At the time of writing there exists no consensus on how to best approach non-invasive ventilation (NIV) withdrawal in a hospital setting which can lead to a varied and sometimes haphazard approach.
This study aims to identify patients who have had NIV withdrawn in hospital, document current practice and to assess how the approach varies from patient to patient and amongst different professional groups.
Method
A retrospective case series was conducted from April 2017-2018. The study was limited to those who died on the acute respiratory ward and who were coded for both respiratory failure and NIV.
Conclusion
This study evidences that there is wide and varied practice when withdrawing NIV in acutely medically ill patients. Whilst this is acceptable in some respects in that it can demonstrate individualised care, there ought to be more consistency to the approach of documentation and the discussions which should take place prior to withdrawal.
This work was presented orally at WMCARES PRIDE (Showcase) in 2019. If you would like further information, please be in touch via email.
