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Here you find the following information about non-invasive medical technology:

1. COPD – The Benefits of Non-Invasive Ventilation
2. EvitaXL with NIV plus option

News:

In the next ten years, the rate of deaths caused by COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) will increase by more than 30 per cent.¹ This estimation by the World Health Organization (WHO) from 2008 therefore assumes an extraordinary growth of this complex disease. Already today, COPD, which is used as the collective term for chronic obstructive bronchitis and pulmonary emphysema, is regarded as a widespread disease causing the death of more people all over the world than heart attacks.² Other experts estimate that COPD will probably cause more than six million deaths by 2020 and become the third most frequent cause of death.^3,4,5 In particular in COPD patients, the application of non-invasive ventilation methods at an early stage is considered to be the essential factor for improving the prognosis. For example, in the case of acute hypercapnic exacerbation of COPD, non-invasive ventilation in combination with the standard therapy can improve blood gases in the first hour, reduce the breathing and intubation rate as well as minimise the duration of hospitalisation and the mortality rate^6,7,8. Also in the case of acute respiratory failure, intubations can be avoided to some extent, complications can be reduced and hospitalisation can be shortened by means of non-invasive ventilation.⁹ In addition, non-invasive ventilation methods can reduce the risk for ventilation-associated infections during the weaning process, which in COPD patients is in most cases longer and more difficult than normal.¹⁰ This means that in particular, in this clinical picture non-invasive ventilation can lead to a considerable reduction in acute mortality.^11,12 Excessive smoking and drinking of alcoholic beverages as well as continuously increasing outdoor air pollution are regarded as the causes of COPD and reasons for the increase in cases.

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If invasive and non-invasive ventilation are combined in a single device, this can simplify the continuous implementation of an optimal ventilation therapy for therapists. This helps to provide optimal support for the healing process, improve workflows and to avoid subsequent intubation through non-invasive procedures.¹ Since July 2008, Dräger's Evita XL ventilation device, which supports both invasive and non-invasive ventilation, has offered enhanced functions for non-invasive ventilation - the so-called NIV plus option. This allows adults, children and even premature babies in hospital to breathe safely and gently through a mask.

If mask ventilation is used, leakage compensation (the compensation of any air leaks caused by, for example, a mask that has slipped out of place) is an important prerequisite. NIV plus comprises a further-developed, dynamic leakage compensation system, which improves the synchronicity between the patient and the ventilation device. With a maximum flow of 180 litres/minute, the device can compensate for drops in respiratory pressure and ensures constant ventilation, even in the case of fluctuating and high leakages. Furthermore, the automatic trigger adaption is able to recognise the patient's attempt to breathe and support spontaneous breathing, in order to encourage the patient as much as possible to breathe freely and independently.

In addition, the knowledge based, automatic weaning system SmartCare/PS allows accelerated weaning. This way it is possible to reduce the duration of ICU ventilation and shorten the time spent in the intensive care ward.²

The different configuration modes of lung-protective ventilation allow clinical personnel to individually configure the necessary volume and pressure ratios, and their combination, for each patient and to follow the changes achieved on the monitor. The goal: A gentle gas exchange, in which typical after effects like overexpansions or harmful collapsed lungs can be avoided, as well as problem-free breathing for a higher degree of patient comfort and faster healing.