Non-invasive ventilation in acute respiratory failure Background: Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) has become a therapeutic tool for acute respiratory failure in pediatric patients. Objective: To describe NIV experience at a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, identifying factors associated to modality failure. Methods: Patients cohort who received NIV in acute respiratory failure during 2005-2007. Recolection of clinical and gasometrical variables previous and subsequent to connection to NIV. Descriptive statistic and logistic regression analysis were performed. Results: 51 events of NIV, where 55% cases were congenital cardiopathies. NIV main indication was respiratory distress post-extubation (31.4%). 15 patients (29.4%) required CMV. In univariate logistic regression for variables, an independent association was found between FiO2 pre-connection and FiO2 subsequent to NIV connection, with necessity of CMV. 9% presented complications and mortality was not related to ventilatory modality. Conclusions: NIV is useful in pediatric patients with acute respiratory insufficiency, with low risk of complications. The variables associated with failure are easy to obtain and interpretate.

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