OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes in respiratory and circulatory functions in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients during sequential invasive-noninvasive mechanical ventilation therapy, and evaluate the effects of this new technique.

METHODSTwelve COPD patients with type II respiratory failure due to severe pulmonary infection were ventilated through an endotracheal tube. When the pulmonary infection control window (PIC-Window) occurred, the patients were extubated and were ventilated with a facial mask using pressure support ventilation combined with positive end-expiratory pressure. The parameters of hemodynamics, oxygen dynamics, and esophageal pressure were measured at the PIC-Window during invasive mechanical ventilation, one hour after oxygen therapy via a naso-tube, and three hours after non-invasive mechanical ventilation.

RESULTSThe variation in esophageal pressure was 20.0 +/- 6 cmH(2)O during naso-tube oxygen therapy, and this variation was higher than that during non-invasive mechanical ventilation (10 +/- 6 cmH(2)O, P < 0.01). The changes in respiratory and circulatory parameters were not significantly different between invasive mechanical ventilation and noninvasive mechanical ventilation (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe respiratory and circulatory functions of COPD patients remained stable during sequential invasive-noninvasive mechanical ventilation therapy using PIC-Window as a switch point for early extubation. The COPD patients can tolerated the transition from invasive mechanical ventilation to noninvasive mechanical ventilation.