Guideline: Ventilatory Management of Acute Hypercapnic Respiratory Failure

The guideline includes evidence-based recommendations as well as good practice points, based on the clinical expertise of the guideline development group.
The recommendations cover the principles of mechnical ventilation, management of hypercapnic respiratory failure, weaning from invasive mechanical ventilation, care planning and delivery of care and novel therapies (extracorporeal CO2 removal, helium/oxygen ventilation). On care delivery, the guideline recommends that noninvasive ventilation services operate under a single clinical lead with formal working links with the ICU.
See Also: Noninvasive Ventilation
The guideline aims to promote integrated planning and deliver of NIV and invasive mechanical ventilation in acute hypercapnic respiratory failure. The societies recommend the widespread introduction of an AHRF patient pathway in order to improve clinical outcomes and patient experience.
The full guideline is available from the British Thoracic Society website and published as a supplement to the April 2016 edition of Thorax.
Image credit: British Thoracic Society
References:
Davidson AC, Banham S, Elliott M et al. (2016) British Thoracic Society/Intensive Care Society Guideline for the ventilatory management of acute hypercapnic respiratory failure in adults. BMJ Open Resp Res, 3(1):e000133. doi:10.1136/bmjresp-2016-000133
Published on : Tue, 5 Apr 2016