PaO2/FiO2 relationship as a success predictor in non-invasive ventilation

Abstract

Hypoxemia represents a drastic consequence of numerous diseases. It is imperative that the physician count on all the tools needed to assess it effectively and early. The PaO2/FiO2 ratio, also called Kirby index, is merely a quotient that indirectly reflects changes in the ventilation-perfusion ratio or presence of pulmonary shunts. Many studies are in favor of its application as a predictor of mortality, as well as a success predictor of non-invasive mechanical ventilation, besides being useful in the follow-up of a seriously ill patient, from a hemogasometric viewpoint, who is receiving this type of ventilation. This the reason why a bibliographic review article was carried out using the services available in Infomed with the objective to identify relevant research works that deal with the importance of the Kirby index as a success and follow-up predictor of the non-invasive mechanical ventilation.

Keywords

• ventilation-perfusion ratio
• respiration, artificial
• noninvasive ventilation