Petra Senajová, Ivana Trojová, Zuzana Štrbová, Radovan Tiško, Ružena Tkáčová, Pavol Joppa
Kyphoscoliosis is characterized by chest wall deformity with its reduced compliance and impaired mechanics of breathing,
resulting into severe restriction, progressive hypoventilation and ultimately into chronic respiratory failure. Noninvasive
ventilation (NIV), combined with long-term supplementary oxygen, should be considered as an effective treatment
modality. Aim of the present retrospective study was to evaluate the effect of NIV in 13 female patients with
kyphoscoliosis (mean age 50.4 ± 16.1 years). In patients with compensated respiratory failure (n = 10) NIV treatment
reduced arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure (PaCO2): from 8.49 ± 1.96 kPa to 6.88 ± 0.57 kPa at the end of hospitalization
and further to 6.11 ± 0.68 kPa after one year of NIV use. In patients with respiratory acidosis (n = 3) PaCO2
decreased from 9.66 ± 0.35 kPa to 7.31 ± 0.03 kPa and further to 6.96 ± 0.53 kPa. This was paralleled by a decrease of
bicarbonate concentration in both groups and by normalization of pH in patients with acidosis. In patients with kyphoscoliosis
NIV represented an effective treatment modality for chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure.