Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with chronic ventilatory failure (CVF) are more likely to develop exacerbations, which are an important determinant of health-related quality of life (HRQL). Long-term noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation (NPPV) has been proposed in addition to long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) to treat CVF but little information is available on its effects on HRQL and resource consumption. Therefore, the current authors undertook a 2-yr multicentric, prospective, randomised, controlled trial to assess the effect of NPPVz LTOT on: 1) severity of hypercapnia; 2) use of healthcare resources, and 3) HRQL, in comparison with LTOT alone.One hundred and twenty-two stable hypercapnic COPD patients on LTOT for o6 months were consecutively enrolled. After inclusion and 1-month run-in, 90 patients were randomly assigned to NPPVzLTOT (n=43) or to LTOT alone (n=47). Arterial blood gases, hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, total hospital and ICU length of stay and HRQL were primary outcome measures; survival and drop-out rates, symptoms (dyspnoea and sleep quality) and exercise tolerance were secondary outcome measures. Follow-up was performed at 3-month intervals up to 2 yrs.Lung function, inspiratory muscle function, exercise tolerance and sleep quality score did not change over time in either group. By contrast the carbon dioxide tension in arterial blood on usual oxygen, resting dyspnoea and HRQL, as assessed by the Maugeri Foundation Respiratory Failure Questionnaire, changed differently over time in the two groups in favour of NPPVzLTOT. Hospital admissions were not different between groups during the follow-up. Nevertheless, overall hospital admissions showed a different trend to change in the NPPVzLTOT (decreasing by 45%) as compared with the LTOT group (increasing by 27%) when comparing the follow-up with the followback periods. ICU stay decreased over time by 75% and 20% in the NPPVzLTOT and LTOT groups, respectively. Survival was similar.Compared with long-term oxygen therapy alone, the addition of noninvasive positivepressure ventilation to long-term oxygen therapy in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with chronic ventilatory failure: 1) slightly decreased the trend to carbon dioxide retention in patients receiving oxygen at home and 2) improved dyspnoea and health-related quality of life. The results of this study show some significant benefits with the use of nocturnal, home noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation in patients with chronic ventilatory failure due to advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. Further work is required to evaluate the effect of noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation on reducing the frequency and severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation. Eur Respir J 2002; 20: 529-538.

This study shows that there is a poor relationship between the recommendations of the GOLD international guidelines and current clinical practice, and that exacerbations may play a role in over-prescription.

Oxygen therapy is first-line treatment for hypoxaemic acute respiratory failure (ARF). High-flow nasal oxygen therapy (HFNO) represents an alternative to conventional oxygen therapy. HFNO provides humidified, titrated oxygen therapy matching or even exceeding the patients' inspiratory demand. The application of HFNO is becoming widespread in Intensive Care Units (ICUs), favoured by increasing evidence based on numerous studies supporting its efficacy. The mechanisms of action and physiological effects of HFNO are not yet fully understood. Pharyngeal dead space washout, decrease in airway resistance, generation of a positive end-expiratory pressure, and enhanced delivery of oxygen are all alleged to be potential mechanisms. The emerging evidence suggests that HFNO is effective in improving oxygenation in most patients with hypoxaemic ARF of different aetiologies. Notwithstanding the potential benefit of HFNO in the management of hypoxaemia, further large cohort studies are necessary to clarify the indications, contraindications and factors associated with HFNO failure. HFNO may also be valuable in reducing the need for tracheal intubation in the management of post-extubation ARF. In addition, HFNO has been proposed to limit oxygen desaturation by prolonging apnoeic oxygenation during intubation both in ICUs and operating theatres.

BackgroundIt has been suggested that withdrawal of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in COPD patients on maintenance treatment results in deterioration of symptoms, lung function and exacerbations. The aim of this real-life, prospective, multicentric study was to investigate whether withdrawal of ICS in COPD patients at low risk of exacerbation is linked to a deterioration in lung function and symptoms and to a higher frequency of exacerbations.Methods914 COPD patients, on maintenance therapy with bronchodilators and ICS, FEV1>50% predicted, and <2 exacerbations/year were recruited. Upon decision of the primary physicians, 59% of patients continued their ICS treatment whereas in 41% of patients ICS were withdrawn and regular therapy was continued with long-acting bronchodilators mostly (91% of patients). FEV1, CAT (COPD Assessment Test), and occurrence of exacerbations were measured at the beginning (T0) and at the end (T6) of the 6 months observational period.Results816 patients (89.3%) concluded the study. FEV1, CAT and exacerbations history were similar in the two groups (ICS and no ICS) at T0 and at T6. We did not observe any deterioration of lung function symptoms, and exacerbation rate between the two groups at T0 and T6.ConclusionsWe conclude that the withdrawal of ICS, in COPD patients at low risk of exacerbation, can be safe provided that patients are left on maintenance treatment with long-acting bronchodilators.

Provision of mechanical insufflation-exsufflation in combination with standard chest physical treatments may improve the management of airway mucous encumbrance in neuromyopathic patients; its use should be included in the noninvasive approach to treatment of respiratory tract infections with impaired mucous clearance.

A survey was performed on behalf of the European Respiratory Society to assess end-of-life practices in patients admitted to European respiratory intermediate care units and high dependency units over a 6-month period.A 33-item questionnaire was sent by e-mail to physicians throughout Europe and the response rate was 28 (29.5%) out of 95. A total of 6,008 patients were admitted and an end-of-life decision was taken in 1,292 (21.5%). The mortality rate in these patients was 68% (884 out of 1,292).The patients received similar proportions of withholding of treatment (298 (23%) out of 1292), do-not-resuscitate or do-not-intubate orders (442 (34%) out of 1,292) and noninvasive mechanical ventilation as the ceiling of ventilatory care (402 (31%) out of 1,292). Withdrawal of therapy was employed in 149 (11%) out of 1,292 patients and euthanasia in one. Do-not-intubate/do-notresuscitate orders were more frequently used in North compared with South Europe. All of the 473 competent patients directly participated in the decision, whereas, in 722 (56%) out of 1,292 cases, decision-making was reported to be shared with the nurses.In European respiratory intermediate care units and high dependency units, an end-of-life decision is taken for 21.5% of patients admitted. Withholding of treatment, do-not-intubate/do-notresuscitate orders and noninvasive mechanical ventilation as the ventilatory care ceiling are the most common procedures. Competent patients are often involved, together with nurses.

Background -The factors leading to chronic hypercapnia and rapid shallow breathing in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are not completely understood. In this study the interrelations between chronic carbon dioxide retention, breathing pattern, dyspnoea, and the pressure required for breathing relative to inspiratory muscle strength in stable COPD patients with severe airflow obstruction were studied.Methods -Thirty patients with COPD in a clinically stable condition with forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) of <1 litre were studied. In each patient the following parameters were assessed: (1) dyspnoea scale rating, (2)

.03), and the physician-to-patient mean ratio and the nurse-to-patient mean ratio per shift were lower (P ‫؍‬ .001 and P ‫؍‬ .002, respectively). Admissions for only monitoring decreased (P < .001), and admissions for active interventions increased: noninvasive ventilation (P ‫؍‬ .002), invasive ventilation (P < .001), weaning from invasive ventilation (P < .001), and tracheal decannulation (P < .001). The complexity of RHDCU patients' conditions increased: there was a reduction in the percentage of COPD patients (P < .001) and an increase in the percentage of patients with neuromyopathies (P < .001) and de novo hypoxemia (P ‫؍‬ .006). CONCLUSIONS: Between 1997 and 2007 there was an increase in the number and expertise of Italian RHDCUs, with a shift toward less expensive care, and greater complexity of interventions and patient dysfunctions. These findings support the crucial role of RHDCUs in the management of respiratory critical patients.