Non-invasive ventilation in hypoxemic patients: does the interface make a difference?

Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) has been increasingly used in intensive care unit (ICU) for treatment of patients with acute respiratory failure (ARF) of varied etiologies. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have shown evidence in favour of NIV for patients with exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (1) and cardiogenic pulmonary edema (2), while a clear indication for patients with hypoxemic ARF in general and the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in particular (3).