Biphasic Cuirass Ventilation - Advantages

Advantages

BCV is non-invasive and therefore avoids some of the problems associated with invasive ventilation such as infection and barotrauma. Unlike intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV), BCV is active in both the inspiratory and expiratory phases (biphasic). This allows greater control over the tidal volumes and respiratory rate. BCV may also help to maintain and redevelop the respiratory muscles which may weaken with respiratory failure and mechanical ventilation, this allows patients to be weaned from a ventilator. BCV also does not impair cardiac function, as IPPV does. BCV is often used as an aid in patients with poor cardiac output.

Unlike conventional negative pressure ventilation, biphasic cuirass ventilation is able to quickly reduce any harmful buildup of CO₂ using its active expiratory phase. Many published papers and case studies now show how effective BCV is at reducing CO₂ buildup. It has also now been shown that the most effective ventilation frequency to reduce CO₂ when using BCV is 60 cycles per minute. The oscillations caused by BCV assist in the removal of secretions which are a symptom of many respiratory diseases. Lastly, because BCV does not require the patient to be intubated or to have a tracheostomy, patients can have BCV at home.

BCV has also been successfully used in a case of failed fiberoptic intubation, in microlaryngeal surgery, and after pediatric cardiac operations.