Respirology : official journal of the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology
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Patients with COPD who require prolonged weaning from invasive mechanical ventilation show poor long-term survival. Whether non-invasive home mechanical ventilation (HMV) has a beneficial effect after prolonged weaning has not yet been clearly determined. ⋯ These findings suggest that based on the potential for improvement in long-term survival, non-invasive HMV should be considered in patients with severe COPD and persistent chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure after prolonged weaning.