NIPPV provides positive pressure ventilation through a face mask without intubation. We performed NIPPV for 2 patients with acute respiratory failure following cardiovascular surgery. (Case 1) A 63-year-old man, who had had COPD (Hugh-Jones class III), underwent replacement of the aortic arch. He was extubated after 5 days. However, he was re-intubated under controlled ventilation because of deterioration of his respiratory condition. The patient had NIPPV after extubation on postoperative day 14 because he was alert and had no cardiovascular compromise. On the 18th postoperative day he was weaned from NIPPV. (Case 2) A 67-year-old man underwent coronary artery bypass surgery. On the next day he was extubated, but he suffered from hypoxemia due to impaired respiratory condition on postoperative day 3. The patient underwent NIPPV instead of conventional mechanical ventilation because his condition was stable except for respiration. Respiratory condition improved quickly and he was weaned from NIPPV on the 7th postoperative day. NIPPV is an effective method for managing patients with acute respiratory failure after cardiovascular surgery.

A24-year-old woman felt sore throat on day 1 of symptom onset and became feverish and had chills on day 2.She came to our clinic on day 3, and was diagnosed as having a cold. Subsequently, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) gene was detected in her nasopharyngeal swab by PCR ; therefore, she was isolated in a hotel room. On day 5, she started taking maoto, traditional Kamp medicine, because a high fever and nausea continued after her moving to the hotel. After taking maoto, perspiration was noted, and the fever resolved. Treatment with maoto was stopped for one day due to worsening of the nausea. The result of a new PCR was positive on day 7, but showed a decreased viral load. Maoto has been shown to be effective against influenza. The present case suggests that maoto may also be effective for novel coronavirus infection (coronavirus disease 2019 ; COVID-19) with influenza-like symptoms. In addition, since nausea may occur as a side effect of maoto, additional combination with other Kampo drug(s) may be considered.