Results of non invasive ventilation in patients with acute hypercapnic ventilatory failure and obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS)

Background: The NIV is used in patients with OHS presenting with hypercapnic respiratory failure. Few studies examine the evolution and impact after starting this therapy in this patient group. Objective: - Evaluate the result of NIV started in obese patients in acute hypercapnic respiratory failure and its prognosis consequences. - Assess the impact of long-term NIV. Material and Methods: Observational study with consecutive inclusion of obese patients with acute hypercapnic respiratory failure treated with NIV from Feb 08 to Jun 11. Results: At the moment of discharge no differences were observed in commorbidities, clinical data an blood gases between patients with or without NIV treatment. Patients discharged with NIV had tolerated better and had more total hours of use with BiPAP than those discharged without it. Compliance measured at 3 months of onset and the last recorded was 4.51±3,30 hours and 5.12±3,42 hours daily. Conclusions: 1.- Non invasive ventilation is an effective tool for treating patients with obesity-hypoventilation syndrome and hypercapnic respiratory failure. 2.-Patients who received home treatment with NIV survived longer than those who didn9t. This forces us to review NIV treatment at discharge.