mmHg (Table 3).

Table 3 Arterial gasometry on admission and discharge 

Table 4 Context of NIV start and outcome 

Finally, 16 patients (37.2%) were included in palliative care programs (mortality of 37.5%: 6 patients); there were 5 COPD patients and 5 cases of metastasised prostate cancer. The deaths were COPD-related and had some aspects in common: patients were older and had advance directives for therapeutic limitation, high PaCO2 levels and took opioids to alleviate dyspnea or refractory symptoms (Table 5).

Table 5 Inpatient mortality and patient characteristics 

DISCUSSION

This analysis describes the use of NIV in the regular ward of a general hospital in Argentina, and shows that NIV was delivered to patients with COPD, neuromuscular disease, hypoventilation due to obesity and respiratory failure (especially hypercapnic). A significant proportion of patients was using HNIV or needed ventilatory support upon discharge.

Some hospitals have developed specialized re spiratory care units.13,14 Our hospital doesn’t have that type of unit, but we do treat a considerable amount of NIV candidates outside de ICU. Even though general ward rooms don’t have centralized monitoring, we established the following nurse/ patient ratio: 1:5, residents and kinesiologists with active care shifts, 24 h a day.

The number of ICU beds limits the number of patients who are admitted for respiratory failure. In their study, Lapichino et al showed that there is a tendency among intensive care physicians to give priority to surgical patients, mostly those with clinical diseases,15 particulary when unfa vorable results are expected. On the other hand, ICU admission of less severe cases or patients with chronic diseases implies risks (for example, infection, isolation, delirium, etc.) and increases healthcare costs.

NIV has been delivered at the regular hospital ward for more than one decade. In an Italian study, 56% of 756 patients were successfully treated with NIV (60% due to COPD exacerbation). Also, 47% of the subjects were directly referred from the emergency unit.16 In out center, patients who had already adapted to NIV had priority for admission to a regular ward. A small percentage of patients (7%) were transferred to the ICU.

In many parts of the world,14 the regular ward environment is considered inadequate for deliv ering NIV.4 However, a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial,18 directed by Plant et al showed the efficacy and safety of NIV in a regular ward in pa tients with COPD exacerbation and mild respira tory acidosis (pH 7.30-7.35). When NIV is delivered by qualified personnel, it reduces the number of occupied beds at the ICU, the intubation rate and mortality.18 In our series, due to preestablished safety criteria, the admission pH (7.36) was higher than the value reported in similar studies.14-18

COPD exacerbation has been the most analyzed disease for the use of NIV outside the ICU. It has been suggested that a diagnosis other than COPD would be predictive of failure. More experience is necessary so as to recommend NIV in a regular ward in other situations.

COPD patients showed high values of PaCO2 and hypoxemia and needed supplemental oxygen and higher-pressure support, though they didn’t reach the values suggested by some authors.9 On the other hand, patients with NMD were younger and had a much lower BMI. The fact that many of these patients had already received HNIV can explain why this group showed closer to normal PaCO2 values.

Also, it was possible to identify a heterogeneous group mainly composed of obese subjects with alveolar hypoventilation, most of which hadn’t been diagnosed before admission and were charac terized by high BMI, chronic respiratory acidosis (high level of blood bicarbonate) and acidemia (exacerbation).

The 37 survivors with NIV showed minimum pH deviation on admission (7.36 vs. 7.30) and a PaCO2 that was lower than that of patients who died (51 mmHg vs. 68 mmHg), thus indicating that the latter had severe respiratory failure. Besides, most patients in this sample were using home NIV; this means they continued using a ventilatory support that was familiar to them. More than 80% of patients in this group showed severe acidemia (pH < 7.35), so it would have been questionable to use limited resources from the ICU environment. On this regard, it is interesting to see that the existence of a non-invasive ventilation program avoided the use of valuable, scarce, and expen sive resources (intensive care bed) for patients with HNIV, many of which were hospitalized for intercurrent conditions and required control and supplementary monitoring exams for the purpose of optimizing the ventilatory support.

Almost half of the patients used level I devices (basic). Vital support devices were used in NMD patients who had greater dependence or needed to have multiple ventilation modes.5 Even though the PaCO2 decreased with NIV and was close to normal ity upon discharge (46 mmHg), not every patient resolved hypercapnia (10 patients were discharged with PaCO2 > 45 mmHg). We must mention that our institutional protocol involves follow-up through a daytime hospital model that prioritizes discharge with ventilatory support once the patient has adapt ed to ventilation and obtained basic comfortable parameters and improvement in pH and PaCO2.

Our care model is similar to the one used in North America and some European countries; the kinesiologist is included in the team that is responsible for delivering NIV. Furthermore, the nursing staff can detect and resolve problems and intolerance.19

According to the data reported by developed countries, one fifth of NIV treatments begin in a regular ward.20 However, logistic difficulties restrict the use of these treatments. In Europe, Australia and New Zealand, shortage of personnel and in frastructure limit the use of NIV treatments.21-25 A study of 157 centers in 51 countries of the five continents showed that 66% of them use NIV outside the ICU. Inadequate training and limited human resources are the reasons why NIV outside the ICU wasn’t implemented.26

In Latin America, data are limited. A survey conducted in fifteen hospitals in San Pablo, Brazil, showed that private hospitals made greater use of NIV, where kinesiologists seemed to be more skilled (100%) than physicians (73%) and nurses (33%).27

In Argentina, information is scarce. According to Alonso et al, there are some areas where NIV is not actively used28; and this could be considered an indicator of poor sanitary quality. Also, the or ganizational model of each center determines the use of NIV outside the ICU.29-31 Our institution has a daytime hospital where we begin HNIV;29 this can explain the differences with other series.15,18-20

Many patients with advanced cancer or progres sive diseases aren’t candidates for endotracheal intubation or invasive ventilation. A European study evaluated the acceptability and efficacy of NIV vs. conventional oxygen therapy to reduce dyspnea and the opioid dose. The results suggested that NIV is effective and comfortable for patients with terminal cancer.10

In our series, two thirds of patients with NIV and palliative care survived and were discharged. Deaths occurred in patients with advance direc tives for limitation of therapeutic effort. This finding shows the complexity of decisions at the end of life in cases of respiratory failure, the dif ficulty to predict the outcome and the role of NIV as “ceiling of treatment” according to Roberts et al, in a multicenter study of real-world.32

Azoulay et al conducted a prospective, multi center study on the use of NIV in terminal pa tients11 in 54 centers of France and Belgium. 134 patients with a “do not intubate” order, survivors on day 90, didn’t show a reduction in their quality of life. In our series, 43% of patients received NIV concurrently with opioids and anti-axiety drugs. However, this scenario is limited to specialized centers after a case-by-case discussion about the scope of treatment. In any case, NIV shall be con tinued only if it is well-tolerated by the patient and if a benefit is obtained. On the other hand, other measures must be taken to treat dyspnea (for example, drugs). It is necessary to take into account the fact that in some situations, NIV can unnecessarily prolong the life of the patient.33

This study has many limitations, included those inherent to retrospective studies, and since it is a single-center study with a heterogeneous popula tion, comparisons are difficult to make. There isn’t any control group, either, and most patients with severe exacerbation criteria had advance directives of limitation of therapeutic effort.

NIV was used in the regular ward environment, especially in patients with COPD, neuromuscular diseases and obesity with hypoventilation, and most of them had used some type of ventilatory support before being admitted and were discharged with indication of home ventilation. However, this per spective enlightens us about the use of resources in this specific population in a real-life scenario.

Both the number of treatment failures requiring ICU admission and the inpatient mortality rate were low. Deaths were recorded in patients with advance directives for limitation of therapeutic effort.

Acknowledgement

To the regular ward ventilation multidisciplinary team. Physicians: Josefina Pascua, Pablo Lucero, Bárbara Finn, Juan Ignacio Ramírez, Pablo Oyhamburu, Yael González and Fernando Di Tullio. Respiratory kinesiologists: Federico Melgarejo, Federico Pérez, Facundo Bianchini, Milagros Amedey, Romina Domínguez, Emanuel Di Salvo, Alejandra Sosa, Mauro del Bono, Ignacio Brozzi and Josefina Sáez de Regadera. To the nurses of the regular ward who took care of these patients.

REFERENCES

1. Hill NS, Garpestad E, Schumaker G, Spoletini G. Noninvasive Ventilation for Acute Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure/ ARDS - is There a Role? Turk J Anaesthesiol Reanim 2017;45:332-4. https://doi.org/10,5152/TJAR.2017,24,11,03 [ Links ]

2. Lightowler JV, Wedzicha JA, Elliott MW, Ram FS. Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation to treat respiratory failure resulting from exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: Cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ 2003;326:185. https://doi.org/10,1136/bmj.326,7382,185 [ Links ]

3. Keenan SP, Sinuff T, Cook DJ, Hill NS. Which patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease benefit from noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation? A systematic review of the literature. Ann Intern Med 2003;138:861-70. https://doi.org/10,7326/0003-4819-138-11-200306030-00007 [ Links ]

4. Farha S, Ghamra ZW, Hoisington ER, Butler RS, Stoller JK. Use of noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation on the regular hospital ward: experience and correlates of success. Respir Care 2006;51:1237-43. [ Links ]

5. McKim DA, Road J, Avendano M, et al; Canadian Thoracic Society Home Mechanical Ventilation Committee. Home mechanical ventilation: a Canadian Thoracic Society clinical practice guideline. Can Respir J 2011;18:197-215. https://doi.org/10,1155/2011/139769 [ Links ]

6. Hannan LM, Dominelli GS, Chen YW, Darlene Reid W, Road J. Systematic review of non-invasive positive pressure ventilation for chronic respiratory failure. Respir Med 2014;108:229-43. https://doi.org/10,1016/j.rmed.2013,11,010 [ Links ]

7. Masa JF, Corral J, Caballero C, Barrot E, et al. Non-invasive ventilation in obesity hypoventilation syndrome without severe obstructive sleep apnoea. Thorax 2016;71: 899-906. https://doi.org/10,1136/thoraxjnl-2016-208501 [ Links ]

8. Struik FM, Lacasse Y, Goldstein R, Kerstjens HM, Wijkstra PJ. Nocturnal non-invasive positive pressure ventilation for stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2013;2013:CD002878. https://doi.org/10,1002/14651858.CD002878.pub2 [ Links ]

9. Köhnlein T, Windisch W, Köhler D, et al. Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation for the treatment of severe stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a prospective, multicentre, randomised, controlled clinical trial. Lancet Respir Med 2014;2:698-705. https://doi.org/10,1016/S2213-2600(14)70153-5 [ Links ]

10. Nava S, Ferrer M, Esquinas A, et al. Palliative use of non-invasive ventilation in end-of-life patients with solid tumours: a randomised feasibility trial. Lancet Oncol 2013;14:219-27. https://doi.org/10,1016/S1470-2045(13)70009-3 [ Links ]

11. Azoulay E, Kouatchet A, Jaber S, Lambert J, Meziani F, Schmidt M, et al. Noninvasive mechanical ventilation in patients having declined tracheal intubation. Intensive Care Med 2013;39:292-301. https://doi.org/10,1007/s00134-012-2746-2 [ Links ]

12. Plant PK, Owen JL, Elliott MW. One year period prevalence study of respiratory acidosis in acute exacerbations of COPD: implications for the provision of non-invasive ventilation and oxygen administration. Thorax 2000;55:550-4. https://doi.org/10,1136/thorax.55,7.550 [ Links ]

13. Heili-Frades S, Carballosa de Miguel MD, Naya Prieto A, et al. Cost and Mortality Analysis of an Intermediate Respiratory Care Unit. Is It Really Efficient and Safe? Arch Bronconeumol 2019;55:634-41. https://doi.org/10,1016/j.arbr.2019,06,008 [ Links ]

14. Confalonieri M, Trevisan R, Demsar M, et al. Opening of a respiratory intermediate care unit in a general hospital: impact on mortality and other outcomes. Respiration 2015;90:235-42. https://doi.org/10,1159/000433557 [ Links ]

15. Iapichino G, Corbella D, Minelli C, et al. Reasons for refusal of admission to intensive care and impact on mortality. Intensive Care Med 2010;36:1772-9. https://doi.org/10,1007/s00134-010-1933-2 [ Links ]

16. Confalonieri M, Gorini M, Ambrosino N, et al; Scientific Group on Respiratory Intensive Care of the Italian Association of Hospital Pneumonologists. Respiratory intensive care units in Italy: a national census and prospective cohort study. Thorax 2001;56:373-8. https://doi.org/10,1136/thorax.56,5.373 [ Links ]

17. Barbé F, Togores B, Rubí M, Pons S, Maimó A, Agustí AG. Noninvasive ventilatory support does not facilitate recovery from acute respiratory failure in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Eur Respir J 1996;9:1240-5. https://doi.org/10,1183/09031936,96,09061240 [ Links ]

18. Plant PK, Owen JL, Elliott MW. Early use of non-invasive ventilation for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on general respiratory wards: a multicentre randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2000;355:1931- 5. https://doi.org/10,1016/S0140-6736(00)02323-0 [ Links ]

19. Hill NS. Where should noninvasive ventilation be delivered? Respir Care 2009;54:62-70. [ Links ]

20. Girou E, Brun-Buisson C, Taillé S, Lemaire F, Brochard L. Secular trends in nosocomial infections and mortality associated with noninvasive ventilation in patients with exacerbation of COPD and pulmonary edema. JAMA 2003;290:2985-91. https://doi.org/10,1001/jama.290,22,2985 https://doi.org/10,1001/jama.290,22,2985 [ Links ]

21. Fernández-Vivas M, González-Díaz G, Caturla-Such J, et al. Utilización de la ventilación no invasiva en la insuficiencia respiratoria aguda. Estudio multicéntrico en unidades de cuidados intensivos [Use of non-invasive ventilation in acute respiratory failure. Multicenter study in intensive care units]. Med Intensiva 2009;33:153-60. https://doi.org/10,1016/S0210-5691(09)71210-0 [ Links ]

22. Ozsancak Ugurlu A, Sidhom SS, Khodabandeh A, et al. Where is Noninvasive Ventilation Actually Delivered for Acute Respiratory Failure? Lung 2015;193:779-88. https://doi.org/10,1007/s00408-015-9766-y [ Links ]

23. Nasiłowski J, Szkulmowski Z, Migdał M, et al. Rozpowszechnienie wentylacji mechanicznej w warunkach domowych w Polsce [Prevalence of home mechanical ventilation in Poland]. Pneumonol Alergol Pol 2010;78:392-8. https://doi.org/10,5603/ARM.27695 [ Links ]

24. Hazenberg A, Cobben NA, Kampelmacher MJ, Rischen J, Wijkstra PJ. Chronische beademing in Nederland [Home mechanical ventilation in the Netherlands]. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 2012;156(3):A3609. [ Links ]

25. Garner DJ, Berlowitz DJ, Douglas J, et al. Home mechanical ventilation in Australia and New Zealand. Eur Respir J 2013;41:39-45. https://doi.org/10,1183/09031936,00206311 [ Links ]

26. Cabrini L, Esquinas A, Pasin L, et al. An international survey on noninvasive ventilation use for acute respiratory failure in general non-monitored wards. Respir Care 2015;60:586-92. https://doi.org/10,4187/respcare.03593 [ Links ]

27. Nápolis LM, Jeronimo LM, Baldini DV, Machado MP, de Souza VA, Caruso P. Availability and use of noninvasive ventilation in the intensive care units of public, private and teaching hospitals in the greater metropolitan area of São Paulo, Brazil. J Bras Pneumol 2006;32:29-34. https://doi.org/10,1590/S1806-37132006000100008 [ Links ]

28. Alonso A, Schönfeld D, Lopez AM, Casas D, Violi JP, Penizzotto M. Encuesta sobre el uso de Ventilación no invasiva en instituciones públicas y privadas Argentinas. Conociendo la realidad de su aplicación. Rev Am Med Resp 2018;4:223-30. [ Links ]

29. Blanco M, Ernst G, Di Tullio F, et al. Monitoreo de la ventilación domiciliaria crónica. Experiencia basada en un modelo de hospital de día. Rev Am Med Resp 2018; 3; 151-2. [ Links ]

30. Leske V, Guerdile MJ, Gonzalez A, Testoni F, Aguerre V. Feasibility of a pediatric long-term Home Ventilation Program in Argentina: 11 years’ experience. Pediatr Pulmonol 2020;55:780-7. https://doi.org/10,1002/ppul.24662 [ Links ]

31. Borsini E, Blanco M, Ernst G, Ursino R, Robaina G, Salvado A. Internaciones en pacientes con ventilación domiciliaria crónica [Hospital admissions in patients with chronic home ventilation]. Medicina (B Aires) 2018;78:403-9. [ Links ]

32. Roberts CM, Stone RA, Buckingham RJ, et al; National Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Resources and Outcomes Project implementation group. Acidosis, non-invasive ventilation and mortality in hospitalised COPD exacerbations. Thorax 2011;66:43-8. https://doi.org/10,1136/ thx.2010,153114 [ Links ]

33. Tripodoro VA, Rabec CA, De Vito EL. Withdrawing noninvasive ventilation at end-of-life care: is there a right time? Curr Opin Support Palliat Care 2019;13:344-50. https://doi.org/10,1097/SPC.0000000000000471 [ Links ]

Received: January 08, 2022; Accepted: August 05, 2022

*Correspondence Dr. Eduardo Borsini, Hos pital Británico, Perdriel 74, Buenos Aires, Argentina; (CP1280AEB) Telephone number: +5411-43096400 Ext. number: 2808. Cell phone: +5491153341951 E-mail: borsinieduardo@ya hoo.com.ar - eborsini@hbritanico.com.ar

Creative Commons License This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License