Successful management of H1N1 related severe acute respiratory distress syndrome with noninvasive positive pressure ventilation.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life threatening complication of H1N1 pneumonia. According to the Berlin conference guidelines, severe ARDS requires management with early invasive mechanical ventilation. Whether noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) should be attempted in patients with H1N1 pneumonia is still a matter of debate.