Neurally Adjusted Ventilatory Assist for Non Invasive Ventilation and Patient-ventilator Interaction

The Effects of Neurally Adjusted Ventilatory Assist (NAVA) on Improving Patient-ventilator Interaction in Patients Undergoing Ventilation for Acute Respiratory Failure

The present study aims to compare various parameters reflecting patient-ventilator synchrony during standard pressure support (PS) and Neurally Adjusted Ventilatory assist (NAVA) in a group of patients receiving non invasive ventilation (NIV)for an episode of acute respiratory failure of various origin.

The present study aims to compare various parameters reflecting patient-ventilator synchrony during standard pressure support (PS) and Neurally Adjusted Ventilatory assist (NAVA) in a group of patients receiving non invasive ventilation (NIV)for an episode of acute respiratory failure of various origin. The subgroup of COPD patients will be analyzed separately. The effects of various setting of Neurally adjusted ventilatory assist on patient-ventilator interaction will also be explored.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients admitted to the ICU and treated with Non invasive ventilation for acute respiratory failure of any origin

Exclusion Criteria:

• severe hypoxemia requiring an FIO2>0.6
• hemodynamic instability
• known oesophageal problem
• active upper gastro-intestinal bleeding
• any other contraindication to the insertion of a naso-gastric tube
• impaired consciousness or absence of patient cooperation
• facial or laryngeal lesions contraindicating the use of NIV
• poor short term prognosis