Full-time noninvasive ventilation: possible and desirable.

Noninvasive ventilation has been available for over 100 years. In the past 25 years, relatively lightweight, portable ventilators and comfortable interfaces have become available that have allowed for full-time noninvasive ventilation. In motivated individuals who have access to centers with expertise in nocturnal and diurnal ventilation, continuous noninvasive ventilation is quite feasible. There are several reasons continuous noninvasive ventilation may be preferable to invasive tracheostomy ventilation, including the lack of need for an expensive surgical procedure, and less risk of infectious and bleeding complications. This article reviews the techniques and rationale for full-time noninvasive ventilation.