Possible effects of non invasive mechanical ventilation on respiratory drive and muscles
Perrone, A.; Quacquarelli, M.E.; Barbarossa, A.; Cargoni, A.; Magliocco, C.; Masciangelo, V.; Brunori, M.
La Clinica Terapeutica 158(1): 11-16
2007
ISSN/ISBN: 0009-9074 PMID: 17405654 Document Number: 611749
To evaluate whether long-term Non-Invasive Mechanical Ventilation (NIMV) might have an effect on respiratory drive and respiratory muscles strength, measuring mouth occlusion pressure (P0,) and maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP). 20 consecutive patients with hypercapnic respiratory failure underwent measurements of dyspnea, respiratory drive and respiratory muscles strength before hospital treatment with NIMV; those patients who showed significant improvement of gas-exchange continued home ventilation for a period of four weeks, and were readmitted to hospital for re-evaluation of Borg's scale for dyspnea, P0,1 and MIP. Data obtained show a mild reduction of P0,1 and a significant improvement of respiratory muscles strength, with satisfactory dyspnea relief. We conclude that unloading respiratory muscles through mechanical ventilation results in better muscle performance in the long-term that could act, together with normalization of gas-exchange, on neuromuscular respiratory drive and contribute to dyspnea relief.