This study was undertaken to investigate the haemodynamic effect of non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) in patients after cardiac surgery. NPPV has recently become popular as method for treating acute respiratory failure. Its influence on cardiopulmonary haemodynamics is still unknown.
Division of Critical Care, Department of Cardiology, Angiology and Pneumology, Otto-von-Guericke Universität, Magdeburg, Germany. birgit.hoffmann@medizin.uni-magdeburg.de