Nasal ventilation in COPD exacerbations: early and late results of a prospective, controlled study.

Noninvasive positive pressure mechanical ventilation (NIPPV) in exacerbated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been investigated early and after 1 yr of follow-up. To this end, 30 patients were enrolled in a prospective, controlled trial: 15 had early administration of NIPPV (Group A), 15 had medical therapy only (Group B); assignment was made on the basis of equipment availability only. In-hospital mortality, need for endotracheal intubation and mean length of hospitalization were lower in Group A, though the difference was not statistically significant.