Fig. (1) Management of acute respiratory failure with noninvasive mechanical ventilation (NIMV). Flow chart developed by ICU physiotherapist team, from Clínica Alemana de Santiago, Santiago, Chile. ARF= Acute respiratory failure, NIMV= Noninvasive mechanical ventilation, COPD= Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ACPE= Acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema, ARDS= Acute respiratory distress syndrome, PAFI= PaO2/FiO2, GCS= Glasgow coma scale, Vme= Expiratory minute volume, SO2= Oxygen saturation.