- Figure 10
Guidelines for Non-Invasive and Invasive Mechanical Ventilation for Treatment of Chronic Respiratory Failure
The guidelines for noninvasive and invasive home mechanical ventilation published by the German Society for Pulmonology (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Pneumologie und Beatmungsmedizin e.V.[DGP])[3] clearly state that NIV is the primary treatment option for home mechanical ventilation of COPD patients with chronic respiratory failure. They also say that the aim of the ventilation is to normalize elevated PaCO2 levels, with ventilation pressures sufficiently high to achieve this.
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.