Risk factors of non-invasive ventilation failure in hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome

Background: Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) was one of the first-line ventilation supports for hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Successful NIV may avoid need for intubation. However, the influence NIV failure had on patients’ outcome and its risk factors were hardly known. Methods: In this retrospective observational study, we reported risk factors and incidence of NIV failure in HSCT patients who were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) with a diagnosis of ARDS and supported with mechanical ventilation, in a 5-year period. Patient outcomes, such as ventilator-free days, ICU-free days, and ICU mortality were also reported. Results: Of all the 94 patients included, 70 patients were initially supported with NIV. NIV failure occurred in 44 (63%) patients. Male sex, elevated serum galactomannan (GM) test, (1-3)-β-D-glucan (BG) assay, or elevated serum creatinine level were risk factors for NIV failure. When compared with the NIV success group, failure of NIV was associated with much fewer ICU-free days (22 versus 0, p