Title: NIV for ARDS?<br/>Author: Mike Winters<br/><a href='http://umem.org/profiles/faculty/141/'>[Click to email author]</a><hr/><p>
<strong><u>Can NIV be Used in ARDS?</u></strong></p>
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Mechanical ventilation can cause lung injury and increase patient morbidity and mortality.</li>
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Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is well-known to decrease intubation rates and improve patient outcome in select disease states (i.e., COPD, acute CHF).</li>
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For patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), NIV may reduce the work of breathing by opening collapsed alveoli, increasing FRC, and improving oxygenation.</li>
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To date, there are only a few RCTs that have evaluated the use of NIV in ARDS.</li>
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Unfortunately, these trials have failed to demonstrate improved patient outcome or decreased intubation rates in patients with ARDS.</li>
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Clinical Bottom Line: Intubate patients with ARDS who are difficult to oxygenate with standard oxygen therapy. </li>
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<fieldset><legend>References</legend>
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Demoule A, et al. Can we prevent intubation in patients with ARDS? <em>Intensive Care Med</em> 2016; 42:768-771.</p>
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