Importance of ventilator mode in long-term noninvasive positive pressure ventilation

Received 28 May 2009; accepted 10 July 2009. published online 06 August 2009.

Summary

Background

Long-term noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) is associated with an excellent survival rate, especially in post-tuberculosis patients. Nothing is currently known on which method of ventilatory support is associated with a better continuation of long-term NPPV, which itself might lead to longer survival.

Methods

One hundred and eighty four post-tuberculosis patients, who started NPPV at the Kyoto University Hospital group and the National Tokyo Hospital from June 1990 to August 2007, were examined retrospectively. Ventilator mode (an assisted mode or a pure controlled mode) and potential confounders were examined with the discontinuation of NPPV as the primary outcome.

Results

Patients treated with a pure controlled mode had significantly better continuation rates (hazard ratio, 3.09; 95% confidential interval, 1.75–5.47; p=0.0001) and better survival rates (Log-rank test; p=0.0031) than those treated with an assisted mode. Female gender and no pulmonary lesions were also associated with a significantly better probability of continuing NPPV. The five- and ten-year probabilities of continuing NPPV for 106 patients with a pure controlled mode were 68.3% and 41.4%, respectively, while those for 76 patients with an assisted mode were 46.7% and 12.7%, respectively.

Conclusions

Patients treated with pure controlled ventilation had significantly better continuation rates and survival rates than those treated with assisted ventilation. Prospective randomized controlled trials are needed to verify the effectiveness of a pure controlled mode in patients with not only restrictive thoracic disease but also other diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Keywords: Chronic respiratory failure, Home mechanical ventilation, Long-term ventilation, Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation, Restrictive thoracic disease, Post-tuberculosis

a Department of Respiratory Care and Sleep Control Medicine, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 54 Shogoin Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan

b Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Tokyo Hospital, 3-1-1 Takeoka, Kiyose, Tokyo 204-8585, Japan

c Department of Respiratory Medicine, Kyoto University Hospital, 54 Shogoin Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan

d Department of Respirology, National Hospital Organization Minami-Kyoto Hospital, 11 Naka-ashihara, Joyo, Kyoto 610-0113, Japan

e Sleep Medical Center, Osaka Kaisei Hospital, 1-6-10 Miyahara, Yodogawa-ku, Osaka 532-0003, Japan

Corresponding author. Tel.: +81 75 751 3852; fax: +81 75 751 3854.

PII: S0954-6111(09)00227-3

doi:10.1016/j.rmed.2009.07.005

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