title: The use of mechanical ventilation via a nasal mask in myotonic dystrophy.
abstract: A 36-year-old woman with myotonic dystrophy presented with generalized weakness and daytime somnolence. Arterial blood gas analysis revealed significant hypoxemia and hypercapnia, and a polysomnogram revealed additional oxygen desaturation during sleep. For nocturnal ventilatory assistance, the patient received positive-pressure ventilation via a nasal mask. This mode of ventilation produced marked improvement in the patient's nocturnal hypoxemia.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Edward Hines Jr, Veterans Administration Hospital, Hines, Ill. 60141.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jubran
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: D'Alonzo
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Tobin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008397:Masks; D009136:Muscular Dystrophies / Q000628:therapy*; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000628:therapy*