• M Wiebel, G Laier-Groeneveld, B Schönhofer, M Orth, and O Karg.
• Thoraxklinik Heidelberg-Rohrbach.
• Med Klin. 1995 Apr 1; 90 (1 Suppl 1): 32-4.

BackgroundNon-invasive mechanical ventilation is used with success for ventilatory failure due to derangements of the respiratory pump. Efficacy in pulmonary diseases is controversial. Still non-invasive intermittent ventilation is reported as a mean of bridging the period till lung transplantation can be performed.Patients And MethodsWe report of 20 patients from 5 centers who were treated with non-invasive intermittent ventilation while lung transplantation was planned.Results And ConclusionNon-invasive intermittent ventilation was seen as successful in 14 patients. Of these 4 are transplanted after up to 2 years, 4 are still waiting, 2 have not yet entered a lung transplantation program, 1 continued non-invasive intermittent ventilation after refusal to be enlisted, 3 meanwhile died. In the group of non-successful non-invasive intermittent ventilation 2 patients were transplanted after a short waiting period. All remaining 4 patients died. It seems that non-invasive intermittent ventilation may be helpful in prolonging the period of survival while waiting for lung transplantation.

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