Consequences of Moral Distress in the Intensive Care Unit: A Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND: Moral distress is common among personnel in the intensive care unit, but the consequences of this distress are not well characterized. OBJECTIVE: To examine the consequences of moral distress in personnel in community and tertiary intensive care units in Vancouver, Canada. METHODS: Data for this study were obtained from focus groups and analysis of transcripts by themes and sub-themes in 2 tertiary care intensive care units and 1 community intensive care unit. RESULTS: According to input from 19 staff nurses (3 focus groups), 4 clinical nurse leaders (1 focus group), 13 physicians (3 focus groups), and 20 other health professionals (3 focus groups), the most commonly reported emotion associated with moral distress was frustration. Negative impact on patient care due to moral distress was reported 26 times, whereas positive impact on patient care was reported 11 times and no impact on patient care was reported 10 times. Having thoughts about quitting working in the ICU was reported 16 times, and having no thoughts about quitting was reported 14 times. CONCLUSION: In response to moral distress, health care providers experience negative emotional consequences, patient care is perceived to be negatively affected, and nurses and other health care professionals are prone to consider quitting working in the intensive care unit.

Causes of moral distress in the intensive care unit: A qualitative study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study is to examine the causes of moral distress in diverse members of the intensive care unit (ICU) team in both community and tertiary ICUs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used focus groups and coding of transcripts into themes and subthemes in 2 tertiary care ICUs and 1 community ICU. RESULTS: Based on input from 19 staff nurses (3 focus groups), 4 clinical nurse leaders (1 focus group), 13 physicians (3 focus groups), and 20 other health professionals (3 focus groups), the most commonly reported causes of moral distress were concerns about the care provided by other health care workers, the amount of care provided (especially too much care at end of life), poor communication, inconsistent care plans, and issues around end of life decision making. CONCLUSIONS: Causes of moral distress vary among ICU professional groups, but all are amenable to improvement.

Moral distress in intensive care unit professionals is associated with profession, age, and years of experience.

PURPOSE: To determine which demographic characteristics are associated with moral distress in intensive care unit (ICU) professionals. METHODS: We distributed a self-administered, validated survey to measure moral distress to all clinical personnel in 13 ICUs in British Columbia, Canada. Each respondent to the survey also reported their age, sex, and years of experience in the ICU where they were working. We used multivariate, hierarchical regression to analyze relationships between demographic characteristics and moral distress scores, and to analyze the relationship between moral distress and tendency to leave the workplace. RESULTS: Response rates to the surveys were the following: nurses--428/870 (49%); other health professionals (not nurses or physicians)--211/452 (47%); physicians--30/68 (44%). Nurses and other health professionals had higher moral distress scores than physicians. Highest ranked items associated with moral distress were related to cost constraints and end-of-life controversies. Multivariate analyses showed that age is inversely associated with moral distress, but only in other health professionals (rate ratio [95% confidence interval]: -7.3 [-13.4, -1.2]); years of experience is directly associated with moral distress, but only in nurses (rate ratio (95% confidence interval):10.8 [2.6, 18.9]). The moral distress score is directly related to the tendency to leave the ICU job, in both the past and present, but only for nurses and other non-physician health professionals. CONCLUSION: Moral distress is higher in ICU nurses and other non-physician professionals than in physicians, is lower with older age for other non-physician professionals but greater with more years of experience in nurses, and is associated with tendency to leave the job.

Noninvasive ventilation practice patterns for acute respiratory failure in Canadian tertiary care centres: A descriptive analysis.

BACKGROUND: The extent of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) use for patients with acute respiratory failure in Canadian hospitals, indications for use and associated outcomes are unknown. OBJECTIVE: To describe NIV practice variation in the acute setting. METHODS: A prospective observational study involving 11 Canadian tertiary care centres was performed. Data regarding NIV indication, mode and outcomes were collected for all adults (>16 years of age) treated with NIV for acute respiratory failure during a four-week period (between February and August 2011). Logistic regression with site as a random effect was used to examine the association between preselected predictors and mortality or intubation. RESULTS: A total of 330 patients (mean [± SD] 30±12 per centre) were included. The most common indications for NIV initiation were pulmonary edema (104 [31.5%]) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (99 [30.0%]). Significant differences in indications for NIV use across sites, specialty of ordering physician and location of NIV initiation were noted. Although intubation rates were not statistically different among sites (range 10.3% to 45.4%), mortality varied significantly (range 6.7% to 54.5%; P=0.006). In multivariate analysis, the most significant independent predictor of avoiding intubation was do-not-resuscitate status (OR 0.11 [95% CI 0.03 to 0.37]). CONCLUSION: Significant variability existed in NIV use and associated outcomes among Canadian tertiary care centres. Assignment of do-not-resuscitate status prevented intubation.

Coenrollment in a randomized trial of high-frequency oscillation: prevalence, patterns, predictors, and outcomes*.

OBJECTIVE: Enrollment of individual patients into more than one study has been poorly evaluated. The objective of this study was to describe the characteristics of patients, researchers and centers involved in coenrollment, studies precluding coenrollment, and the prevalence, patterns, predictors, and outcomes of coenrollment in a randomized clinical trial. DESIGN, SETTING, METHODS: We conducted an observational study nested within the OSCILLation for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Treated Early Trial, which compared high-frequency oscillatory ventilation to conventional ventilation. We collected patient, center, and study data on coenrollment in randomized patients. Multilevel regression examined factors independently associated with coenrollment, considering clustering within centers. We examined the effect of coenrollment on safety and the trial outcome. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Overall, 127 of 548 randomized patients (23.2%) were coenrolled in 25 unique studies. Coenrollment was reported in 17 of 39 centers (43.6%). Patients were most commonly coenrolled in one additional randomized clinical trial (76; 59.8%). Coenrollment was less likely in older patients (odds ratio, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.76-0.997), and in ICUs with greater than 26 beds (odds ratio, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.34-0.94), and more likely by investigators with more than 11 years of experience (odds ratio, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.06-2.82), by research coordinators with more than 8 years of experience (odds ratio, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.11-3.18) and in Canada (odds ratio, 4.66; 95% CI, 1.43-15.15). Serious adverse events were similar between coenrolled high-frequency oscillatory ventilation and control patients. Coenrollment did not modify the treatment effect of high-frequency oscillatory ventilation on hospital mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Coenrollment occurred in 23% of patients, commonly in younger patients, in smaller centers with more research infrastructure, and in Canada. Coenrollment did not influence patient safety or trial results.

The clinical impact and preventability of ventilator-associated conditions in critically ill patients who are mechanically ventilated.

BACKGROUND: Ventilator-associated conditions (VACs) and infection-related ventilator-associated complications (iVACs) are the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's new surveillance paradigms for patients who are mechanically ventilated. Little is known regarding the clinical impact and preventability of VACs and iVACs and their relationship to ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). We evaluated these using data from a large, multicenter, quality-improvement initiative. METHODS: We retrospectively applied definitions for VAC and iVAC to data from a prospective time series study in which VAP clinical practice guidelines were implemented in 11 North American ICUs. Each ICU enrolled 30 consecutive patients mechanically ventilated > 48 h during each of four study periods. Data on clinical outcomes and concordance with prevention recommendations were collected. VAC, iVAC, and VAP rates over time, the agreement (κ statistic) between definitions, associated morbidity/mortality, and independent risk factors for each were determined. RESULTS: Of 1,320 patients, 139 (10.5%) developed a VAC, 65 (4.9%) developed an iVAC, and 148 (11.2%) developed VAP. The agreement between VAP and VAC was 0.18, and between VAP and iVAC it was 0.19. Patients who developed a VAC or iVAC had significantly more ventilator days, hospital days, and antibiotic days and higher hospital mortality than patients who had neither of these conditions. Increased concordance with VAP prevention guidelines during the study was associated with decreased VAP and VAC rates but no change in iVAC rates. CONCLUSIONS: VACs and iVACs are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Although the agreement between VAC, iVAC, and VAP is poor, a higher adoption of measures to prevent VAP was associated with lower VAP and VAC rates.

Clinical characteristics, sepsis interventions and outcomes in the obese patients with septic shock: an international multicenter cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Data are sparse as to whether obesity influences the risk of death in critically ill patients with septic shock. We sought to examine the possible impact of obesity, as assessed by body mass index (BMI), on hospital mortality in septic shock patients. METHODS: We performed a nested cohort study within a retrospective database of patients with septic shock conducted in 28 medical centers in Canada, United States and Saudi Arabia between 1996 and 2008. Patients were classified according to the World Health Organization criteria for BMI. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between obesity and hospital mortality. RESULTS: Of the 8,670 patients with septic shock, 2,882 (33.2%) had height and weight data recorded at ICU admission and constituted the study group. Obese patients were more likely to have skin and soft tissue infections and less likely to have pneumonia with predominantly Gram-positive microorganisms. Crystalloid and colloid resuscitation fluids in the first six hours were given at significantly lower volumes per kg in the obese and very obese patients compared to underweight and normal weight patients (for crystalloids: 55.0 ± 40.1 ml/kg for underweight, 43.2 ± 33.4 for normal BMI, 37.1 ± 30.8 for obese and 27.7 ± 22.0 for very obese). Antimicrobial doses per kg were also different among BMI groups. Crude analysis showed that obese and very obese patients had lower hospital mortality compared to normal weight patients (odds ratio (OR) 0.80, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.66 to 0.97 for obese and OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.44 to 0.85 for very obese patients). After adjusting for baseline characteristics and sepsis interventions, the association became non-significant (OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.62 to 1.02 for obese and OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.45 to 1.04 for very obese). CONCLUSIONS: The obesity paradox (lower mortality in the obese) documented in other populations is also observed in septic shock. This may be related in part to differences in patient characteristics. However, the true paradox may lie in the variations in the sepsis interventions, such as the administration of resuscitation fluids and antimicrobial therapy. Considering the obesity epidemic and its impact on critical care, further studies are warranted to examine whether a weight-based approach to common therapeutic interventions in septic shock influences outcome.

Wean earlier and automatically with new technology (the WEAN study). A multicenter, pilot randomized controlled trial.

RATIONALE: Automated weaning has not been compared with a paper-based weaning protocol in North America. OBJECTIVES: We conducted a pilot randomized trial comparing automated weaning with protocolized weaning in critically ill adults to evaluate clinician compliance and acceptance of the weaning and sedation protocols, recruitment, and impact on outcomes. METHODS: From August 2007 to October 2009, we enrolled critically ill adults requiring more than 24 hours of mechanical ventilation and at least partial reversal of the condition precipitating respiratory failure at nine Canadian intensive care units. We randomized patients who tolerated at least 30 minutes of pressure support and either failed or were not yet ready to undergo a spontaneous breathing trial to automated or protocolized weaning. Both groups used pressure support, included spontaneous breathing trials, used a common positive end-expiratory pressure-FI(O(2)) chart, sedation protocol, and criteria for extubation, reintubation, and noninvasive ventilation. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We recruited 92 patients (49 automated, 43 protocolized) over 26 months. Adherence to assigned weaning protocols and extreme sedation scale scores fell within prespecified thresholds. Combined physician-respiratory therapist and nurse acceptance scores of the study weaning and sedation protocols, respectively, were not significantly different. Automated weaning patients had significantly shorter median times to first successful spontaneous breathing trial (1.0 vs. 4.0 d; P < 0.0001), extubation (3.0 vs. 4.0 d; P = 0.02), and successful extubation (4.0 vs. 5.0 d; P = 0.01), and underwent fewer tracheostomies and episodes of protracted ventilation. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with a standardized protocol, automated weaning was associated with promising outcomes that warrant further investigation. Minor protocol modifications may increase compliance, facilitate recruitment, and enhance feasibility. Clinical trial registered with www.controlled-trials.com (ISRCTN43760151).

Implementation of clinical practice guidelines for ventilator-associated pneumonia: a multicenter prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: Ventilator-associated pneumonia is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. Evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of ventilator-associated pneumonia may improve outcomes, but optimal methods to ensure implementation of guidelines in the intensive care unit are unclear. Hence, we determined the effect of educational sessions augmented with reminders, and led by local opinion leaders, as strategies to implement evidence-based ventilator-associated pneumonia guidelines on guideline concordance and ventilator-associated pneumonia rates. DESIGN: Two-year prospective, multicenter, time-series study conducted between June 2007 and December 2009. SETTING: Eleven ICUs (ten in Canada, one in the United States); five academic and six community ICUs. PATIENTS: At each site, 30 adult patients mechanically ventilated >48 hrs were enrolled during four data collection periods (baseline, 6, 15, and 24 months). INTERVENTION: Guideline recommendations for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of ventilator-associated pneumonia were implemented using a multifaceted intervention (education, reminders, local opinion leaders, and implementation teams) directed toward the entire multidisciplinary ICU team. Clinician exposure to the intervention was assessed at 6, 15, and 24 months after the introduction of this intervention. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The main outcome measure was aggregate concordance with the 14 ventilator-associated pneumonia guideline recommendations. One thousand three hundred twenty patients were enrolled (330 in each study period). Clinician exposure to the multifaceted intervention was high and increased during the study: 86.7%, 93.3%, 95.8%, (p < .001), as did aggregate concordance (mean [SD]): 50.7% (6.1), 54.4% (7.1), 56.2% (5.9), 58.7% (6.7) (p = .007). Over the study period, ventilator-associated pneumonia rates decreased (events/330 patients): 47 (14.2%), 34 (10.3%), 38 (11.5%), 29 (8.8%) (p = .03). CONCLUSIONS: A 2-yr multifaceted intervention to enhance ventilator-associated pneumonia guideline uptake was associated with a significant increase in guideline concordance and a reduction in ventilator-associated pneumonia rates.

Intensive care unit admissions for community-acquired pneumonia are seasonal but are not associated with weather or reports of influenza-like illness in the community.

PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to determine if there is seasonal variation in the number of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and if there is a relationship between these admissions and weather or reports of influenza-like illness in the community. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this time series analysis in 3 medical-surgical ICUs (8, 13, and 20 beds) in the Vancouver region, we included patients admitted to adult ICUs for CAP between January 2002 and March 2006. We used Poisson regression to analyze the association between weekly number of ICU admissions for CAP, and average temperature, range in temperature, total precipitation, and cases of influenza-like illness/100 physician visits reported by sentinel physicians in the community. RESULTS: In 740 patients admitted to ICUs for CAP, admissions peaked each year in the winter-spring months. In multivariate models, a sine function with a single annual peak was independently associated with number of patients admitted to ICU for CAP (rate ratio [95% confidence interval], 1.12 [1.00, 1.26]), but neither the weather measurements nor the weekly rate of reported influenza-like illness was significantly associated. CONCLUSION: Intensive care unit admissions for CAP are seasonal, but neither weather measurements nor weekly rate of reported influenza-like illness in the community is associated with these admissions.

Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation as a weaning strategy for intubated adults with respiratory failure.

BACKGROUND: Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) provides ventilatory support without the need for an invasive airway approach. Interest has emerged in using NPPV to facilitate earlier removal of an endotracheal tube and decrease complications associated with prolonged intubation. OBJECTIVES: To summarize the evidence comparing NPPV and invasive positive pressure ventilation (IPPV) weaning on clinical outcomes in intubated adults with respiratory failure. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (The Cochrane Library, Issue 2, 2008), MEDLINE (January 1966 to April 2008), EMBASE (January 1980 to April 2008), proceedings from four conferences, and personal files; and contacted authors to identify randomized controlled trials comparing NPPV and IPPV weaning. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomized and quasi-randomized studies comparing early extubation with immediate application of NPPV to IPPV weaning in intubated adults with respiratory failure. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently assessed trial quality and abstracted data according to prespecified criteria. Sensitivity and subgroup analyses were planned to assess the impact of (i) excluding quasi-randomized trials, and (ii) the etiology of respiratory failure on selected outcomes. MAIN RESULTS: We identified 12 trials of moderate to good quality that involved 530 participants with predominantly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Compared to the IPPV strategy, NPPV significantly decreased mortality (relative risk (RR) 0.55, 95% confidence Interval (CI) 0.38 to 0.79), ventilator associated pneumonia (RR 0.29, 95% CI 0.19 to 0.45), length of stay in an intensive care unit (weighted mean difference (WMD) -6.27 days, 95% CI -8.77 to -3.78) and hospital (WMD -7.19 days, 95% CI -10.80 to -3.58), total duration of ventilation (WVD) -5.64 days (95% CI -9.50 to -1.77) and duration of endotracheal mechanical ventilation (WMD - 7.81 days, 95% CI -11.31 to -4.31). Noninvasive weaning had no effect on weaning failures or the duration of ventilation related to weaning. Excluding a single quasi-randomized trial maintained the significant reduction in mortality and ventilator associated pneumonia. Subgroup analyses suggested that the benefits on mortality and weaning failures were nonsignificantly greater in trials enrolling exclusively COPD patients versus mixed populations. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Summary estimates from 12 small studies of moderate to good quality that included predominantly COPD patients demonstrated a consistent, positive effect on mortality and ventilator associated pneumonia. The net clinical benefits associated with noninvasive weaning remain to be fully elucidated.

In-hospital death of critically ill patients who have congestive heart failure: does size of hospital matter?

Data from the British Columbia Linked Health Database were analyzed to determine if size of hospital is associated with in-hospital death of critically ill adults whose admitting diagnosis is congestive heart failure (CHF). Patients who were <19 years of age, transferred from or to other hospitals, or who developed CHF as a complication were excluded. In unadjusted logistic regression analysis of 2616 patients, the odds ratio (OR) for in-hospital death associated with a doubling of the number of hospital beds was 1.12 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.03-1.23; P = .01). After adjustment for age, sex, CHF-specific comorbidity index, number of cardiac and noncardiac procedures, number of hospital admissions for CHF in the preceding year, and socioeconomic variables, the OR was 1.08 (95% CI = 0.96-1.20; P = .21). The conclusion is that the adjusted rate of in-hospital deaths for this patient group does not differ significantly based solely on the number of acute hospital beds.

Structure, process, and outcome of all intensive care units within the province of British Columbia, Canada.

PURPOSE: To describe the total and regional capacity for critical care in British Columbia (BC), Canada, and to describe regional variation in number of intensive care units (ICUs), size of ICUs, length of ICU stay, ICU occupancy, key processes of critical care, and hospital mortality for ICU patients in B.C. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, we used retrospectively collected data from all patients admitted to an ICU in BC between April 1, 1998, and March 31, 1999, and responses to a survey about organizational factors for all ICUs in BC that was done in 2001 and updated in 2008. RESULTS: The number of ICU beds in each geographic region in BC is inversely related to the population density and population growth within those regions. In addition, the distribution of ICU beds does not match the distribution of specialized and high-risk clinical services. There is wide variation by geographic region and by size of ICU in physician and nurse staffing, physician model of care, availability and participation of respiratory therapists, and other support services in clinical care and in reported use of clinical practice guidelines. CONCLUSION: Variation and lack of availability of key processes for care of critically ill patients in this population identifies opportunities for knowledge translation and systematic improvement including regionalization of care.

Wean Earlier and Automatically with New technology (the WEAN study): a protocol of a multicentre, pilot randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Weaning is the process during which mechanical ventilation is withdrawn and the work of breathing is transferred from the ventilator back to the patient. Prolonged weaning is associated with development of ventilator-related complications and longer stays in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Computerized or Automated Weaning is a novel weaning strategy that continuously measures and adapts ventilator support (by frequently measuring and averaging three breathing parameters) and automatically conducts Spontaneous Breathing Trials to ascertain whether patients can resume autonomous breathing. Automated Weaning holds promise as a strategy to reduce the time spent on the ventilator, decrease ICU length of stay, and improve clinically important outcomes. METHODS/DESIGN: A pilot weaning randomized controlled trial (RCT) is underway in the ICUs of 8 Canadian hospitals. We will randomize 90 critically ill adults requiring invasive ventilation for at least 24 hours and identified at an early stage of the weaning process to either Automated Weaning (SmartCare) or Protocolized Weaning. The results of a National Weaning Survey informed the design of the Protocolized Weaning arm. Both weaning protocols are operationalized in Pressure Support mode, include opportunities for Spontaneous Breathing Trials, and share a common sedation protocol, oxygen titration parameters, and extubation and reintubation criteria. The primary outcome of the WEAN study is to evaluate compliance with the proposed weaning and sedation protocols. A key secondary outcome of the pilot RCT is to evaluate clinician acceptance of the weaning and sedation protocols. Prior to initiating the WEAN Study, we conducted a run-in phase, involving two patients per centre (randomizing the first participant to either weaning strategy and assigning the second patient to the alternate strategy) to ensure that participating centres could implement the weaning and sedation protocols and complete the detailed case report forms. DISCUSSION: Mechanical ventilation studies are difficult to implement; requiring protocols to be operationalized continuously and entailing detailed daily data collection. As the first multicentre weaning RCT in Canada, the WEAN Study seeks to determine the feasibility of conducting a large scale future weaning trial and to establish a collaborative network of ICU clinicians dedicated to advancing the science of weaning. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN43760151.

Use of non-invasive ventilation to wean critically ill adults off invasive ventilation: meta-analysis and systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To summarise the evidence for early extubation with immediate application of non-invasive ventilation compared with continued invasive weaning on important outcomes in intubated adults with respiratory failure. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised and quasi-randomised controlled trials. SETTING: Intensive care units. PARTICIPANTS: Critically ill adults receiving invasive ventilation. Study selection criteria We searched Medline, Embase, and CENTRAL, proceedings from four conferences, and reference lists of relevant studies to identify relevant trials. Two reviewers independently selected trials, assessed trial quality, and abstracted data. RESULTS: We identified 12 trials enrolling 530 participants, mostly with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Compared with invasive weaning, non-invasive weaning was significantly associated with reduced mortality (relative risk 0.55, 95% confidence interval 0.38 to 0.79), ventilator associated pneumonia (0.29, 95% 0.19 to 0.45), length of stay in intensive care unit (weighted mean difference -6.27 days, -8.77 to -3.78) and hospital (-7.19 days, -10.80 to -3.58), total duration of ventilation, and duration of invasive ventilation. Non-invasive weaning had no effect on weaning failures or weaning time. Benefits on mortality and weaning failures were non-significantly greater in trials that exclusively enrolled patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease versus mixed populations. CONCLUSIONS: Current trials in critically ill adults show a consistent positive effect of non-invasive weaning on mortality and ventilator associated pneumonia, though the net clinical benefits remain to be fully elucidated. Non-invasive ventilation should preferentially be used in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a highly monitored environment.

Noninvasive ventilation in patients with acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema.

Acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema (ACPE) is a common cause of respiratory failure that necessitates endotracheal intubation. In some patients intubation and its attendant complications can be avoided with noninvasive ventilation (NIV). Both continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and NIV have been evaluated in patients with ACPE. Compared to conventional treatment, both CPAP and NIV improve vital signs and physiologic variables, and reduce intubation rate, in patients with ACPE. Both CPAP and NIV appear to be well tolerated and are not associated with any serious adverse events. Initial concern that NIV may be associated with a greater risk of myocardial infarction than CPAP was laid to rest by later studies. Despite a physiologic rationale that NIV should offer greater benefit than CPAP, NIV has not been found to offer any advantages regarding intubation rate or mortality compared with CPAP. We review the randomized controlled trials and summarize the evidence on NIV and CPAP in patients with ACPE.