ABSTRACT
The identification of patients eligible for long-term noninvasive ventilation (LTNIV) is a challenging task. Before starting respiratory support, it is essential to ask three main questions: (1) Does the patient have a disease known to cause ventilatory failure? (2) Does the patient have symptoms suggesting hypoventilation? (3) Does the patient have physiological abnormalities confirming hypoventilation? Sometimes, due to disease progression, ventilatory dysfunction increases and ventilatory support must then be adapted accordingly. In this chapter, we will discuss the indications and outcomes of noninvasive ventilatory support in patients with restrictive and obstructive disorders.
