The role of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation in community-acquired pneumonia: Which criteria predict success or failure?

In strictly selected patients with severe respiratory failure due to influenza H1N1 pneumonia presenting with Simplified Acute Physiology Score II lower than 34, focal bilateral infiltrates [6], and Pao2/Fio2 at admission higher than 150 and after 1 hour of NIV higher than 175 [5,7], Santo et al [8] observed an 87.5% NIV success rate. [...]2 recent randomized controlled studies were published concerning the use of helmet continuous positive airway pressure vs oxygen therapy in severe hypoxemic respiratory failure due to pneumonia [9,10].