Effectiveness assessment of a guideline based protocol for ventilatory support management of COPD exacerbations in an emergency department

Our data confirmed in a “real life” Emergency Department cohort that successful management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation with noninvasive positive pressure ventilation showed lower in-hospital mortality and Intensive Care Unit stay when compared to patients transitioning from noninvasive positive pressure ventilation to invasive mechanical ventilation or patients who presented an immediate need for invasive mechanical ventilation. noninvasive positive pressure ventilation tolerance and higher arterial carbon dioxide pressure reduction after 1-h of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation were predictors of successful treatment. These results should be confirmed in a prospective randomized controlled trial.