The application of noninvasive ventilation in early ARDS

Objective To investigate early use of noninvasive ventilation in acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS). Methods Twenty five ARDS patients were randomly assigned to noninvasive ventilation(NIV) group and the control group. Patients in the the control group were given endotracheal intubation and invasive ventialtion;the patients in noninvasive ventilation group treated with noninvasive ventilation early. If patients of the NIV group can't tolerate NIV,invasive ventilation was applied as soon as possible. Results The mean tracheal intubation time in the NIV group and control group were(6.50 ±1.00) days,(8.00±0.85) days(P0.05),respectively. ICU length of stay were(12.4±1.5)days for the control group,compared with(11.6±1.0)days(P0.01)for the NIV group. There was no significant difference in ICU mortality(the control group was 2/12 and NIV group were3/13,P=0.541). Conclusion Early application of ARDS with NIV may decrease the endotracheal intubation time and ICU length of stay.