Pressure support versus assisted controlled noninvasive ventilation in neuromuscular disease.

Introduction: Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is being increasingly used in patients with chronic neuromuscular disorders, but the optimal ventilation mode remains unknown. We compared physiological short-term effects of assist/controlled ventilation (ACV) and two pressure-limited modes (pressure-support ventilation [PSV] and assist pressure-controlled ventilation [ACPV]) in patients with neuromuscular disease who needed NIV.

Methods: Tidal volume was 10 to 12 mL/kg.