Oxygenation and non-invasive ventilation in critical and palliative care settings

Abstract

Acute respiratory failure at ICU admission of patients considered for palliative care leads to the preferential use of non-invasive
mechanical ventilation. Recently, nasal high fl ow oxygenation allowed to achieve new non-invasive therapeutic option. These
patients' prognosis is obviously impaired and their mortality is high, particularly if a malignancy is their underlying disease.
However, some of these patients may have a good outcome and be discharged from ICU with an acceptable quality of life.
This article aims to review the clinical practical use of noninvasive oxygenation support for these patients.