The effectiveness of long-term respiratory support in a patient after pneumonectomy

Abstract

Respiratory support for chronic respiratory failure in the last stages is widely used, most often in patients with end-stage COPD. It has been proven that the development of chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure is associated with an increasing in exacerbations, increased hospitalization rates, and an acceleration of the time before subsequent decompensation. Also hypercapnia isa determining factor in mortality. Effective treatment method of hypercapnic insufficiency is non-invasive ventilation. Long-term non-invasive ventilation improves daytime hypercapnia, quality of life, increases the period until the next severe exacerbation and survival of patients with COPD. Patients with COPD have different phenotypes and various comorbid diseases, which which may be challenging while choosing method of respiratory support and assessing the effectiveness of this treatment method. There is lack of data on long-term non-invasive respiratory support for patients with COPD after pneumonectomy in chronic period. Most of publications dedicated for early post-operative period after pneumonectomy. The purpose of this publication is to present a case of successful long-term non-invasive ventilation combined with oxygen therapy in a patient with COPD and bronchiectasis of a single lung. Stages of management of hypoxemic and subsequently developed hypercapnic chronic respiratory failure are reflected. We demonstrate experience of successful long-term ambulatory non-invasive ventilation in a patient with chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure as a result of COPD and pneumonectomy was demonstrated. Observation study showed feasibility of combined respiratory support in outpatient settings for patient with COPD of a single lung and a history of pneumonectomy.