Analysis and follow-up of home mechanical ventilation in 11 children with chronic respiratory failure / 中华全科医师杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the feasibility and safety of long-term home mechanical ventilation(HMV) in children with chronic respiratory failure.Methods:Clinical data of 11 children with chronic respiratory failure, who underwent HMV with the care of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University from January 2013 to December 2019, were retrospectively reviewed. The clinical manifestation, growth and development, quality of life, adverse events and prognosis of HMV children were analyzed.Results:There were 8 boys and 3 girls with the onset age of 26 days to 13 years old; and the age at starting HMV was 3 months to 13 years old. Eight children were diagnosed as neuromuscular diseases, and 3 children were diagnosed as respiratory diseases. The duration of institutional mechanical ventilation was 2 weeks to 8 months. Six patients underwent invasive HMV via a tracheostomy, and 5 received non-invasive ventilation via nasal and face masks. Bi-level positive airway pressure ventilation mode was applied in all the patients. The duration of HMV was 3 months to 27 months. During follow-up, no HMV related adverse events were observed. Both the quality of life and nutritional status were improved in all cases. One patient lost follow-up 9 months later and 1 patient died of severe adenovirus pneumonia during hospitalization for examination, the remaining 9 cases survived. Liberation from HMV was obtained in 4 patients. The frequency of readmission was 1 to 2 times.Conclusion:It is suggested that long-term HMV is safe and feasible for children with chronic respiratory failure.