[Optimization of respiratory support of elderly patients with pneumonia in the early stages of respiratory failure].

The article provides an assessment of the effectiveness of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) in elderly patients with pneumonia in the early stages of acute respiratory failure (ARF). A total of 83 elderly patients with pneumonia were examined. By the method of randomization, patients were divided into 2 groups. The first group consisted of patients treated by the method of NIV, the second one of patients receiving standard oxygen therapy. The results of the study show that the use of NIV in the treatment of pneumonia, complicated by the ARF in elderly patients resulted in a significant improvement of arterial blood gas as well as hemodynamic and respiratory systems, in comparison with those of patients receiving oxygen therapy.