Over the last two decades, the increasing use of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) has reduced the need for endotracheal ventilation, thus decreasing the rate of ventilation-induced complications. Thus, NIV has decreased both intubation rates and mortality rates in specific subsets of patients with acute respiratory failure (for example, patients with hypercapnia, cardiogenic pulmonary edema, immune deficiencies, or post-transplantation acute respiratory failure). Despite the increased use of NIV in clinical practice, there is still a need for more educational tools to improve clinicians knowledge of the indications and contraindications for NIV, the factors that predict failure or success, and also what should be considered when starting NIV. This book has the dual function of being a "classical" text where the major findings in the literature are discussed and highlighted, as well as a practical manual on the tricks and pitfalls to consider in NIV application by both beginners and experts. For example, setting the ventilatory parameters; choosing the interfaces, circuits, and humidification systems; monitoring; and the "right" environment for the "right" patient will be discussed to help clinicians in their choices."

La crescita esponenziale dell'interesse per la ventilazione non invasiva (NIV) verificatasi negli ultimi 10-15 anni, non solo dal punto di vista clinico e applicativo, ma anche speculativo, ha pochi eguali nella recente storia della medicina.
In Italia e in Europa in generale tale metodica e applicata su larga scala, prevalentemente nei reparti di Pneumologia e nelle Unita di Cure Intermedie Respiratorie, mentre per quanto riguarda la sua applicazione nei reparti di Terapia Intensiva Generale (UTI) i dati emersi da uno studio multicentrico condotto nei paesi francofoni vedono la NIV impiegata in una quantita di casi che rappresenta fino al 50% dei pazienti che richiedono assistenza ventilatoria.
Il recente studio EUROVENT ha inoltre dimostrato come la NIV non si limiti alla sua applicazione "acuta," dal momento che circa 25.000 pazienti sono attualmente ventilati "in cronico" a domicilio. Inoltre, si calcola che milioni di cittadini europei soffrano attualmente di disturbi respiratori durante il sonno, e per molti di essi il trattamento medico di prima scelta e rappresentato dalla NIV. Questo libro si propone lo scopo di richiamare l'attenzione sulle piu recenti acquisizioni in questo campo, con la speranza di fornire uno strumento valido e maneggevole per la scelta e l'impostazione della migliore modalita di ventilazione.

Now in full-colour, this eagerly-anticipated second edition continues to be the most comprehensive resource available on non-invasive ventilation (NIV), both in the hospital and at home. Reflecting a global perspective with expert contributors from more than 15 countries, the book: * provides clinical examples of NIV in practice with insightful vignettes * covers home- and intensive care-based ventilation * details NIV use in acute and chronic respiratory failure, plus paediatric and other specialty applications. Disease-specific sections provide best practice in the science, diagnostics and management of conditions such as COPD, cardiac failure, neuromuscular disease and obesity, while features such as 'Common Clinical Questions & Answers', abundant tables and illustrations, chapter summaries and new clinical vignettes showcase the realities of NIV in practice. This is essential reading for pulmonologists, critical care physicians and intensive care medicine specialists.