Noninvasive ventilation in emergency care

Abstract

The use of noninvasive ventilation (including bilevel positive airway pressure and continuous positive airway pressure modalities) has become increasingly more widespread in emergency care, offering an alternative to traditional ventilation using an endotracheal tube. This article provides an overview of the types and potential uses of noninvasive ventilation, the risks and benefits of its use, and current evidence to support its use in specific patient populations. Guidelines for appropriate selection of patients for noninvasive ventilation therapy are provided. Management considerations, assessment techniques, troubleshooting, and transportation of patients receiving noninvasive ventilation are also discussed. Advanced practice nurses in the emergency department can provide leadership and advocacy for its use in appropriate patients, and this article provides the foundational knowledge to do so.