Intubation is a sexy procedure, there is no doubt about it.
NIV does not have the glamour; it’s not nearly as cinematic. But for the patient, to spend 30 minutes on a NIV mask is preferable to a couple of days on the ventilator. In this episode, I discuss some of the basic ideas and methods of NIV.
It is pretty simple as the mode only has 3 main settings:
FiO2 – set based on oxygen requirements, just like on the vent
PEEP/EPAP/CPAP – all the same thing, set this based on OXYGENATION needs. If the patient’s sat is low, start at 5 cm H20 and titrate up to 15-17 as needed.
PSV/IPAP – this setting is for ventilation. If your patient does not have ventilation problems, they don’t need PSV. If they do, start at 5 cm H20 and titrate to 15-17.
Yes, that’s right, I did not tell you to put every patient at 10/5. Very few of your patients will have both ventilatory and oxygenation problems. Asthma and COPD need inspiratory support. APE, atelectasis, pneumonia patients need PEEP.
I also talk about sedation while a patient is on NIV.
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Hi, my name is Scott Weingart. 
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
thank you Dr. Weingart for NIV discussion. its really helpful for us also at upstair on floor.
thanks for the comment!!
scott
Hi Scott,
I have just listened to your wonderful lecture.
I tend to believe that here in this country, we at ED are not equipped with machines that are similar standard to that of in the ICUs. The ventilators that we have here are more of rudimentary…sort of.
So many times I’ve encountered patients whom if we gave enough attention and if NIV get initiated aggrasively and timely , these patients might not need to be intubated at all. Even so, if NIV being given, the settings that we set to the patient were not proper and as such they still ending up intubated.
I must confess sir, that I’ve tried reading literature pertaining to NIV and manuals on how to use them to patients, but I’ve not quite understood them well. Not until l I listened to your podcast.
I have few questions with regards to the NIV, probably I pose them via email.
Thanks in advance for ur future input.
regards
Mohd
Any good resources to read up on em noninvasive positive pressure ventilation that will not turn me comatose?
Any sentinel articles to look at? or just look it up on your em crit text?
these two are pretty good
Crit Care Med 2005;33(11):2651
Chest 2007;132:711