An international survey on noninvasive ventilation use for acute respiratory failure in general non-monitored wards

Use of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) for the treatment of patients with acute respiratory failure (ARF) has greatly increased in the last decades. In contrast, the increasing knowledge of its effectiveness and physician confidence in managing this technique have been accompanied by a declining number of available ICU beds. As a consequence, the application of NIV outside the ICU has been reported as a growing phenomenon. Previously published surveys highlighted a great heterogeneity in NIV use, clinical indications, settings, and efficacy. Moreover, they revealed a marked heterogeneity with regard to staff training and technical and organizational aspects. We performed the first worldwide web-based survey focused on NIV use in general wards for ARF.

A questionnaire to obtain data regarding hospital and ICU characteristics, settings and modalities of NIV application and monitoring, estimated outcomes, technical and organizational aspects, and observed complications was developed. The multiple-choice anonymous questionnaire to be filled out online was distributed worldwide by mail, LinkedIn, and Facebook professional groups.

One-hundred fifty-seven questionnaires were filled out and analyzed. Respondents were from 51 countries from all 5 continents. NIV application in general wards was reported by 66% of respondents. Treatments were reported as increasing in 57% of cases. Limited training and human resources were the most common reasons for not using NIV in general wards. Overall, most respondents perceived that NIV avoids tracheal intubation in most cases; worsening of ARF, intolerance, and inability to manage secretions were the most commonly reported causes of NIV failure.

Use of NIV in general wards was reported as effective, common, and gradually increasing. Improvement in staff training and introduction of protocols could help to make this technique safer and more common when applied in general wards setting.