The Effect Of Short Term Noninvasive Mechanical Ventilation In Copd Exacerbation Without Respiratory Failure

Positive end expirium pressure(PEEPi) develops due to dynamic hyperinflation caused by increased airway resistance during the COPD exacerbations. This PEEPi causes muscle weakness and ventilation deficiency. It is thought that noninvasive mechanical ventilation(NIMV) helps the muscle to relax and provide a better feeling in severe COPD patients. In this study we aimed to evaluate whether NIMV has additional benefit to medical therapy in patients with nonasidotic COPD exacerbations. Forty five patients presented with COPD exacerbation were divided into three groups randomly. First group received medical therapy, second group received 2 hours of BiPAP in addition to medical therapy in the first day and third group received BiPAP for two hours in addition to medical therapy every day. The dyspnea scores and StGoerge respiratory questionnaire was applied. All patients underwent MIP, MEP measurement and 6 minutes walking test before discharge. While there was significant decrease in dyspnea scores obtained during discharge compared to admission scores in all three groups, no significant difference was found between discharge and 1st month control scores. Also, while significant improvement was present in StGoerge Questionnaire of first and second groups during hospitalization, no difference was present in the third group. The treatment options caused no significant improvement in the arterial blood gas(ABG) parameters in all three groups. We found that NIMV had no additional effect on hospitalization period, ABG and functional status of the cases admitted with COPD exacerbation, so NIMV had no place in exacerbation treatment of these patients.