Davidson AC, Banham S, Elliott M, et al. BTS/ICS guideline for the ventilatory management of acute hypercapnic respiratory failure in adults. Thorax 2016;71 Suppl 2:ii1–35. doi: 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2015–208209.

The British Thoracic Society wishes to clarify reference to the definition of hypercapnia in relation to the BTS/ICS Guidelines for the ventilatory management of acute hypercapnic respiratory failure (2016).

The British Thoracic Society recognises the definition of hypercapnia as a PaCO2 ≥6 kPa as used in the BTS Standards of Care document on non invasive ventilation in acute respiratory failure1 and BTS …