Non-Invasive Ventilation

Who Can Benefit From NIV?

Apria offers non-invasive ventilation (NIV) therapy for people with:

• Chronic respiratory failure due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes chronic bronchitis, and emphysema
• Severe neuromuscular disorders
• Severe restrictive thoracic disorders

Benefits of NIV

The primary goal of NIV is to reduce breathing problems for people in chronic respiratory failure. Here are the advantages of NIV:

• Decreases the work of breathing and burden on respiratory muscles
• Reduces daytime sleepiness and morning headaches
• Improves sleep quality
• Maintains or improves the oxygen/carbon dioxide levels in the blood
• Inflates the lungs more fully
• Reduces the risk of hospitalization
• Improves quality of life

Continuation of Care Through End-Stage COPD

NIV is an effective therapy for people suffering from chronic respiratory failure due to COPD. Studies show that NIV decreases the need for intubation, improves survival, and reduces complications in these patients.

When started early, NIV can help COPD from getting worse while reducing hospital admission rates, length of stay, and healthcare costs and maintain or improve quality of life.¹

What Are Severe Neuromuscular Disorders And Severe Restrictive Thoracic Disorders?

Severe Neuromuscular Disorders

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), muscular dystrophy, head injuries, and spinal cord injuries are all examples of severe neuromuscular disorders.

An injury or disease affecting the part of the brain that controls breathing can interfere with the signal that would normally stimulate breathing. If this signal becomes irregular or absent, mechanical support for breathing such as NIV is necessary.

Damage to the spinal cord can also stop the signal from reaching the muscles that control breathing, so mechanical support may be needed to breathe.

Severe Restrictive Thoracic Disorders

These are conditions that cause severe pressure or restriction of the lungs, which can affect the muscles of breathing. Thoracic disorders, such as scoliosis and kyphosis, may weaken the breathing muscles or the way muscles receive the signal from the brain, making mechanical support for breathing necessary.

1. Lightowler JV, et al. Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation to treat respiratory failure resulting from exacerbations of COPD: Cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ. 2003:326(7382):185.