Avoidance of reintubation by using sedation during noninvasive positive pressure ventilation in a 3-month-old infant with postoperative respiratory failure.

Maintaining alertness during noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) is important, but there are no established guidelines for the use of sedation. We report our first experience of an infant with post-surgical vocal cord paralysis, severe stridor and breathing difficulties, who was reintubated after NPPV treatment without sedation, but who avoided a third reintubation through the use of sedation with the second NPPV treatment. NPPV treatment with the proper sedation can improve blood gas data in those patients with severe dyspnea, which can occur during respiratory care in several situations, and can affect not only infants, but also adults including elderly patients.