Abstract
Forty-five patients underwent long-term life-sustaining mechanical ventilation care
in the Child Neurology Ward, National Center Hospital for Mental, Nervous and Muscular
Disorders from 1990 to 2000. Twenty patients had chronic respiratory insufficiency
due to neuromuscular disorders, nine of whom underwent home mechanical ventilation
care. Nineteen of the 45 patients had chronic respiratory insufficiency due to progressive
central nervous system disorders, three of whom underwent home mechanical ventilation
care. Six patients with chronic respiratory insufficiency due to the sequelae of transient
events were on ventilation, two of whom underwent home mechanical ventilation care.
In some patients, especially ones with neuromuscular disorders, mechanical ventilation
care is very useful for improving their daily activity and quality of life. In other
patients, however, mechanical ventilation care is merely a means of prolonging life
without visible improvement of their quality of life. As medical resources are limited,
home mechanical ventilation care is a recommended method for patients who need life-sustaining
mechanical ventilation care. Considering an individual or social consensus, the indication
of long-term life-sustaining mechanical ventilation care for chronic respiratory insufficiency
due to severe childhood neurological disorders should be further discussed.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
August 17,
2001
Received in revised form:
August 1,
2001
Received:
May 14,
2001
Identification
Copyright
© 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
