Noninvasive ventilation is becoming a more commonly used long-term treatment for various conditions in which the patient experiences chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure (type 2 respiratory failure). This article aims to discuss why patients require long-term noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV), and to describe some of the care considerations required for this patient group, in addition to challenges that nurses in the home care environment face when supporting these patients at home. The article provides a brief pathophysiological overview, while also discussing the use of NPPV as symptom support for patients with severe disease in the later stages of their lives. The term 'noninvasive positive pressure ventilation' is used to cover a number of different noninvasive systems, although the study primarily focuses on bi-level ventilation systems.
Keywords: Anticipatory care planning; Home care; Hypercapnic respiratory failure; Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation; Type 2 respiratory failure.