[Current status of non-invasive ventilation in German ICU's -- a postal survey]

The status of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in intensive care units (ICU) in Germany was analysed by a national survey. Questionnaires consisting of multiple-choice and short-answer questions were sent to ICUs of university hospitals, hospitals with >1000 beds, with 500 - 1000 beds, and hospitals with <500 beds separated with regard to different specialties (anesthesia ICUs, surgical ICUs, cardiac surgical ICUs, neurosurgical ICUs, internal ICUs, interdiscipline ICUs). Of the 716 questionnaires sent 223 (32 %) were returned and analysed. The use of NIV in all specialties increased during the last 3 years. 14 % of ICUs in some specialties treated more than 30 % of patients with NIV. CPAP (88 %), BIPAP (45 %) and ASB/PSV (48 %) were most frequently used as NIV-strategies. 10 % of all ICUs reported to have experience with proportional assist ventilation. NIV was most frequently used for disease states like COPD (82 %), pneumonia (64 %), pulmonary oedema (50 %), bronchial asthma (35 %) and ALI/ARDS (22 %). The use of NIV was considered when clinical signs of ventilation (93 %) and oxygenation [arterial blood gas analysis (92 %) and oxygen saturation (66 %)] were inadequate. Complications observed during NIV were panic reaction (83 %), ulceration of nose (38 %) and aspiration (14 %). The reasons to reject NIV were (total 13 %): lack of ventilators (64 %), expenditure of personnel (57 %) and risk of the procedure (11 %). 38 % of the ventilators used were older than 5 years. 56 % of the ICUs were content with the equipment for NIV. 76 % of the ICUs were interested to buy new equipment of NIV. 99 % of the survey have declined NIV as an alternative method of ventilation. In summary we found NIV as an accepted additional method of ventilatory support in respiratory failure in German ICUs. We found no significant increase in frequency of NIV in the last three years.