Non Invasive Ventilation After Cardiac Surgery

Effectiveness of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Outside the Intensive Care Unit After Cardiac Surgery

Patients with respiratory failure following cardiac surgery are randomized to receive standard therapy versus non invasive ventilation. The hypothesis is that patients receiving non invasive ventilation will perform better than those who received standard therapy.

Inclusion Criteria:

• hypoxia

Exclusion Criteria:

• pneumothorax
• cardiocirculatory instability
• no written consent