Application of noninvasive bi-level positive airway pressure ventilation in treating patients with severe congestive heart failure

Objective To study the effects of noninvasive bi-level positive airway pressure ventilation on severe congestive heart failure.Methods 34 patients with severe congestive heart failure who exhibited poor response to conventional therapy were treated with noninvasive bi-level positive pressure ventilation.Clinical symptoms,signs,Boston's record,two-dimensional color Doppler echocardiogram,blood gas analysis and exercise endurance were monitored.Results 28 patients survived with a success rate of 82.4%.Significant improvements of vital signs,PaO_2 and SaO_2 could be found (P0.01) 4 hours after ventilation.Ejection fraction and exercise endurance were improved markedly (P0.01) 3 days after ventilation.Conclusion Noninvasive bi-level positive pressure ventilation could decrease the pulmonary edema,elevate PaO_2 and SaO_~2 and promptly improve heart function.