Defining successful non-invasive ventilation initiation: Data from a real-life cohort.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: When home non-invasive ventilation (NIV) is initiated, five goals need to be achieved: a daily use >4 h/day, an improvement in gas exchange, health-related quality of life (HRQL) and sleep quality without side effects. Our aim was to assess how frequently these five goals were reached and the factors predictive of achievement. METHODS: We conducted a monocentric cohort study that included patients electively established on home NIV over 2 years. HRQL was assessed at baseline and follow-up by the Severe Respiratory Insufficiency questionnaire. Adequate initiation was defined as the achievement of at least three of five goals and successful initiation as the achievement of all. RESULTS: Two-hundred and fifty patients were included at baseline. NIV was initiated for: obesity hypoventilation syndrome (n = 95; 38%), neuromuscular disease (n = 70; 28%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (n = 66; 26%) and chest wall disease (n = 19; 8%). At follow-up, measures of all five goals were available in 141 (56%) patients. NIV initiation was adequate for 96 (68%) patients and successful for 12 (9%) patients. In multivariate analysis, a tidal volume ≥ 7.8 ml/kg of ideal body weight was associated with an increased likelihood of adequate NIV initiation (hazard ratio: 5.765 [95% CI:1.824-18.223], p = 0.006]. Improvement in daytime partial arterial carbon dioxide pressure (PaCO2 ) was not correlated to improvement in HRQL or sleep quality. Severe to very severe NIV-related side effects occurred in 114 (47%) patients and were associated with higher daytime PaCO2 (6.35 ± 1.08 vs. 5.92 ± 0.79 kPa, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Successful home NIV initiation is rarely achieved in real life. HRQL and NIV tolerance should be assessed to improve patient-centred outcomes.

Highlights from the Respiratory Failure and Mechanical Ventilation 2022 Conference.

The Respiratory Intensive Care Assembly of the European Respiratory Society gathered in Berlin to organise the second Respiratory Failure and Mechanical Ventilation Conference in June 2022. The conference covered several key points of acute and chronic respiratory failure in adults. During the 3-day conference, ventilatory strategies, patient selection, diagnostic approaches, treatment and health-related quality of life topics were addressed by a panel of international experts. Lectures delivered during the event have been summarised by Early Career Members of the Assembly and take-home messages highlighted.

Recommended Approaches to Minimize Aerosol Dispersion of SARS-CoV-2 During Noninvasive Ventilatory Support Can Cause Ventilator Performance Deterioration: A Benchmark Comparative Study.

BACKGROUND: SARS-CoV-2 aerosolization during noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation may endanger health care professionals. Various circuit setups have been described to reduce virus aerosolization. However, these setups may alter ventilator performance. RESEARCH QUESTION: What are the consequences of the various suggested circuit setups on ventilator efficacy during CPAP and noninvasive ventilation (NIV)? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Eight circuit setups were evaluated on a bench test model that consisted of a three-dimensional printed head and an artificial lung. Setups included a dual-limb circuit with an oronasal mask, a dual-limb circuit with a helmet interface, a single-limb circuit with a passive exhalation valve, three single-limb circuits with custom-made additional leaks, and two single-limb circuits with active exhalation valves. All setups were evaluated during NIV and CPAP. The following variables were recorded: the inspiratory flow preceding triggering of the ventilator, the inspiratory effort required to trigger the ventilator, the triggering delay, the maximal inspiratory pressure delivered by the ventilator, the tidal volume generated to the artificial lung, the total work of breathing, and the pressure-time product needed to trigger the ventilator. RESULTS: With NIV, the type of circuit setup had a significant impact on inspiratory flow preceding triggering of the ventilator (P < .0001), the inspiratory effort required to trigger the ventilator (P < .0001), the triggering delay (P < .0001), the maximal inspiratory pressure (P < .0001), the tidal volume (P = .0008), the work of breathing (P < .0001), and the pressure-time product needed to trigger the ventilator (P < .0001). Similar differences and consequences were seen with CPAP as well as with the addition of bacterial filters. Best performance was achieved with a dual-limb circuit with an oronasal mask. Worst performance was achieved with a dual-limb circuit with a helmet interface. INTERPRETATION: Ventilator performance is significantly impacted by the circuit setup. A dual-limb circuit with oronasal mask should be used preferentially.