Feltracco P, Serra E, Barbieri S, Persona P, Rea F, Loy M, Ori C. Clin Transplant. 2009 Sep-Oct;23(5):748-50.
This case report described the clinical course of two patients that suffered from refractory hypoxemia caused by the post-reimplantation syndrome treated with NIV in the prone and Trendelenburg positions. The first case report was characterised by a 37-year old woman undergoing bilateral sequential single lung transplant (BSSLT), as a consequence of end stage respiratory failure. She was extubated a few hours after arriving to the ICU and subsequently developed extensive patchy alveolar consolidations in the dorsal and basal regions of the lungs. Due to unresponsive hypoxia, despite the treatment with high oxygen using a face mask, the patient was treated with NIV through respiratory helmet. This approach in conjunction with alternating between the prone and the Trendelenburg positions, improved the patient's condition. Moreover, the implanted lungs were better filled with air and further improvements of oxygenation allowed the removal of the helmet. In the second case, a 44-year-old man with cystic fibrosis underwent BSSLT due to end-stage respiratory failure. Several hours after arriving in the ICU the patient was extubated, but due to increased oxygen desaturation he was treated with facemask delivered NIV. His gas exchange deteriorated as a consequence of lung infiltrations and atelectasis of the lower lobes. Similar to the first case, the implementation of the mask NIV delivery and change in position lead to the improvement of the patient's condition. Therefore, the results from these two case studies show that the use of helmet or facemask NIV in conjunction with position changes represents a valuable approach in patients that have undergone lung transplantation.
Link to abstract
Cammarota G, Longhini F, Perucca R, Ronco C, Colombo D, Messina A, Vaschetto R, Navalesi P.
Anesthesiology. 2016 Dec;125(6):1181-1189
Randomised trial of 15 patients undergoing three 30-minutes ventilation trials using two different helmets. The ventiltion modes were randomly applied: pneumatically triggered pressure support ventilation (PSP), neurally adjusted ventilatory assist (NAVA) and neurally controlled pressure support (PSN). The latter is a new proposed setting of the NAVA mode. Authors conclude that PSN improves comfort and patient-ventilator interactions in this scenario.
Link to abstract.
Patel BK, Wolfe KS, Pohlman AS, Hall JB, Kress JP. JAMA. 2016 Jun 14;315(22):2435-41
Single-centre randomised trial of 83 patients to determine whether NIV through helmet improves intubation rate among patients with ARDS. Primary outcome was proportion of patients who needed ETI, secondary outcomes included 28-day invasive ventilator-free days, ICU length of stay, and 90-day mortality. Authors conclude helmet NIV treatment resulted in a significant reduction of intubation rates as well as statistically significant reduction in 90-day mortality.
Link to abstract.
Brambilla AM, Aliberti S, Prina E, Nicoli F, Forno MD, Nava S, Ferrari G, Corradi F, Pelosi P, Bignamini A, Tarsia P, Cosentini R. Intensive Care Med. 2014 Jul;40(7):942-9
Multi-centre, randomised controlled trial across four Italian centres. Patients split into helmet CPAP and Venturi mask groups. Primary end point was percentage of patients meeting criteria for ETI. Authors conclude helmet CPAP reduces the risk of meeting ETI criteria in this scenario.
Link to abstract.
Dimech A. Nurs Crit Care. 2012 Jan-Feb;17(1):36-43
Research study using qualitative data to analyse the experiences of helmet CPAP. Results show experience was unique to each patient, with emergent themes including confusion, help to breathe, apprehensive and trust. Authors conclude the results indicate the basis for policy and guideline development in critical care departments.
Link to abstract.