Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation in the setting of severe, acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: More effective and less expensive

OBJECTIVE: The use of noninvasive ventilation for patients with acute respiratory failure has become increasingly popular over the last decade. Although the literature provides good evidence for the effectiveness of noninvasive ventilation in addition to standard therapy compared with standard therapy alone in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (avoiding intubation and improving hospital mortality), the associated costs have …