In-home initiation of ventilation for COPD feasible

Small Dutch trial shows it is as effective as hospital-based therapy
Reuters Health
man with a mask

Initiating chronic non-invasive ventilation at home is as effective as doing so in a hospital for appropriate patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a study shows.

While high-intensity non-invasive ventilation is the standard of care for patients with COPD and chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure, it is often thought the delicate process of initiating and titrating the ventilation should take place in hospital, the Dutch researchers say.