Yuwen Luo, Yan Luo, Yun Li, Luqian Zhou, Zhe Zhu, Yitai Chen, Yuxia Huang, and Xin Chen. Yonsei Med J. 2016 Jul 1; 57(4): 936–941.
This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effects of helmet CPAP on gas exchange, mortality, intubation rate and in-hospital mortality rate in comparison with the conventional oxygen therapy (COT). Data obtained from four studies and 377 subjects with hypoxemic acute respiratory failure (hARF) showed that helmet CPAP significantly increased the PaO2/FiO2, and reduced the arterial carbon dioxide levels, intubation rate and in-hospital mortality rates as compared to COT therapy. These results suggest that the helmet improves oxygenation, reduces mortality and intubation rates. However, large randomised controlled trials are needed to validate these findings.
Link to abstract.
Antonelli M, Conti G, Pelosi P, Gregoretti C, Pennisi MA, Costa R, Severgnini P, Chiaranda M, Proietti R. Crit Care Med. 2002 Mar;30(3):602-8
Prospective clinical pilot investigation on 33 patients treated with noninvasive pressure support ventilation (NPSV) delivered by helmet. Each patient was matched with two controls with ARF treated with NPSV via a facial mask. Primary end points were improvement of gas exchange, need for endotracheal intubation and the complications related to NPSV. Both groups improved oxygenation after NPSV, less patients failed NPSV and were intubated in the helmet group and less complications occured, while longer continuous application of the tecnique was possible. Authors concluded that NPSV by helmet successfully treated hypoxemic ARF, with better tolerance and fewer complications than facial mask NPSV.
Link to abstract.