Aims: Evaluation of the efficacy of prehospital non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cardiogenic pulmonary edema (CPE).
Material and methods: Consecutive patients who were prehospitally treated by Emergency Physicians using NIV were prospectively included. A step-by-step approach escalating NIV-application from continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) to continuous positive airway pressure supplemented by pressure support (CPAP-ASB) and finally bilevel inspiratory positive airway pressure (BIPAP) was used. Patients were divided into two groups according to the prehospital NIV-treatment-time (NIV-group 1: ≤15 min, NIV-group 2: >15 min). In addition, a historic control group undergoing standard care was created. Endpoints were heart rate, peripheral oxygen saturation, breathing rate, systolic blood pressure, and a dyspnea score.
Results: A total of 99 patients were analyzed (NIV-group 1: n = 41, NIV-group 2: n = 58). The control group consisted of 30 patients. The majority of NIV-patients (90%) received CPAP-ASB, while CPAP without ASB was conducted in 8% and BIPAP-ventilation in 2% of all cases. Technical application of NIV lasted 6.1 ± 3.8 min. NIV-treatment-time was as follows: NIV-group 1: 13.1 ± 3.2 min, NIV-group 2: 22.8 ± 5.9 min. Differences between baseline- and hospital admission values of all endpoints showed significantly better improvement in NIV-groups compared to the control group (p < 0.001). The stabilizing effect of NIV in terms of vital parameters was comparable between both NIV-groups, independent of the duration of treatment (n.s.).
Conclusion: Prehospital NIV-treatment should be performed in patients with COPD-exacerbation and CPE, even if the distance between emergency scene and hospital is short.
Keywords: Acute respiratory failure; Cardiogenic pulmonary edema; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Non-invasive ventilation; Prehospital care.
Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.