OBJECTIVE To evaluate the cost effectiveness of standard treatment with and without the addition of ward based non-invasive ventilation in patients admitted to hospital with an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. DESIGN Incremental cost effectiveness analysis of a randomised controlled trial. SETTING Medical wards in 14 hospitals in the United Kingdom. PARTICIPANT...

Objectives Non-invasive ventilation treatment for patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is well documented. Communication with patients during treatment is inhibited because of the mask, the noise from the machine and patient distress. Assessing life expectancy and identifying end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease posed difficulties and caused doubt...

OBJECTIVES This paper provides a theoretical account of nurses' collaboration with patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease during non-invasive ventilation treatment in hospital. BACKGROUND Despite strong evidence for the effect of non-invasive ventilation treatment, success remains a huge challenge. Nurse-patient collaboration may be vital for treatment tolerance and success. A be...

Anaesthesia and surgery induce major changes in respiratory function, in particular when the thorax or the upper abdomen are involved. Pulmonary volumes decrease, and atelectasis can develop. Postoperative pain and diaphragm dysfunction further worsen the respiratory function, contributing to the risk of acute respiratory failure. non-invasive ventilation proved to be beneficial in the postoper...

OBJECTIVES To determine whether there is a difference in required duration of non-invasive ventilation between continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP) in the treatment of a heterogeneous group of emergency department (ED) patients suffering acute respiratory failure and the subgroup of patients with acute pulmonary oedema (APO). Secondary objecti...