Mechanical ventilation is undoubtedly a lifesaving procedure for patients with acute respiratory failure [1]. Unfortunately the procedure is also associated with a number of unwanted side-effects. Firstly, until recently, mechanical ventilation required endotracheal intubation either through a tracheostomy or with a translaryngeal tube, procedures which can carry some risks [2, 3]. Secondly, by...

Patients with kyposcoliosis and chronic respiratory insufficiency are treated either with home oxygen therapy or ventilation. Kyphoscoliotic patients demonstrate impaired ventilatory mechanics, consequently ventilation seems to be the treatment of choice. Yet, no randomised controlled trials (CRT) exist to prove it. Most investigators find it difficult to ethically justify a CRT. Therefore, the...

We investigated the long-term effectiveness of cuirass-assisted ventilation, and examined whether mortality and morbidity could have been predicted at the time of admittance. Twenty five patients were commenced on nocturnal cuirass-assisted ventilation between 1983 and 1985, 10 with scoliosis or kyphosis, 8 with a thoracoplasty and 7 with neuromuscular disease. Mean pretreatment vital capacity ...

It is interesting to speculate on the possible applications of noninvasive ventilatory devices to a broader group of pulmonary problems. Recently, two groups have reported successfully utilizing nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation to stabilize patients with cystic fibrosis awaiting lung ‘#{176}“ What future role might NIV play in organ transplantation? Maybe Conwell is right: the j...