II. Indications
- See Endotracheal Intubation Preoxygenation
- Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure or Inadequate oxygenation (CPAP or BIPAP)- Cardiogenic Pulmonary Edema
- Severe Congestive Heart Failure exacerbations
 
- Hypercarbic Respiratory Failure or Inadequate ventilation (BIPAP)- Moderate to Severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease exacerbations
 
- 
                          Immunocompromised patients- Early initiation of Noninvasive Ventilation reduces intubation risk
- Non-intubated Immunocompromised patients have lower mortality- Related to risk of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia
 
 
- Other indications- Ventilator Weaning in a COPD exacerbation
- Post-Extubation of high risk patients- At least one failed Ventilator Weaning attempt
- Chronic Congestive Heart Failure
- PaCO2 >45 mmHg
- Two or more medical comorbidities
- Weak cough
- Upper airway Stridor
 
- Acute Respiratory Failure associated with some Bellows Failure causes- Neuromuscular disorders (Guillain-Barre Syndrome, Myasthenia Gravis, Eaten-Lambert Syndrome)
- Chest wall deformities (e.g. kyphoscoliosis)
- Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome
 
- References- (2025) Noninvasive Ventilation, Hospital Procedures Course
 
 
- Other indications with mixed efficacy or inadequate studies- Asthma
- Pneumonia (including mild to moderate pneumocystis Pneumonia)
- Acute Lung Injury (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome)
- Thoracic Trauma
- Cystic Fibrosis associated Respiratory Failure
- Post-operative Acute Respiratory Failure
 
- References
III. Contraindications: General
- See Advanced Airway Indications
- 
                          Respiratory Failure or apnea- Cardiopulmonary Arrest
- Comatose patient
 
- Airway protection- Status Epilepticus
- Upper airway tenuous with risk of complete obstruction
- Uncontrolled Gastrointestinal Bleeding
- Intractable Emesis
- Facial Trauma, Burn Injury or recent surgery
 
- Other factors- Uncooperative or Agitated Patient despite anxiolysis
- Patient unable to synchronize with BIPAP delivered breaths
- Hemodynamic instability
 
IV. Contraindications: Relative (Predictors of failed Noninvasive Ventilation)
- Noninvasive Ventilation (NIV) may be trialed with close patient observation
- Strongest predictors of NIV failure- Simplified Acute Physiology Score 2 (SAPS2) >=35
- Apache 2 initial score >=21
- Moderate to severe ARDS (PaO2/FIO2 <150)
- Initial pH <7.2
- Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) <=11
- Respiratory Rate >=35
- Shock state
 
- Other predictors of NIV failure- Minimal improvement in VBG (pH, PaCO2) after 1 hour of NIV
- Pneumonia
- Significant Metabolic Acidosis
- Significant airway secretions
- Malnutrition
- Multi-system organ failure
- Premorbid inability to perform ADLs
 
- References- (2025) Noninvasive Ventilation, Hospital Procedures Course
 
V. Precautions
- Start Noninvasive Ventilation early, before severe respiratory Fatigue occurs- When starting Supplemental Oxygen, consider whether Noninvasive Ventilation would be a better choice
 
- Prepare the machine in advance of patient arrival (e.g. EMS radio report)- Plug in the Bipap or Cpap machine
- Attach to wall oxygen
- Attach mask to machine
- Set initial FIO2 to 100%
- Set initial Inspiratory pressure (IPAP) to 10-15 H2O, and expiratory pressure (EPAP) to 5 H2O
 
VI. Physiology
- Pressures required to allow inspiration must equal the airway pressures to overcome- Ventilator pressures (CPAP, BIPAP) allow for lower respiratory Muscle pressures (work of breathing)
 
- Pressures required to allow inspiration- Respiratory Muscle Pressures or work of breathing (pMuscle)
- Ventilator pressures (pApplied)
 
- Airway pressures to overcome- Airway elastance with a predilection for airway collapse (pElastance)
- Airway resistance such as that due to bronchospasm or inflammation (pResistance)
- Airway impedance to flow from other factors such as anatomy in Sleep Apnea (pThreshold)
 
- Positive Airway Pressures- Expiratory Positive Airway Pressure (EPAP) or Positive End-Expiratory Pressure (PEEP)- Maintains open airways to provide oxygenation
- CPAP only supplies continuous pressure at this level
- BIPAP provides this pressure between ventilations
 
- Inspiratory Positive Airway Pressure (IPAP)- Pressure Support Ventilation during inspiration provides a Tidal Volume (IPAP-EPAP) and clears CO2
- BIPAP provides this pressure during ventilations
 
 
- Expiratory Positive Airway Pressure (EPAP) or Positive End-Expiratory Pressure (PEEP)
VII. Adverse Effects: Minor (common)
- Nasopharyngeal irritation- Nasal or sinus congestion
- Ear Pain or sinus pressure
- Noninfectious Conjunctivitis
 
- Mask malplacement effects- Nasal or facial abrasions, ulcerations or Pressure Sores
 
VIII. Adverse Effects: Major (<5% of patients, esp. BiPAP)
- Aspiration Pneumonitis
- Gastric insufflation- Increases work of breathing (against a distended Stomach)
- Risk of Vomiting and aspiration
- Abdominal Compartment Syndrome is a rare associated complication
- Avoid BIPAP inspiratory pressures >20 cm H2O
 
- 
                          Hypotension (from decreased Cardiac Output)- Results from decreased Preload related to increased intrathoracic pressure
- Manage with increased fluid Resuscitation
 
- 
                          Barotrauma
                          - Pneumothorax may occur at higher pressures
 
IX. Management: Approach to Non-Invasive Positive Pressure Ventilation Selection
- Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure (Inadequate oxygenation)- Concepts- Increase oxygen delivered to the lung (FIO2) or
- Increase mean airway pressure (or Positive End-Expiratory Pressure, PEEP)
 
- Interventions- Continuous Positive Airways Pressure (CPAP)
- High Humidity High Flow Nasal Oxygen (HHFNC)
- In practice, BIPAP is often used in these cases
 
- Monitoring- Pulse Oximetry (preferred, reflects Oxygen Delivery to tissue)
- ABG with pO2
 
- Targets- Target 90-96% Oxygen Saturation (88-92% in COPD and Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome)
 
- Conditions- Cardiogenic Pulmonary Edema
- Congestive Heart Failure exacerbations
 
- Maximum CPAP settings above which intubation should be considered (see below)- Expiratory Positive Airway Pressure (EPAP) > 12-15 cm H2O
- Delivered FIO2 >60%
 
 
- Concepts
- Hypercarbic Respiratory Failure (Inadequate ventilation)- Concepts- Minute Ventilation = TV * RR
- Increase Tidal Volume (TV) or
- Increase Respiratory Rate (RR)
 
- Interventions
- Monitoring- ABG or VBG (pH and pCO2)
- etCO2
 
- Targets- Do not attempt to fix acid-base abnormalities initially (Permissive hypercapnea is preferred)
- Allow a wider range of pH (7.2 to 7.5) in most patients
- Maintain normal pCO2 (35-45 mmHg) in Increased Intracranial Pressure, pregnancy, severe Pulmonary Hypertension
 
- Conditions- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease exacerbations
- BIPAP may be used for any of the Hypoxemia cases as well instead of CPAP- Includes CHF (without increased risk of Myocardial Infarction)
- Vital (2013) Cochrane Database Syst Rev 5:CD005351 +PMID:18646124 [PubMed]
 
 
 
- Concepts
- References- Mallemat and Runde in Herbert (2015) EM:Rap 15(2): 7-8
- Internet Book of Critical Care (EMCRIT.org)
 
X. Protocol: Indications for intubation (failed Noninvasive Ventilation)
- See Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (BIPAP) for re-evaluation based on ABG criteria
- Based on re-evaluation clinical criteria including Arterial Blood Gas at 1-2 hours and at 4-6 hours
- Major Criteria (based on COPD cohort)- See Advanced Airway indications
- Respiratory arrest (despite noninvasive Ventilator back-up rate)
- Gasping for air
- Loss of consciousness with respiratory pauses
- Agitation requiring sedation
- Heart Rate <50 bpm and loss of alertness
- Hemodynamic instability with systolic Blood Pressure <70 mmHg
 
- Minor Criteria (2 of the following, based on COPD cohort)- Respiratory Rate >35 breaths/minute (at any time)
- Respiratory Rate >20-25/minute (after one hour of Noninvasive Ventilation)
- pH <7.30 and decreased from onset
- PaO2 <45 mmHg despite Supplemental Oxygen
- Decreased Level of Consciousness or worsening encephalopathy
 
- References- Hoo (2012) Noninvasive Ventilation, Medscape EMedicine,
 
XI. Protocol: Monitoring
- Patient Observation- Dyspnea
- Increased work of breathing
- Diaphoresis
- Patient intolerance of mask, or anxiety with BiPAP
 
- 
                          Vital Signs- Changes in Heart Rate, Respiratory Rate, Blood Pressure, Oxygen Saturation
- Cardiac monitoring
 
- Equipment- Ventilator dysynchrony with patient respirations
- Air leaks
 
- Serial ABG or VBG- Obtain at presentation (before NIV)
- Obtain 1-2 hours after starting NIV
- Obtain periodically with changes in clinical status or machine settings
 
XII. Efficacy
- Noninvasive Ventilation in COPD exacerbation- Outcomes (related to reduced complications of Mechanical Ventilation)- Decreased Mortality (RR 0.41 to 0.9)
- Decreased Intubations Rates (RR 0.36 to 0.72)
- Decreased hospital lengths of stay (-3.2 to -4.5 days)
 
- References
 
- Outcomes (related to reduced complications of Mechanical Ventilation)
- Noninvasive Ventilation in moderate to severe CHF exacerbations- Outcomes with CPAP (plus standard CHF care)- Decreased mortality (RR 0.64 to 0.8)
- Decreased intubation rates (RR 0.43 to 0.49)
- No difference in hospital length of stay
 
- References
 
- Outcomes with CPAP (plus standard CHF care)
- Noninvasive Ventilation has a lower efficacy when used in DNI patients with non-CHF, non-COPD Respiratory Failure- Respiratory Failure due to other conditions (e.g. Pneumonia, Cancer)
- Levy (2004) Crit Care Med 32(10):2002-7 +PMID: 15483407 [PubMed]
 
- References- (2025) Noninvasive Ventilation, Hospital Procedures Course
 
XIII. References
- (2025) Noninvasive Ventilation, Hospital Procedures Course
- (2016) Mechanical Ventilation, Fundamental Critical Care Support, SCCM, p. 61-92
- Martin and Hall (2015) Crit Dec Emerg Med 29(2): 11-8
