Progress in the management of IPF-related acute exacerbations: a goal for patients, respirologists and intensivists

I appreciate the expressed views of F. Vincent and colleagues, regarding the need to address treatment consideration of acute exacerbation (AE) of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). While the mortality of patients manifesting AE of IPF is unfortunately high, F. Vincent and colleagues argue that supportive care in the intensive care unit (ICU) is an appropriate consideration, including noninvasive and/or mechanical ventilation for patients. Indeed, well-informed patients may opt for such aggressive supportive measures in the ICU, and for some patients listed for lung transplantation, such aggressive supportive measures may serve as a "bridge" for a suitable lung to become available during a set time. Such decisions will need to be made on a case by case basis and tailored to patients’ preferred choices, advance directives that patients may have in place and other individual needs. In addition, other confounding factors, such as comorbid conditions if present, which may have a poor outcome otherwise, should be taken into consideration when providing aggressive supportive care in the ICU for patients manifesting AE of IPF.
Source: European Respiratory Journal - Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Tags: Interstitial and orphan lung disease Original Articles: Correspondence Source Type: research