Airway and ventilation management are particularly challenging in the intensive care unit (ICU), and are associated with high morbidity and mortality. Figure summarizes some of the more recent findings from the literature. In the ICU, the prevention and management of acute respiratory failure (ARF) most commonly involves the use of noninvasive ventilation (NIV). A recent prospective multicenter audit study by Demoule et al. examined the use of NIV among 4132 patients receiving mechanical ventilation (51% required ventilatory support for ARF and 49% for non-respiratory conditions).

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