[Effect of noninvasive ventilation on pulmonary artery pressure in patients with severe kyphoscoliosis].

BACKGROUND

Many studies have shown, that non invasive ventilation via nasal access can normalize alveolar ventilation for individuals due to kyphoscoliotic deformity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of nasal IPPV on the pulmonary artery pressures (Pam) and the sleep efficiency of kyphoscoliotic individuals.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Five patients were studied (4 men, 1 woman; age 50.5 +/- 6.9 years): all patients showed hypoxemia and hypercapnia before therapy. We followed the patients about 6 months under NIPPV. We measured PImax, PaO2, PaCO2, Pam before and after 6 months with NIPPV.

RESULTS

PImax increased from 4.9 +/- 2.3 kPa to 6.5 +/- 1.3 kPa, PaO2 increased from 46.2 +/- 12.2 mmHg to 56.7 +/- 8.5 mmHg. PaCO2 decreased from 53.0 +/- 3.2 to 45.3 +/- 3.2. Pam decreased from 41.0 +/- 15.1 to 23.2 +/- 10.7 in 6 months of NIPPV. Total sleep time increased from 222 +/- 52 min to 326 +/- 43 min with NIPPV.

CONCLUSION

Similar to O2 long-term therapy in patients with COPD. NIPPV delivers in patients with kyphoscoliotic deformity a significant reduction of pulmonary artery pressure and increase of sleep quality.