Objectives: Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in patients with acute respiratory failure (ARF) is subject to a large number of failures due to discomfort of the art, the feeling of difficulty breathing and pain. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of sophrology to improve conditions for the realization of NIV in patients with ARF.
Patients and methods: In this prospective randomized and controlled study, consecutive patients with ARF were included. From the very first NIV session, they received either sophrology during the first 30 min of NIV (S group), or standard care by the same nurse during 30 min (T group). The hemodynamic and ventilatory data were recorded continuously; pain, respiratory difficulty and discomfort were measured with a numeric scale at the end of the session.
Results: Thirty patients were included in the study, 27 have been analysed. Each patient received an average of four sessions NIV during the protocol. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of improvement in gas exchange. In contrast, there was a significant difference in terms of reduction of difficulty in breathing (-76%), discomfort (-60%) and decrease the pain (-40%) in the sophrology group (p<0.001). Respiratory rate, heart rate and systolic arterial blood pressure were decrease during NIV.
Conclusion: Sophrology constitutes aid for the achievement of the meetings of NIV in patients' IRA.