title: Noninvasive mechanical ventilation with the iron lung.
abstract: Use of the iron lung as a method of ventilatory support is making a comeback. This article demonstrates the effectiveness of continuous negative-pressure ventilation in a patient with neuromuscular disease and severe chest wall deformity. This noninvasive device not only corrected the patient's ineffective breathing pattern and averted intubation, but its continued home use after discharge improved his overall quality of life.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Frederick
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000150:complications*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D015919:Ventilators, Negative-Pressure