Non-invasive Ventilation Versus Continuous Positive Airway Pressure in Cardiogenic Pulmonary Edema

Inclusion Criteria: * Participants suffering from CPE, defined as having the presence of dyspnea, respiratory rate \>25 breaths/minute, the use of accessory respiratory muscles, cyanosis, cold sweats, bilateral crackles and/or wheezing on pulmonary auscultation, hypoxaemia, hypertension, and a predominance of bilateral pulmonary infiltrates upon a chest radiography (if available). * The potential causes of CPE have been understood to be Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS) with or without a persistent ST-segment elevation, hypertensive emergency, valvulopathy, acute arrhythmia, endocarditis, or decompensation due to a chronic heart failure. Exclusion Criteria: * The exclusion criteria were: a refused consent, the patient's inability to cooperate, severe encephalopathy (Glasgow Coma Score \<10) * Anatomical difficulty when adjusting the face mask, non-cardiogenic Acute Respiratory Failure (pneumonia, blunt chest trauma, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) * Respiratory or cardiac arrest on admission, together with the need for an immediate intubation. * Specific cardiac contraindications were also considered, including: cardiogenic shock on admission established by systolic blood pressure (SBP) \<90 mmHg, or a dependence on vasoactive drugs (norepinephrine \>0.5 µg/kg/min).