Role of bronchoscopy during non-invasive ventilation in hypercapnic respiratory failure

Non-invasive positive-pressure ventilation (NIPPV) is the first-line treatment for hypercapnic acute respiratory failure (ARF) secondary to COPD exacerbation in selected patients. Limited data exist supporting the use of fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) during this clinical setting. The aim of this study is to assess the role of FOB during NIPPV in patients with decompensated COPD acute exacerbation.