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- Figure 11

Guidelines for Non-Invasive and Invasive Mechanical Ventilation for Treatment of Chronic Respiratory Failure

This Figure illustrates an algorithm for starting home mechanical ventilation in stable hypercapnic COPD published by the German Society for Pulmonology,[3] clearly stating that NIV should be initiated in stable hypercapnic COPD patients once symptoms of chronic respiratory failure are present. Furthermore, if daytime PaCO2 levels are >50 mmHg, or nocturnal PaCO2 levels are >55 mmHg, mechanical ventilation should be administered at home.

References

[3]

Windisch W, Walterspacher S, Siemon K, et al; German Society for Pneumology. Guidelines for noninvasive and invasive mechanical ventilation for treatment of chronic respiratory failure. Published by the German Society for Pneumology (DGP). Pneumologie 2010;64:640–652.