Effectiveness of BiLevel Positive Airway Pressure Ventilation in COPD Complicated with Type II Respiratory Failure

Objective:To investigate the effectiveness of treatment with bilevel continuous airway pressure(BiPAP) ventilation on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) complicated with type Ⅱ respiratory failure.Methods:Sixty six patients with COPD complicated with type Ⅱ respiratory failure were assigned to BiPAP plus conventional therapy(treatment group) or conventional therapy alone(control group).Control group received conventional management consisted of antibiotics,apophlegmatic,anticonvulsive,corticosteroids,respiratory stimulant and long-term low-dose oxygen therapy.In treatment group,noninvasive BiPAP with oral-nasal mask and S/T model was administered in addition to conventional therapy.Ventilator parameters were breathing frequency of 12 to 18 bpm,oxygen flow of 3 to 5 L/min,IPAP of 10 to 18 cmH2O and EPAP of 3 to 6 cm H2O.Patients in treatment group received continuous BiPAP in initial 3 days and 6 to 20 hours a day in subsequent 5 to 12 days after substantial improvement of status.Arterial blood gases were compared before and after treatment.Results:pH,SaO2,PaO2 and PaCO2 were significantly improved after treatment in treatment group(P0.01).There was significantly more improvement in both ventilatory parameters and symptoms in treatment group than in control group.Conclusion:BiPAP is effective to treat patients with COPD complicated with type Ⅱ respiratory failure.