[Indications of non-invasive mechanical ventilation: what's the literature evidence?]

The progressive introduction of non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIMV) in the management of respiratory failure has increased the number of clinical indications and has reduced common complication of conventional mechanical ventilation. Results of the technique are variable depending on the disease that causes the respiratory failure. With the purpose of reviewing studies about the use of NIMV and to report levels of evidence, different scientific societies have elaborated consensus conferences to establish the utility of NIMV in different indications.