The New England journal of medicine
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical Trial
Noninvasive ventilation for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
In patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, noninvasive ventilation may be used in an attempt to avoid endotracheal intubation and complications associated with mechanical ventilation. ⋯ In selected patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, noninvasive ventilation can reduce the need for endotracheal intubation, the length of the hospital stay, and the in-hospital mortality rate.