[Application of residual positive pressure during assisted ventilation at home using pressure relaxator devices...

A residual postive pressure (R.P.P.) of low magnitude (1 to 4 cm of water) was used during assisted ventilation by pressure relaxator in an attempt to decrease the expiratory dynamic compression of the airways. A ventilatory test involving 80 respiratory insufficient patients (73 men and 7 women) shows that with assistance the tidal volume of half of the subjects increased by more than 20% (average gain: 32%). The patients with the highest RV/TC ratio benefitted most from the method. Finally, the arterial blood gases were not significantly modified. A longitudinal study involving 46 subjects observed for an average period of 24 months revealed a marked subjective improvement in the patients' condition without significant modification of the blood gas figures. No incident or accident was attributed to the use of R.P.P.