Improving home oxigen therapy in patients with interstitial lung diseases (ILDs): Application of a portable non-invasive ventilation (NIV) device

In previous studies performed in COPD patients the use of a NIV device in addition to oxygen therapy may prevent the falling in oxygen saturation (SaO2) during exercise. The use of a NIV could improve respiratory dynamics due to an increased activation of respiratory muscles during exercise that could lead to an improvement in exercise tolerance and enhance the effects of the rehabilitation of these patients. We sought to assess in patients with oxygen therapy the effect of associating portable NIV to improve the oxygen parameters and distance covered at the 6 minute walking test (6MWT). We conducted a prospective observational study in patients with ILDs (n=15). After a clinical characterization, we performed the 6MWT with their usual oxygen flow. We compared the results obtained with the 6MWT performed using oxygen therapy and with the support of NIV. The following pressures parameters were used: EPAP: 4 mmHg, variable IPAP to achieve VT 8-10 ml/kg adjusted according to patient’s confort (average IPAP: 14 cm H2O). The use of NIV associated with oxygen therapy showed an increase of average SaO2 87,65+/-4,06 vs 90,31+/-4,29 (p=0.087) and final SaO2: 81,50+/-6,38 vs 85,83+/-6,93 (p= The use of a portable NIV system associated with oxygen therapy improves SaO2 during exercise.