• Andrea Bellone, Marco Vettorello, Massimiliano Etteri, Chiara Bonetti, Giancarlo Gini, Massimo Mariani, Vittorio Berruti, Dante Clerici, Chiara Minelli, Italo Nessi, and Carlo Maino.
• Emergency Unit, Ospedale Valduce, Via Dante 11, Como 22100, Italy. andreabellone@libero.it
• Am J Emerg Med. 2009 Oct 1;27(8):986-91.

ObjectiveThe objective of the study was to compare the effect of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in patients with acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema (ACPE) with preserved or impaired left ventricular systolic function with regard to resolution time.MethodsIn a prospective, preliminary observational cohort study, 18 patients with preserved left ventricular systolic function (group A) and 18 patients with systolic heart dysfunction (group B) with ACPE underwent CPAP (10 cmH(2)0) through a face mask with standard medical therapy after a morphologic echocardiographic investigation shortly before CPAP.ResultsResolution time did not differ significantly between the 2 groups of patients (64 +/- 25 minutes in diastolic group vs 80 +/- 33 minutes in systolic group). One patient in preserved left ventricular systolic function group required endotracheal intubation (not statistically significant). No patient died during hospital stay. Arterial blood gases improved after a trial of CPAP in both groups of patients.ConclusionsThe results of this preliminary study show that resolution time is not significantly different in patients with ACPE with preserved or impaired systolic function submitted to CPAP.

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