The Intermittent Abdominal Pressure Ventilator as an Alternative Modality of Noninvasive Ventilatory Support: A Narrative Review
Abstract
Noninvasive ventilation has become the initial treatment for symptomatic ventilatory pump failure but, when used at ventilatory support settings, can be an alternative to tracheostomy mechanical ventilation. The intermittent abdominal pressure ventilator, a corset with an internal air sack inflated by a ventilator, allows to increase tidal volumes through the raising of the diaphragm and its consequent passive descent. It has been used for daytime support for more than 70 yrs, but its knowledge among clinicians is scarce. A narrative review was performed by searching PubMed, Medline, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews using the terms “IAPV” or “pneumobelt.” One hundred forty patients were cited using the intermittent abdominal pressure ventilator from 1946 until it went off the market in the 1970s, although many continued to use it. There was only one publication on its use from 2003 to 2017, but three publications from 2017 through 2021. It has been used for full diurnal ventilatory support by some patients for more than 50 yrs and has even been used throughout the labor of a mother with no ventilator-free breathing ability. The intermittent abdominal pressure ventilator is a ventilatory support alternative for patients with ventilatory pump failure. It can be effective and well tolerated and maintain quality of life without facial interfaces. More widespread application is warranted.
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Both continuous non-invasive ventilation support and invasive mechanical ventilation via tracheostomy allow patients to continue to live at home, with different impacts on quality of life.
“Both these forms of ventilation allow patients to continue to live at home with different impacts on Quality of Life (QoL) [3–6].”
From Life Experiences in Neuromuscular Tracheotomized Patients in Times of Covid-19 (2023) · cites this paper as [5]
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- Authors
- Pierucci, P., Di Lecce, V., Carpagnano, G. E., Banfi, P., & Bach, J. R.
- Affiliations
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (US)
- Venue
- American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
- Published
- 2021-06-07
- Volume
- 101
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 179-183
- ISSN
- 0894-9115 (ISSN-L)
- 1537-7385
- OpenAlex
- W3170366390
- Cited by
- 12
- References
- 26
- Citations by year
- 2025: 2 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 1
- FWCI
- 1.62
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Respiratory Support and Mechanisms
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Obstructive Sleep Apnea Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Neonatal Respiratory Health Research
- Keywords
- non-invasive ventilation, diaphragmatic elevation, tidal volume, tracheostomy avoidance, quality of life
- MeSH terms
- Abdomen, Adult, Female, Humans, Intermittent Positive-Pressure Ventilation, Male, Middle Aged, Ventilators, Mechanical, Respiratory Insufficiency, Young Adult, Noninvasive Ventilation
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