Non-invasive ventilation for acute cardiogenic pulmonary oedema

Blog Post by Mr Tim Case MPhil MA (Cantab) Medical Student, Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB1 2EW, UK, and Dr Stephen T Webb MB BCh BAO FRCA EDIC, Consultant in Anaesthesia & Intensive Care Medicine, Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Papworth Everard, Cambridge, CB23 3RE, UK

Acute cardiogenic pulmonary oedema (ACPO) is a life-threatening consequence of acute heart failure that affects more than 17000 patients in the UK per year[i].  As the left ventricle fails, increased hydrostatic pressure causes fluid to leave the pulmonary capillaries and fill the alveoli.  Clinical features of ACPO include dyspnoea, tachypnoea, wheeze, pulmonary crepitations and hypoxaemia.