Acute hemodynamic effects of non-invasive ventilation in patients with obesity hypoventilation syndrome

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the acute effects of volume-targeted non-invasive ventilation (NIV) on hemodynamic parameters assessed by impedance cardiography in patients with obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS). BACKGROUND Despite the well-described beneficial effects of NIV using volume-targeted pressure support ventilation modes on respiration in OHS patients, questions were raised about the impact of this treatment on the cardiovascular system. METHODS In 15 patients (10 men; mean age, 55.8±9.3 years) impedance cardiography recordings were taken at baseline, after 120 minutes while on NIV and 20 minutes after NIV termination. A repeated-measures analysis of variance was used for comparisons. RESULTS Compared to baseline, a reduction in heart rate (from 80±11 to 73±10 beats per min, p