Assitenza ventilatoria non invasiva: dalla teoria alla pratica

Abstract

Noninvasive respiratory assistance strategies are becoming part of everyday life for paediatricians, both in hospitals and territorial settings. In the acute condition, a timely and correct use of noninvasive respiratory support can improve the outcome of acute respiratory failure, decreasing the need for invasive mechanical ventilation. An increasing number of chronic patients can benefit from appropriate treatment with home ventilators. Respiratory assistance may be performed using High Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC), Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) or NonInvasive Ventilation (NIV), depending on the primary cause of respiratory failure. Understanding the working mechanisms of the different techniques and the golden rules to use them is crucial for a satisfying outcome.