Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation in patients with acute exacerbations of pulmonary tuberculosis sequelae]

To clarify whether noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) is effective in patients with acute exacerbations of pulmonary tuberculosis sequelae (PTS), 50 PTS patients (66 episodes) without long-term domiciliary noninvasive ventilation were studied, retrospectively. The average values (SD) of their pulmonary function tests and arterial blood gases were as follows; %predicted VC = 31.4 (8.4)%, pH = 7.29 (0.06), PaCO2 = 91.8 (19.7) mmHg, and PaO2 = 64.2 (20.3) mmHg. The probability of avoiding endotracheal intubation and recovering from an acute exacerbation with NPPV (NPPV success rate) was 92% as a whole. NPPV success rates according to the causes of deterioration were as follows; 96% in 26 episodes with only a simple right heart failure, 93% in 29 episodes with airway infectious diseases, 75% in eight episodes with pneumonia and/or acute respiratory distress syndrome. Moreover, the NPPV success rate of eight episodes in coma or semicoma was 88%. Most patients were treated in respiratory wards rather than intensive care units. Out of 46 patients who recovered from an acute exacerbation, 41 finally received domiciliary NPPV. In facilities where staff are well-trained for an acute NPPV, patients with exacerbations of PTS can be treated as successfully with NPPV as patients with COPD.