Objective To explore the efficacy of bi-level positive airway pressure ( BiPAP)ventilation plus plateau exhalation valve ( PEV) combined with respiratory stimulant for the treatment of pulmonary encephalopathy in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease( AECOPD) . Methods 70 AECOPD patients with pulmonary encephalopathy were randomly divided into a control group and a treatment group. All patients received BiPAP ventilation and conventional therapyincluding antimicrobial, bronchodilation, and expectorant treatment. In the treatment group, the BiPAP ventilator was connected to PEV additionally, and naloxone and nikethamide were administered for 3 days.Clinical symptoms, blood gas analysis, vital signs, gas leakage conditions, and adverse reactions were recorded. Results Heart rate, respiratory rate, PaCO2 , and APACHEⅡ score were more significantly lower,the time to recover consciousness was shoter, meanwhile PaO2 , SaO2 , pH, and glasgow coma scale were significantly higher in the treatment group compared with the control group( all P lt; 0. 01) . Two cases in the treatment group and 5 cases in the control group received tracheal intubation and invasive ventilation due to treatment failure. Two elderly patients in the control group died in hospital. Conclusion Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation plus PEV combined with respiratory stimulant can significantly improve symptoms, shorten the time to recover consciousness, reduce the rate of endotracheal intubation, and improve hypoxemia and hypercapnia rapidly in AECOPD patients with pulmonary encephalopathy.
Objective To observe the serumlevel of neuron-specific enolase( NSE) in patients with pulmonary encephalopathy and its changes after treatment with mechanical ventilation. Methods Twentyone patients with pulmonary encephalopathy were enrolled. Glasgow coma scale( GCS) , serumNSE level, and arterial blood gas were evaluated at three time-points: before mechanical ventilation, after 12 hours mechanical ventilation, and the moment of consciousness. Results 18 patients recovered consciousness, and 3 patients remained in persistent coma and died. GCS and arterial blood gas improved obviously after 12 hours mechanical ventilation. Meanwhile, the serumNSE concentration decreased significantly after 12 hours mechanical ventilation [ ( 24. 54 ±6. 65) μg/L] and at the moment of consciousness [ ( 14. 19 ±2. 91) μg/L] compared with before mechanical ventilation( P lt; 0. 05, P lt; 0. 01) . Conclusion Dynamic measurment of serumNSE may be a useful biomarker for assessing the severity of cerebral injury and predicting prognosis.