Clinical Stabilization of Hypercapnia: NIPPV v HVNI

Hypercapnia Clinical Efficacy by NIPPV v HVNI: A Randomized Control Trial in the Stabilization of Acute Hypercarbic Respiratory Failure

This study will evaluate the ability of High Velocity Nasal Insufflation [HVNI] to effect ventilation and related physiologic responses in hypercapnic patients when compared to noninvasive positive pressure ventilation [NIPPV].

The overall objective of this randomized study is to evaluate the efficacy of HVNI, in comparison to NIPPV, to clinically stabilize and provide respiratory therapy to patients who have COPD with moderate-to-severe hypercapnic respiratory distress upon presentation. It is hypothesized that HVNI is comparable to NIPPV in the stabilization and relief of moderate-to-severe hypercapnic respiratory distress upon presentation, by relieving the patient's dyspnea (breathlessness) within 4 hours to a comparable degree to NIPPV.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults, 18 years or older with a known or suspected diagnosis of COPD
• Presentation with acute hypercapnic respiratory failure
• Moderate to Severe patient baseline hypercarbia/hypercapnia, defined as a baseline PCO2 of 60 mmHg or higher
• Venous pH of 7.0 - 7.35

Exclusion Criteria:

• Severe metabolic derangements (e.g. suspected drug overdose, mixed acid/base disorder)
• Need for airway protection
• Primary condition of Congestive Heart Failure
• Need for emergent intubation
• Pneumonia diagnosis with significant infiltrate on chest x-ray that is clinically correlated with pneumonia
• Inability to provide informed consent
• Pregnancy
• Known contraindication to perform procedures listed, or therapies described in the protocol
• Respiratory arrest or significant respiratory depression on presentation
• Significant nasal occlusion either unilateral or bilateral
• Absence of spontaneous respiration or known contraindication to HVNI
• Extreme agitation or uncooperativeness that would hinder either arm of randomized therapy
• Determined by the clinician to be sufficiently unstable or unsuitable for this study