PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - CM Roberts
AU  - JL Brown
AU  - AK Reinhardt
AU  - S Kaul
AU  - K Scales
AU  - C Mikelsons
AU  - K Reid
AU  - R Winter
AU  - K Young
AU  - L Restrick
AU  - PK Plant
TI  - Non-invasive ventilation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: management of acute type 2 respiratory failure
AID  - 10.7861/clinmedicine.8-5-517
DP  - 2008 Oct 01
TA  - Clinical Medicine
PG  - 517--521
VI  - 8
IP  - 5
4099  - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/8/5/517.short
4100  - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/8/5/517.full
SO  - Clin Med2008 Oct 01; 8
AB  - Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in the management of acute type 2 respiratory failure in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) represents one of the major technical advances in respiratory care over the last decade. This document updates the 2002 British Thoracic Society guidance and provides a specific focus on the use of NIV in COPD patients with acute type 2 respiratory failure. While there are a variety of ventilator units available most centres now use bi-level positive airways pressure units and this guideline refers specifically to this form of ventilatory support although many of the principles encompassed are applicable to other forms of NIV. The guideline has been produced for the clinician caring for COPD patients in the emergency and ward areas of acute hospitals.