European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Chronic respiratory failure due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) contributes a significant social and economic burden to individuals, families and the healthcare system. One of the limitations of traditional NIV is altered levels of consciousness. However, under certain circumstances, especially those produced by hypercapnic conditions, traditional NIV has produced very favorable results, even in patients with hypercapnic coma.
METHODOLOGY: A hospital based, prospective, observational study done on 176 patients of AECOPD with type 2 respiratory failure admitted at Institute of Respiratory Diseases, National Institute of Medical sciences, Jaipur. Necessary permission was taken from Ethical Committee and Research Review Board of National Institute of Medical science, Jaipur.
RESULTS: Our study showed that the comparison of mean age was statistically non-significant (=0.5979 NS) and duration of disease was statistically significant (P=0.0004*).  Our study showed that the mean value of pH, PaCO2, PaO2 and SaO2 was statistically non-significant at admission and after 3 hours in between groups, but HCO3- & Respiratory Rate was statistically significant at admission and after 3 hours in between groups. pH and PaCO2 was statistically significant after 6 hours in between groups. 
CONCLUSION: We concluded that NPPV should be the first line intervention in addition to usual medical care to manage respiratory failure secondary to an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in all suitable patients. NPPV should be tried early in the course of respiratory failure and before severe acidosis, to reduce mortality, avoid endo-tracheal intubation, and decrease treatment.