Figure 1
From: Non-invasive mechanical ventilation in patients with diffuse interstitial lung diseases
Gas exchange (PaO 2 /FiO 2 ratio and PaCO 2 ) and pH value in the arterial blood before and during non-invasive ventilation (NIV) treatment in the entire study population, in patients whose acute respiratory failure (ARF) was triggered by pneumonia (Group A), by an exacerbation of fibrosis (Group B) and by other causes (Group C). PaO2: partial pressure of oxygen; FiO2: Inspired fraction of oxygen; PaCO2: partial pressure of carbon dioxide; p = Mann-Whithey test between groups, NS: not significative. No significant difference was detected among the three study groups regarding PaO2/FiO2 ratio value on admission.