Pursed-lip breathing ventilation for the treatment of hypercapnic respiratory failure in COPD

Background: Long-term non-invasive ventilation (NIV) is recommended in patients with COPD and persistent hypercapnic respiratory failure. The reduction of arterial pCO2 by NIV may be associated with prolonged survival. Patients treated with high inspiratory pressures often experience a “deventilation syndrome”, i.e. prolonged respiratory distress after mask removal. A new ventilation mode mimicking the technique of pursed lip breathing...