Patient ventilator asynchrony and sleep disruption during non-invasive ventilation

Patient-ventilator asynchrony (PVA) are a common phenomenon affecting all patients receiving long-term domiciliary ventilation. The interruption of synchrony between the patient and the ventilator has been reported to be a possible cause of nocturnal sleep disruption leaking to arousals, awakenings and reduced periods of stage 3 and REM sleep overnight. The cause of PVA is multi-factorial driven frequently by leak at the interface, changing respiratory breathing patterns and changes in sleep stages. It currently remains unclear as to whether the PVA is the cause of sleep fragmentation or if PVA is purely a marker of unsuccessful ventilatory control, patient discomfort and underlying sleep disruption.