Abstract Guidelines and instructions derived from adult randomized controlled trials are generally followed in pediatric ventilation, as there have been no large trials of this kind in children. Current treatment strategies aim at preventing ventilator-induced lung injury by avoiding too large tidal volumes, supporting patient's spontaneous breathing and preventing lung collapse with positive end-expiratory airway pressure. Neurally adjusted ventilatory assist (NAVA) is a novel ventilation mode that provides respiratory support proportional to the electrical activity of the diaphragm (Edi). The aims of this thesis were to assess daily practices in pediatric ventilation in Finland and to compare NAVA with conventional ventilation in terms of safety and quality of care. Current treatment practices were studied with a preliminary enquiry and a 3-month prospective survey that was offered to all hospital units providing ventilatory care for children <16 years of age. NAVA was compared with current standard ventilation in a crossover trial involving 18 pediatric patients and in a larger controlled trial in which 170 patients were randomized to receive either NAVA or conventional ventilation. Respiratory distress was the most common indication for invasive ventilation in neonates, and postoperative care in older children. The principles of lung-protective ventilation were generally accepted and the goals were achieved in the majority of treatment episodes. The low incidence of pediatric invasive ventilation favours centralization. NAVA proved to be a safe and feasible primary ventilation mode in pediatric intensive care. It improved patient-ventilator synchrony and led to lower peak inspiratory pressures and oxygen requirements. It also reduced the need for sedation during longer treatment periods. Information derived from the Edi-signal could be used to optimize the level of sedation and to identify patients with a potential risk of extubation failure. / Tiivistelmä Nykyisin käytössä olevat menetelmät lasten hengityskonehoidossa perustuvat suurelta osin aikuisilla tehtyihin tutkimuksiin ja totuttuihin tapoihin, sillä lasten hengityskonehoidosta on olemassa vain vähän tutkittua tietoa. Hengityskonehoidon aiheuttamaa keuhkovauriota pyritään ehkäisemään välttämällä suuria kertahengitystilavuuksia, tukemalla potilaan omia hengityksiä ja säilyttämällä ilmateissä positiivinen paine uloshengityksen aikanakin. Neuraalisesti ohjattu ventilaatio (NAVA) on uusi hengityskonehoitomuoto, joka tukee potilaan omia hengityksiä ohjaamalla koneen antamaa tukea pallealihaksen sähköisen signaalin avulla. Tämän tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli selvittää lasten hengityskonehoidon nykytilaa Suomessa sekä tutkia, voidaanko NAVAa käyttämällä parantaa hoidon laatua ja turvallisuutta. Nykyisiä hoitokäytäntöjä selvitettiin vuonna 2010 kysely- ja seurantatutkimuksella, johon kutsuttiin mukaan kaikki Suomessa lapsia ja vastasyntyneitä hoitavat tehohoito-osastot. NAVAa verrattiin nykyiseen hengityskonehoitoon 18 potilaan vaihtovuoroisessa tutkimuksessa sekä suuremmassa 170 lapsipotilaan satunnaistetussa kontrolloidussa tutkimuksessa. Eri syistä johtuvat hengitysvaikeudet ovat yleisin syy hengityskonehoitoon vastasyntyneillä ja suurten leikkausten jälkeinen hoito isommilla lapsilla. Keuhkoja säästävän hoidon periaatteet ovat Suomessa yleisesti hyväksyttyjä ja toteutuvat valtaosassa hoitojaksoja. Hengityskonehoitojaksojen määrän vähäisyys puoltaa hoidon keskittämistä suuriin sairaaloihin. NAVAa käyttämällä hengityskoneen antama tuki ajoittuu paremmin potilaan omien hengitysten mukaan ja sen avulla saavutetaan matalammat ilmatiepaineet sekä vähäisempi lisähapen tarve. Pitkissä hoitojaksoissa NAVA vähentää rauhoittavan lääkityksen tarvetta, ja pallealihaksen signaalia seuraamalla on mahdollista optimoida sedaatioaste aikaisempaa tarkemmin. Palleasignaalia voidaan myös hyödyntää arvioitaessa potilaan valmiutta hengitystuesta vieroittamiseen.

Non-invasiv ventilation är en vanligt förekommande behandling för patienter som söker akutsjukvård med akut respiratorisk svikt. Behandlingen startas ofta på akutmottagningen och fortsätter därefter på intensiv-, intermediär- eller vanlig vårdavdelning. Behandlingen kan av patienter upplevas både intensiv och betungande och ett betydande problem är att patienten inte tolererar behandlingen.  Syftet var att beskriva patienters erfarenheter av non-invasiv ventilator vid akut respiratorisk svikt. Metoden var en allmän litteraturöversikt med systematiskt tillvägagångssätt. Systematiska sökningar utfördes i databaserna PubMed, CINAHL och PsychInfo. Sammanlagt inkluderades 15 kvalitativa och kvantitativa vetenskapliga artiklar publicerade mellan år 2012–2019 till litteraturöversikten. Inkluderade artiklar analyserades med en integrerad metod.  Analysen ledde fram till två huvudkategorier och sex underkategorier. Resultatet påvisade förekomst av både fysiska och psykiska aspekter. Sammanfattningsvis var erfarenheter av negativ art vanligast förekommande och kunde karakteriseras av symtom på ångest, smärta och klaustrofobi. Positiva upplevelser var upplevelser av förbättrat andningsarbete, känslor av hopp och säkerhet samt att få en chans till ett fortsatt liv. Resultatet visade även hur personalen påverkar patienters erfarenheter av non-invasiv ventilatorbehandling, där bristfällig delaktighet är en tydligt hämmande faktor och hög kunskapsgrad samt erfarenhet hos personalen en framstående främjande faktor.  Slutsatsen blev att patienter många gånger upplever en majoritet av negativa symtom samtidigt som de befinner sig i en särskilt utsatt och sårbar situation. Behandlingens utfall påverkas av patientens erfarenheter men med hjälp av ökade kunskaper och ett personcentrerat arbetssätt hos hälso- och sjukvårdspersonalen kan den non-invasiva ventilatorbehandlingen optimeras. / Non-invasive ventilation is a common treatment for patients seeking emergency care with acute respiratory failure. The treatment is often initiated at the emergency department and further continues in the intensive- or intermediate care unit, or on a regular ward. The treatment can be experienced by patients as intensive and burdensome, and a significant problem is that the patient can’t tolerate the treatment.   The aim was to describe patients’ experiences of non-invasive ventilation in acute respiratory failure. The method was a general literature review with a systematic approach. Systematic searches were carried out in the PubMed, CINAHL and PsychInfo databases. A total of 15 qualitative and quantitative articles published between the years 2012–2019 was included for the literature review. The included articles were analyzed in an integrated method.  The analysis led to two main categories and six subcategories. The results showed occurrences of both physical and psychological aspects. In summary, negative experiences were the most common and could be characterized by symptoms of anxiety, pain and claustrophobia. Positive experiences were experiences of improved work of breathing, feelings of hope and safety and to be given a chance to a continued life. The results also showed how healthcare personnel affect patients' experiences of non-invasive ventilation, where decreased participation was a clearly inhibiting factor and high levels of knowledge and experience in the personnel was an eminent promoting factor.  The conclusion was that patients often experience a majority of negative symptoms and at the same time being in a particularly vulnerable situation. Treatment outcomes are affected by patients' experiences, but with the use of increased knowledge and a person-centered approach by the healthcare personnel, the non-invasive ventilation treatment can be optimized.

Résumé : Introduction : La ventilation nasale, de plus en plus utilisée chez le nourrisson, peut insuffler de l’air dans l’estomac et causer des reflux gastro-œsophagiens (RGO). Parmi les modes de ventilation nasale, l’aide inspiratoire (AIn) devrait entrainer un plus grand nombre de RGO que le neuro-asservissement de la ventilation assistée (NAVAn), où l’insufflation d’air est plus «physiologique». L’objectif principal de l’étude est de comparer le nombre de RGO en NAVAn et en AIn dans notre modèle ovin d’étude du RGO néonatal et de ventilation nasale. Méthodes : Une polysomnographie avec pH-impédancemétrie œsophagienne de 6 h a été effectuée chez 10 agneaux nouveau-nés. L’enregistrement a été répété trois jours consécutifs (une condition par jour) en respiration spontanée, AIn (15/4 cmH[indice inférieur 2]O) et NAVAn (15/4 cmH[indice inférieur 2]O) dans un ordre randomisé. Résultats : Comparé à la respiration spontanée [13 (23)], le nombre de RGO en 6 h a diminué fortement et de façon similaire en AIn [1 (3)] et en NAVAn [2 (2)] (p < 0,05), même pour des RGO faiblement acides et proximaux. De plus, le nombre d’insufflations d’air n’était pas différent entre l’AIn et la NAVAn. Conclusion : L’AIn et la NAVAn inhibent de façon équivalente les RGO chez l’agneau, incluant les RGO faiblement acides et proximaux, si la pression inspiratoire n’est pas trop élevée et malgré le fait que de l’air soit insufflé dans l’œsophage. Ce résultat est identique à celui obtenu avec l’application d’une pression positive continue nasale (6 cmH[indice inférieur 2]O). Il est possible que la pression positive appliquée lors de la ventilation diminue les relaxations transitoires du sphincter inférieur de l’œsophage, mais des études en manométrie œsophagienne sont nécessaires pour comprendre les mécanismes en jeu. // Abstract : Introduction: Nasal ventilation, increasingly used in infants, can blow air in the stomach and cause gastroesophageal reflux (GER). Among the nasal ventilation modes, pressure support ventilation (nPSV) should lead to a greater number of GER than neurally-adjusted ventilatory assist (nNAVA), where the air delivery is more "physiological". The main objective of the study is to compare the number of GER in nNAVA and nPSV in our unique sheep model of neonatal GER and nasal ventilation. Methods: A 6h polysomnographic recording with esophageal pH-impedance was performed in 10 newborn lambs. The recording was repeated for three consecutive days (one condition per day) for spontaneous breathing, nPSV (15/4 cmH[subscript 2]O) and nNAVA (15/4 cm H[subscript 2]O) in a randomized order. Results: Compared with spontaneous breathing [13 (23)], the number of GER in 6h strongly and similarly decreased in nPSV [1 (3)] and nNAVA [2 (2)] (p < 0.05), even proximal and weakly acidic GER. In addition, the number of air insufflations was not different between nPSV and nNAVA. Conclusion: nPSV and nNAVA both inhibit GER in lambs, including weakly acidic and proximal GER, if the inspiratory pressure is not too high and despite the fact that air is blown into the esophagus. This result is identical to the one obtained with the application of a nasal continuous positive airway pressure (6 cmH[subscript 2]O). It is posssible that the applied positive pressure decreases transient relaxations of the lower esophageal sphincter, but esophageal manometry studies are needed to understand the mechanisms involved.

Bakgrund: Patienter med kronisk obstruktiv sjukdom (KOL) som behandlas med Non-invasiv ventilation (NIV) har risk för trycksår och malnutrition. Observation och övervakning av patienterna är viktigt för att kunna följa behandlingsförloppet och tidigt upptäcka en eventuell försämring samt förebygga komplikationer. Dokumentation av given omvårdnad måste kunna följas för att utvärdera och säkerställa kraven på en god och säker vård. Syfte: Syftet med studien var att granska omvårdnadsdokumentationen för patienter med KOL som behandlats med NIV på en medicinsk akutvårdsavdelning. Metod: Studien genomfördes som en retrospektiv systematisk journalgranskning i 75 journaler med en granskningsmall. Resultat: Omvårdnadsprocessens steg fanns inte dokumenterad i sin fullständighet för trycksår eller nutrition i någon journal. Dokumentationen av omvårdnadsprocessen för trycksår var oberoende av antal vårddygn, kön och ålder men beroende av antal dygn med NIV.  För nutrition var dokumentationen av omvårdnadsprocessen beroende av antal NIV- och vårddygn men oberoende av kön och ålder. Dokumentationen för omvårdnad och behandling med NIV var utspridd i journalen under olika rubriker. Slutsats: Studiens resultat visade att det fanns brister i omvårdnadsdokumentationen.

No description available.

Bakgrund: Tidigare forskning visar att invasiv ventilation varit obehagligt för patienterna, därav har de varit djupt sederade. Rutinerna har ändrats och numera är patienterna ofta lätt sederade under invasiv ventilation på IVA. Lätt sedering har visats ge positiva fysiologiska effekter. Därför är det av stor vikt att belysa patienternas upplevelser av att vara lätt sederade under invasiv ventilation. Syfte: Syftet var att beskriva lätt sederade patienters upplevelser under invasiv ventilation på IVA. Metod: En strukturerad litteraturstudie med systematisk datainsamling har genomförts. 13 resultatartiklar inkluderades efter kvalitetsgranskning. Det kvalitativa innehållet analyserades med hjälp av dataextraktion. Resultat: Följande tre huvudkategorier, med subkategorier, utgjorde resultatet: Upplevelser av sitt tillstånd, Upplevelser av att bli sedd och hörd och Upplevelser av längtan. Patienterna hade både positiva och negativa upplevelser av att vara lätt sederade. Upplevelser av maktlöshet och förlorad värdighet var centralt i resultatet. Majoriteten av patienterna ville trots allt vara lätt sederade. Flera förbättringsområden framkom ur resultatet baserat på patienternas upplevelser. Slutsats: Resultatet kan ge ökad kunskap hos IVA-sjuksköterskan för att förbättra patienternas vårdupplevelse genom förbättringsarbeten inom verksamheten. Patienternas vårdvistelse kan underlättas med hjälp av hälsofrämjande åtgärder med minskad risk för vårdlidande. Sjuksköterske-patient ratio 1:1 tror författarna kan ge ökad patientfokuserad vård. Litteraturstudien har kartlagt befintlig forskning och även förslag på vidare forskning inom ämnet. / Background: Earlier research show that invasive ventilation has been uncomfortable for the patients. Therefore the patients have been deeply sedated. Routines have changed and the patients are nowadays often lightly sedated during invasive ventilation in the ICU. Light sedation results in positive physical effects. It's important to illuminate the patients'  experiences by light sedation during invasive ventilation. Aim: The aim of the study was to describe lightly sedated patients experiences during invasive ventilation in the ICU.  Method: A structured literature study with systematic data collection was implemented. 13 articles was included after quality control. The qualitative content were analyzed with data extraction.  Result: The result were constituted by the following three main categories with subcategories: Experiences of the condition, Experiences of being seen and heard, and Experiences by yearning. The patients expressed both positive and negative experiences associated with light sedation. Experiences of powerlessness and lost dignity were central parts of the result. Nevertheless, the majority of patients wanted to be lightly sedated. Several areas of improvement emerged from the result based on the patients' experiences. Conclusion: The result can provide the ICU-nurse with increased knowledge about the patients experiences of care during improvement within the intensive care. Patients hospital stay could be facilitated by health-promoted actions and reduced risk of suffering in care. The authors believe that nurse-patient ratio 1:1 can provide increased patient-focused care. The literature study has also illustrated the existing research and ideas for further research.

Einleitung: Bei PSV beendet der Respirator die Druckunterstützung, wenn der Inspirationsfluss auf einen prozentualen Anteil des Spitzenflusses, welcher als Umschaltkriterium be-zeichnet wird, absinkt. Bei obstruktiver Lungenerkrankung ist der Abfall des Inspirationsflusses verlangsamt, wodurch verspätetes Umschalten in die Exspiration begünstigt wird. Der verwendete Beatmungszugang, das etwaige Vorliegen von Leckage bei nicht-invasiver Beatmung, die Höhe der Druckunterstützung und die Atemfrequenz sind potentielle Faktoren, welche das Umschalten in die Exspiration beeinflussen können. Die synchrone Unterstützung der Patienteninspirationsbemühung ist entscheidend für den Erfolg der assistierten Beatmungstherapie. Methode: In einer Lungenmodellstudie wurde obstruktive Lungenmechanik simuliert und der Einfluss der Variation des Umschaltkriteriums auf die Patient-Respirator-Interaktion untersucht. Die Beatmungszugänge Endotrachealtubus, Nasen-Mund-Maske und Beatmungshelm wurden nacheinander in den Versuchsaufbau eingebracht. Bei nicht-invasiver Beatmung wurde mit und ohne Leckage gemessen. Bei Vorliegen von Leckage wurde zusätzlich in einem nicht-invasiven Beatmungsmodus beatmet. Die Höhe der Druckunterstützung (5 cmH2O, 15 cmH2O) und die Atemfrequenz (15/min, 30/min) wurden verändert. Die Patient-Respirator-Interaktion wurde bei Verwendung der Umschaltkriterien 10 %, 20 %, 30 %, 40 %, 50 %, 60 % und 70 % des Spitzenflusses analysiert. Aus aufgezeichneten Flusskurven wurden Parameter, welche die Synchronisation zwischen Patient und Respirator beschreiben (nicht-unterstützte Atemzüge, Doppeltrigger, inspiratorische und exspiratorische Triggerlatenz) sowie das Tidalvolumen bestimmt. Aus aufgezeichneten Druckkurven wurden der intrinsische PEEP und Druck-Zeit-Produkte bestimmt, welche in den verschiedenen Phasen des Atemzyklus die durch den Respirator geleistete Entlastung (PTPPEEP, PTPINSP) oder Belastung (PTPEXSP) der Atemmuskulatur beschreiben. Ergebnisse: Bei konventionell eingestelltem Umschaltkriterium (20 % - 30 %) wurde stets verspätetes Umschalten beobachtet. Die Erhöhung des Umschaltkriteriums resultierte in einer Reduktion der exspiratorischen Triggerlatenz, PTPEXSP und des intrinsischen PEEP. In der Folge wurden nicht-unterstützte Inspirationsbemühungen, die inspiratorischen Triggerlatenz sowie der zur Auslösung der Druckunterstützung erforderliche Kraftaufwand (PTPPEEP) reduziert. Bei übermäßiger Erhöhung des Umschaltkriteriums beendete der Respirator die Druckunterstützung vor dem Ende der simulierten Inspirationsbemühung. Vorzeitiges Umschalten ging mit einer Abnahme des Tidalvolumens und der effektive Druckunter-stützung (PTPINSP), sowie der Auslösung von Doppeltrigger, einher. Vorzeitiges Umschalten trat bei niedriger Atemfrequenz bei Verwendung der Umschaltkriterien 50 % bzw. 60 % bis 70 % auf. Bei Beatmung via Endotrachealtubus und Nasen-Mund-Maske wurden vergleichbare Ergebnisse beobachtet. Bei Beatmung via Beatmungshelm war die Interaktion zwischen Patient und Respirator wesentlich beeinträchtigt, wodurch vorzeitiges Umschalten begünstigt wurde. Bei Messungen mit Leckage war die exspiratorische Triggerlatenz verlängert. Bei Verwendung des NIV-Beatmungsmodus konnte die exspiratorische Triggerlatenz teilweise minimiert werden. Bei hoher Druckunterstützung war die exspiratorische Triggerlatenz, bei Beatmung via Endotrachealtubus und Nasen-Mund-Maske, verlängert. Konklusion: Die Variation des Umschaltkriteriums stellt eine effektive Möglichkeit dar, die Patient-Respirator-Interaktion zu optimieren. Bei obstruktiver Lungenerkrankung sollte das Umschaltkriterium, über das konventionell eingestellte Umschaltkriterium hinaus, erhöht werden. Das Umschaltkriterium ist maßvoll zu erhöhen, um eine vorzeitige Unterbrechung der Druckunterstützung zu verhindern. Das Risiko verfrühten Umschaltens ist bei Beatmung via Beatmungshelm, sowie bei niedriger Atemfrequenz, erhöht. Des Weiteren müssen das etwaige Vorliegen von Leckage, der bei nicht-invasiver Beatmung verwendete Beatmungsmodus, die Höhe der Druckunterstützung sowie die Atemfrequenz bei der Wahl des Umschaltkriteriums berücksichtigt werden.

Persone con broncopneumopatia cronica ostruttiva (BPCO) possono avere diversi atteggiamenti verso la ventilazione non invasiva (NIV), inclusi il rifiuto o l’utilizzo inappropriato. Questo costituisce uno spreco di risorse pubbliche, comportando costi significativi per l'assistenza sanitaria. Lo studio mirava ad analizzare l'impatto di un breve intervento di supporto psicologico sull'aderenza alla NIV in pazienti con BPCO. E’stato condotto uno studio clinico controllato e randomizzato a due rami su 84 pazienti con BPCO e con indicazione per NIV. Il gruppo sperimentale ha ricevuto un breve supporto psicologico, che include colloqui clinici, esercizi di rilassamento e di mindfulness. I controlli hanno ricevuto cure standard e hanno guardato video educativi relativi alla gestione della malattia. Il percorso era strutturato in 4-8 sessioni in ospedale, a casa e/o in telemedicina. Sono stati valutati valori, credenze ed esperienze di NIV attraverso interviste semi-strutturate e colloqui clinici. L'intervento psicologico è risultato correlato a miglioramenti della qualità della vita e dell'aderenza. Ha permesso di delineare un modello teorico del processo di adattamento alla NIV in pazienti con BPCO. I risultati suggeriscono che questo intervento psicologico può incrementare l'accettazione e l'aderenza alla NIV nella BPCO nella pratica clinica e sottolinea l'importanza di determinare le ragioni sottostanti l’uso della NIV. / People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may have different attitudes toward non-invasive ventilation (NIV), including rejection and misuse. That is a waste of public resources and results in significant health care costs. The study aimed to analyze the impact of a brief psychological intervention on adherence to NIV among COPD patients. A two-branch randomized controlled trial was conducted with 84 COPD patients using NIV. The experimental group received psychological support, including counseling, relaxation and mindfulness-based exercises. Controls received standard care and were exposed to educational videos. The intervention was structured over 4 to 8 meetings at the hospital, at home and/or via telemedicine. Values, beliefs and experiences of NIV were assessed with semi-structured interviews. The psychological intervention was related to improvements in both adherence and quality of life. A theoretical model of the adaptation’s process to NIV in COPD patients emerged. The findings suggest that this psychological intervention could increase acceptance and adherence to NIV in COPD in clinical practice.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T20:19:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 1354.pdf: 1194159 bytes, checksum: f55e476028028c44693b4da86ac5109f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-02-26 / Universidade Federal de Sao Carlos / The changes on the heart rate sympathetic-vagal balance caused to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or chronic heart failure, as well as, the hemodynamics change induced by the non-invasive ventilation were unclear. In this context, we proposed to develop two studies. The first study was titled by The heart rate autonomic control in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic heart failure patients on the rest and during the respiratory sinusal arrhythmia maneuver . The purpose of this study was to evaluate the heart rate (HR) autonomic modulation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients as well as chronic heart failure (CHF) patients on the rest as well as during the respiratory sinus arrhythmia maneuver (M-RSA); and to correlation the HR autonomic modulation and seriousness levels of both pathologies. Twenty-seven male volunteers were subdivided in three groups: ten presented COPD (69±9 years); seven presented CHF (62±8 years) and; ten were healthy with 64±5 year-old (control). When resting, the three groups electrocardiography signal was obtained in three conditions: 1) lying position for 15 min; 2) lying position during the M-RSA for 4 min; and 3) sitting position for 15 min. The data was analyzed by the time (RMSSD and SDNN indexes) and the frequency domain, in total power, low frequency, high frequency absolute (ab) and normalized (nu) units and LF/HF ratio. Regarding the M-RSA indexes, the expiratory/inspiratory ratio (E/I) and the inspiratory/expiratory difference (&#8710;IE) were calculated. The main results showed that the CHF and the COPD patients presented lower E/I ratio values (0,03±0,01 vs 0,09±0,04 e 0,04±0,02 vs 0,09±0,04) and &#8710;I/E values (0,67±0,13 vs 1,09±0,13 e 0,81±0,20 vs 1,09±0,13), when compared to control group. Strong correlations were observed between the forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) and the RMSSD (r=-0,73) and between the FEV1 and the BF absolute (r=-0,71) in the COPD patients. At same, strong correlations were observed between the ejecting fraction and the RMSSD (r=0,83) in CHF patients. Concluding, the results of this study suggest that both, the COPD and the CHF patients, presented parasympathetic activity reduction and there is a relation between the seriousness levels of both pathologies and the HR autonomic activity. The second study was titled to The acute effects of the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in the heart rate autonomic control of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic heart failure patients . The purpose of this study was to evaluate the acute continuous positive pressure airway over the heart rate (HR) autonomic control and the respiratory variables behavior in COPD as well as CHF patients. Twenty-eight male volunteers were sub-divided in three groups: ten presented COPD (69±9 years); eight presented CHF (62±8 years) and; ten were healthy with 64±5 year-old (control). The electrocardiography signal was obtained for 10 min in the sitting position with spontaneous breath (SB) and following randomly conditions: CPAP Sham, CPAP 5, and CPAP 10 cmH2O. Additionally, the breath rate, the endtidal of carbon dioxide, and the peripheral oxygen saturation were obtained. The HR and it variability data were analyzed by the time and the frequency domain, in according with previous describe. The main results showed that the ETCO2 reduced in all groups during the CPAP application. COPD group were significantly lower values of the RMSSD index in the Sham (1.06), CPAP 5 (1.08), and CPAP 10 (1,01) than SB (1,22). In addition, they presented increased in the LFnu (1.60 vs 1.82) and decreased in the HFab (1.90 vs 1.55) from the SB to CPAP 10. The CHF group RMSSD index and TP increased to SB (1.31 and 2.62) to CPAP 5 (1.44 and 2.87) and the CPAP 10 (1.48 and 2.97), respectively. Concluding, the CPAP caused modification in the HR autonomic control and improvement in the alveolar ventilation of COPD, CHF patients and healthy individuals. / As modificações do balanço simpato-vagal da freqüência cardíaca (FC) provocadas com o curso da doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica (DPOC) e da insuficiência cardíaca crônica (ICC), bem como, as que ocorrem em função dos ajustes hemodinâmicos induzidos pela aplicação da ventilação não invasiva são bastante contraditórias. Neste contexto, propusemos o desenvolvimento de dois estudos que poderiam contribuir com novas informações. O primeiro intitulado por Controle autonômico da freqüência cardíaca de pacientes com doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica ou insuficiência cardíaca crônica em repouso e durante a manobra de acentuação arritmia sinusal respiratória teve por objetivos avaliar o controle autonômico da FC de pacientes com DPOC ou ICC em repouso e durante uma manobra de acentuação da arritmia sinusal respiratória (M-ASR), bem como, relacionar a atividade autonômica da FC com a gravidade das patologias. Vinte e sete voluntários do sexo masculino foram subdivididos em três grupos: 10 com DPOC (GD) e 69±9 anos; 7 com ICC (GI) e 62±8 anos; e 10 saudáveis (GC) com 64±5 anos. Em repouso, o sinal eletrocardiográfico foi obtido em três situações: 1) 15 min na posição supina; 2) 4 min durante M-ASR na posição supina; e 3) 15 min na posição sentada. Os dados foram analisados no domínio do tempo (índices RMSSD e SDNN) e da freqüência, pela densidade espectral total (DET), bandas de baixa (BF) e alta freqüências (AF) - absolutas (ab) e normalizadas (un), e a razão BF/AF. Durante M-ASR foram calculadas a razão expiração/inspiração (E/I) e a diferença inspiração/expiração (&#8710;IE). Os principais resultados em logaritmos decimais (média±desvio-padrão) mostraram que os pacientes com ICC e DPOC apresentaram menor razão E/I (0,03±0,01 vs 0,09±0,04 e 0,04±0,02 vs 0,09±0,04) e &#8710;IE (0,67±0,13 vs 1,09±0,13 e 0,81±0,20 vs 1,09±0,13), respectivamente, comparados ao GC durante a M-ASR. Correlações fortes foram observadas entre volume expiratório forçado no primeiro segundo com o RMSSD (r=-0,73) e com a BF absoluta (r=-0,71) nos pacientes com DPOC; e entre fração de ejeção e o RMSSD (r=0,83) nos pacientes com ICC. Em conclusão, os resultados sugerem que tanto a DPOC como a ICC levam a redução da atividade parassimpática e que a gravidade de ambas está relacionada com o controle autonômico da FC. O segundo estudo com o titulo: Efeitos da aplicação aguda da pressão positiva continua nas vias aéreas sobre o controle autonômico da freqüência cardíaca de pacientes com doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica ou insuficiência cardíaca crônica , objetivou avaliar o efeito agudo da pressão positiva continua nas vias aéreas (CPAP) sobre o controle autonômico da freqüência cardíaca (FC) e o comportamento de variáveis respiratórias de pacientes com DPOC ou ICC. 28 homens foram subdivididos em três grupos: 10 com DPOC (GD) e 69±9 anos; 8 com ICC (GI) e 62±8 anos; e 10 saudáveis (GC) com 64±5 anos. O sinal eletrocardiográfico foi obtido por 10 min na posição sentada com respiração espontânea (RE) e randomicamente nas condições: CPAP sham, CPAP 5 e CPAP 10 cmH2O. Adicionalmente, foram obtidos os valores da freqüência respiratória, o volume de dióxido de carbono no final da expiração (ETCO2) e a saturação periférica de oxigênio. A FC e sua variabilidade foram analisadas no domínio do tempo e da freqüência, conforme descrito anteriormente. Os principais resultados mostraram que o ETCO2 reduziu em todos os grupos durante a aplicação da CPAP. O GD apresentou menores valores do RMSSD durante a CPAP sham (1,06), 5 (1,08) e 10 (1,01) em comparação a RE (1,22), bem como, aumento da BFun (1,60 vs 1,82) e redução da AFab (1,90 vs 1,55) da RE para a CPAP 10. No GI, o SDNN e a DET aumentaram da condição de RE (1,31 e 2,62) para CPAP 5 (1,44 e 2,87) e 10 (1.48 e 2,97), respectivamente. Os resultados sugerem que a CPAP melhorou a ventilação alveolar e provocou atenuação da atividade simpática sobre a FC de pacientes com ICC, bem como redução do tônus vagal de pacientes com DPOC.