I have used the Servo I a bit. The NIV mode isn't something I have used a lot. It does make some inherant changes to Alarms, Trigger, and demand as mentioned by Seatac.

As mentioned by Renton you will need a non-vented mask or the excessive leak will cause a great deal of pressure flux. The flapper valve in the mask then become the biggest problem. At lower pressures the valve will be prolematic in any ventilator. The circuits we use are generally disposable doubles with an HME at the mask.

In our situation we generally use Visions for NIV, but I can't see any reason not to use a vent for the same. I have done this really well with an LTV. In actual fact the LTV and Servo I should outperform a Vision though we are told the Vision is a tertiary vent. I am told that Servo I is a great device for NIV and works also particularly well in neo populations.

We began using the Servo for NIV on ICU and ED patients only in November 2007 and have had wonderful results. There is a learning curve for physicians in understanding that on the Servo the PS is set not the IPAP as on the Vision. We use the Vision on our stepdown unit a majority of the time. I agree that using the Servo for all NIV doesn't make sense but I do agree that it could replace all ICU NIV machines.

Can people tell me how they charge the patient when doing NIV on the vent (obviously a vent charge), NIV with a standard BIPAP ( we charge the patient for every 4h using) and also BIPAP using a Vision? Do hospitals charge all three as a vent charge? Also with a Servo i, we use heated wire circuits on vented patients. We are having problems with water condensation collecting. We were told by the rep. to keep the heater on 37 degrees. We use a filter on the end of the exp circuit which is connected to the vent. This filter gets so wet that we have to change filters every 4hr.s. On the PB 840 all you can drain the water but with the Servo there is not the same option. Can we do anything different with this so we wouldn't need to break the circuit every 4hr.s to change the filter? thanks

Hi DB
Please look at the my post on the Servo discussion explaining our servo-i circuit.

Heliox coming soon for the SV-I; maybe NIV to be used in conjunction.