Comparisonof BiPAPNasalVentilationand Ventilationvia IronLungin SevereStable COPD *
controversial because of their obscure mechanisms. A randomized crossover study, using iron lung and positive pressure nasal ventilation (BiPAP) each for 40 mm, was performed in 11 stable patients with severe COPD. Throughout the study, we monitored surface EMGdi, EMGst, ECG, Sa05, ETCO2, and the movements of RC and tB. Afterwards the data were replayed to calculate VT, RR, PR, VT/TI, iEMG, and phaseangle. No statistically significant improvement was found in view of the above parameters. However, the percentage of iEMGst change after 40-mm BIPAP ventilation, compared with the baseline, was much more significant in patients with FEY below 0.55 L than those with FEV above 0.55 L (n 4:7, @iEMGst â€”¿ 62.93percent Â±23.27 percent vs 32.45 percent Â±42.79