How NIV Can Help with COPD

Non-invasive ventilation is a form of respiratory therapy that has shown immense advances over the years. It’s changed respiratory therapy for the better and has been proven to produce better patient outcomes when compared to invasive ventilation. How does NIV help patients with COPD specifically? Continue reading to find out!

NIV: A Brief Explanation

NIV, or non-invasive ventilation, is a form of ventilatory support that doesn’t require an artificial airway. Invasive ventilation involves physically inserting a tube into the throat of a patient, while NIV uses a tight-fitting mask that goes over the patient’s nose and mouth. This mask delivers positive airway pressure into the lungs which reduces the work of breathing without the need for invasive procedures or patient sedation.

COPD: A Brief Explanation

COPD, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, is one of the leading causes of death in the world. In the case of this disease, airflow from the lungs is obstructed due to inflammation in the airways. As time goes on and the disease progresses, it often becomes more difficult to breathe and chronic coughing is common.

Benefits of NIV Compared to Invasive Ventilation

One of the many reasons NIV has been so beneficial in the treatment of COPD is because of the many avoided side effects originally experienced with invasive ventilation. NIV comes with pros such as:

  • No need for patient sedation

  • More comfortable for the patient

  • Time and cost-effective for the facility

  • Intubation skills not required of caregiver

How NIV Helps with COPD

Non-invasive ventilation is a useful tool in many aspects of the hospital and home care settings. When it comes to COPD, the use of NIV has shown many benefits, such as the following:

  • Improves respiratory acidosis

  • Fewer intubation rates

  • Reduced length of hospital stays

  • Decreases the severity of breathlessness

  • Reduces the risk of complications like ventilator associated pneumonia

  • Lower mortality rates

COPD is an extremely common yet difficult disease to deal with, but with the help of non-invasive ventilation, medical professionals are continuing to find ways to improve the lives of COPD patients. By partnering with businesses and facilities, we provide ventilators of various brands available for rent or purchase. Contact us to learn more about the products and services we offer!

Elliot Campbell