PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - J C Andreu-Ballester AU - A Almela-Quilis AU - M J Cano-Cano AU - R Sorando AU - A Dolz-Domingo AU - E Gonzalvo-Bellver AU - M Millan-Scheiding TI - Use of non-invasive positive pressure ventilation in emergency departments of hospitals in Spain AID - 10.1136/emj.2009.075697 DP - 2010 Aug 01 TA - Emergency Medicine Journal PG - 619--620 VI - 27 IP - 8 4099 - http://emj.bmj.com/content/27/8/619.short 4100 - http://emj.bmj.com/content/27/8/619.full SO - Emerg Med J2010 Aug 01; 27 AB - A survey was undertaken of the use of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in Spain. 45.7% of emergency departments use NIV. The average time it has been in use is 4 years. Public hospitals use NIV more frequently (89.5%) as well as teaching hospitals (78.1%). Emergency physicians are the professionals who most frequently use NIV (68.8%). High flux continuous positive airway pressure (58.4%) and facial masks (63.5%) are most commonly used. Only 18.9% of hospitals have quality registration in NIV and 35.6% have protocols for using NIV. The method is underused by technicians working in hospital emergency services and there is a lack of uniform protocols with other departments involved.