Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 17, 2026

Home-Based Prescribed Pulmonary Exercise in Patients with Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Published on: August 24, 2019
Long-term reduction of hyperinflation in stable COPD by non-invasive nocturnal home ventilation
Stephan Budweiser1, Frank Heinemann, Wolfgang Fischer
1Fachklinik für Erkrankungen der Atmungsorgane, Donaustauf, Germany. stephan.budweiser@klinik.uni-regensburg.de
Objective:
The role of non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) in stable COPD with chronic ventilatory failure remains controversial. The impact of long-term home nocturnal NPPV treatment on deflation has not yet been evaluated in detail.
Methods:
Retrospective explorative study of 46 patients with stable COPD undergoing NPPV treatment. Effects of NPPV on body plethysmographic parameters, blood gas tensions and inspiratory muscle function after 6.2 (+/-1.7) and 12.7 (+/-2.1) months of treatment. Further, evaluation of 1-year survival, compliance and ventilation parameters.
Results:
One-year survival was 89.1%. The effectiveness of ventilation was proven by a significant reduction in nocturnal and daytime PaCO2. We observed a decrease in the ratio of residual volume (RV) to total lung capacity (TLC) on the average of 5.2+/-9.8% (or 15.2+/-29.7% pred.; P<0.01) at six and 3.9+/-9.0% (or 12.9+/-18.6% pred.; P<0.001) at 12 months. As a consequence, we found significant improvements in inspiratory capacity (IC), vital capacity (VC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1). For patients with the most severe hyperinflation (RV/TLC>75%), we found a significant positive correlation between inspiratory positive airway pressure (IPAP) and reductions in PaCO2 (r=0.56; P<0.05) and RV/TLC (r=0.50; P<0.05).
Conclusions:
In severe hypercapnic stable COPD long-term nocturnal NPPV can reduce hyperinflation with sustained improved daytime blood gas parameters.
Related Concept Videos
COPD: Management Using Bronchodilators and Corticosteroids
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-V: Management
Smoking Cessation
Mechanical Ventilation III: Noninvasive Ventilation
Noninvasive Positive-Pressure Ventilation (NIPPV)
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-V: Nursing Management
Assessment
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-I: Introduction
Mechanical Ventilation II: Invasive Ventilation
Negative-Pressure Ventilators
Negative-pressure ventilators create a vacuum around the chest or body to draw air into the lungs, simulating breathing. This method does not require an...