Annals of emergency medicine
-
Review Meta Analysis
Effect of Out-of-Hospital Noninvasive Positive-Pressure Support Ventilation in Adult Patients With Severe Respiratory Distress: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation (NIPPV) is increasingly being used by emergency medical services (EMS) for treatment of patients in respiratory distress. The primary objective of this systematic review is to determine whether out-of-hospital NIPPV for treatment of adults with severe respiratory distress reduces inhospital mortality compared with "standard" therapy. Secondary objectives are to examine the need for invasive ventilation, hospital and ICU length of stay, and complications. ⋯ Out-of-hospital administration of NIPPV appears to be an effective therapy for adult patients with severe respiratory distress.