Non-Invasive Positive Pressure Ventilation and Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)

ARDS patients in the NPPV group showing no indications for urgent intubation received NPPV in addition to standard medical therapy, and those with indications were intubated. BIPAP Vision machine (Respironics, PA, USA) were used for NPPV.

Standard therapy group (invasive ventilation). Patients in need of endotracheal intubation were mechanically ventilated with Amadeus (Hamilton, Via Nova, Switzerland) and Esprit (Respironics, PA, USA) ventilators in the assist-control or synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation (SIMV) mode.