[The role of non-invasive positive pressure ventilation in lung volume reduction surgery of pulmonary emphysema--a survey of German hospitals].

BACKGROUND: Since the first publication by Cooper et. al. in 1994 of lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) of emphysema a marked respiratory failure with hyperkapnia (PaCO2 > 55 Torr) has been regarded as an exclusion criterion for LVRS. PATIENTS AND METHOD: In a survey in German hospitals the question was asked whether non-invasive nasal ventilation (NIPPV) has a role in the management of LVRS. Of 12 hospitals 6 had experience with NIPPV and LVRS in a total of 19 patients with a mean FEV1 of 0.64 +/- 0.101. RESULTS: LVRS improved FEV1 by 0.20 +/- 0.181. Preoperative NIPPV was short (< 6 months) in 8 patients and resulted in improvement of physical condition and getting the patient used to NIPPV for better perioperative management. In 5 cases NIPPV was used on a long-term basis in order to allow the patient to be included in the LVRS program. In fact 7 of these 13 patients needed ventilation perioperatively, and 4 had to continue long-term NIPPV after surgery. In further 3 patients NIPPV was applied only perioperatively. One patient had to resume NIPPV after 15 months. Two patients started NIPPV 1 resp. 12 months after surgery. Two patients had bronchial cancer which was resected. Four patients died: 1 perioperatively after intubation, 2 after 3 resp. 13 months due to respiratory failure, 1 for cancer relapse after 20 months. CONCLUSION: NIPPV may be helpful in the planning and management of LVRS in patients with ventilatory failure with hypercarbia.