“If we don’t treat them immediately, they will die,” he said. He also noted that NIPP provides a secondary benefit of reducing afterload. “It gives the heart a nice little squeeze.”

Dr. Weingart also uses NIPP for patients in respiratory distress with DNR orders.

“It seems like an aggressive modality, but it’s actually comfort palliation,” he said. If the family wants to be with them, he exchanges the non-rebreather mask for a high-flow, nasal cannula.

According to Dr. Weingart, several patient populations benefit from the use of NIPP. Although he is known by his colleagues for stealing their tubes, he said, “That’s a good thing.”

Teresa McCallion is a freelance medical writer based in Washington State.