Getting It Right in Obstructive Lung Disease

Chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure in obstructive lung diseases may benefit from nocturnal Home non-invasive ventilation (HNIV). It has been shown that in patients with persistence of hypercapnia after an acute episode of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation requiring mechanical ventilation, HNIV may improve the risk for new admission and survival. The ability to reach these aims depends on the correct timing of enrolling patients, as well as a correct definition of ventilatory needing and setting of the ventilator. This review tries to define a possible home treatment path of hypercapnic respiratory failure in COPD by analyzing the main studies published in recent years.

Automated summary

Nocturnal home non-invasive ventilation (HNIV) may be beneficial for chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure in obstructive lung diseases, particularly in patients with persistent hypercapnia after COPD exacerbation requiring mechanical ventilation. The correct timing of patient enrollment, along with accurate definition of ventilatory needs and proper ventilator settings, is crucial for achieving improved outcomes. This review aims to outline a potential home treatment pathway for hypercapnic respiratory failure in COPD based on recent studies.