Coma Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Coma, including details on causes, diabetes, gcs, recovery.

Noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation to treat hypercapnic coma secondary to respiratory failure.

Díaz GG, Alcaraz AC, Talavera JC, Pérez PJ, Rodriguez AE, Cordoba FG, Hill NS

Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Morales Meseguer, C/Marqués de los Velez s/n, 30008 Murcia, Spain. gumersindoj.gonzalez@carm.es

INTRODUCTION: Hypercapnic coma secondary to acute respiratory failure (ARF) is considered to be a contraindication to the use of treatment with noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation (NPPV). However, intubation exposes these patients to the risk of complications such as nosocomial pneumonia, sepsis, and even death. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a prospective, open, noncontrolled study to assess the outcomes of NPPV therapy in patients with a Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score of </= 8 points due to ARF. The primary goal of the study was to determine the success of NPPV therapy (defined as a response to therapy allowing the patient to avoid endotracheal intubation, and to survive a stay in the ICU and at least 24 h on a medical ward) in patients with hypercapnic coma, compared to those who started NPPV therapy while awake. The secondary goal of the study was to identify the variables that can predict a failure of NPPV therapy in these patients. RESULTS: A total of 76 coma patients (80%) responded to NPPV therapy, and 605 patients with GCS scores > 8 responded to therapy (70%; p = 0.04). A total of 25 coma patients died in the hospital (26.3%), and 287 noncoma patients died in the hospital (33.2%; p = 0.17). The variables related to the success of NPPV therapy were GCS score 1 h posttherapy (odds ratio [OR], 2.32; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.53 to 3.53) and higher levels of multiorgan dysfunction, as measured by the maximum sequential organ failure assessment index score reached during NPPV therapy (OR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.55 to 0.92). CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that selected patients with hypercapnic coma secondary to ARF can be treated as successfully with NPPV as awake patients with ARF.

Published 14 March 2005 in Chest, 127(3): 952-60.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Coma Research Today. All Rights Reserved.