{'fraction_non_alphanumeric': 0.02781456953642384, 'fraction_numerical': 0.008609271523178808, 'mean_word_length': 5.2181069958847734, 'pattern_counts': {'":': 0, '<': 0, '<?xml version=': 0, '>': 0, 'https://': 0, 'lorem ipsum': 0, 'www.': 0, 'xml': 0}, 'pii_count': 0, 'substrings_counts': 0, 'word_list_counts': {'cursed_substrings.json': 0, 'profanity_word_list.json': 0, 'sexual_word_list.json': 0, 'zh_pornsignals.json': 0}}
Mechanical non-invasive pursed-lip breathing ventilation for hypercapnic patients with COPD

Background: Long-term non-invasive ventilation (NIV) is recommended for patients with COPD and chronic hypercapnia. High inspiratory pressure NIV (hiNIV) and a maximum reduction of arterial pCO2 has been shown to prolong survival in patients with chronic hypercapnia. Often patients on hiNIV describe severe respiratory distress, known as “deventilation syndrome”, after removal of the NIV mask in the morning. With the “VIGARO” mechanical pursed-lip breathing ventilation (PLBV; FLO Medical, Melle, Germany), a new non-invasive ventilation mode is available that mimics the pressure-curve of pursed-lip breathing in the expiration phase. The clinical impact of switching patients from NIV to PLBV has not been studied so far. Methods: We retrospectively analysed the effect of switching from conventional NIV to PLBV in patients with COPD GOLD stage III and IV. Patients were investigated by lung function testing, blood gas analysis and 6 minute walk test before and 3-7 days after conversion from conventional NIV to PBLV. Results: In 16 patients who switched from conventional NIV to PLBV, the mean inspiratory ventilation pressure needed to achieve a constant pCO2 was reduced from 19.1 mbar to 14.1 mbar (p Conclusion: Switching patients with COPD GOLD III and IV and chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure from conventional NIV to PLBV may substantially increased exercise tolerance and FVC in the short term.