title: [Intermittent assisted ventilation in neuromuscular diseases: course and quality of life].
abstract: Intermittent non-invasive home ventilation is expected to improve the quality of life, but progression of underlying neuromuscular diseases may lead to a deterioration. We observed after 82-1085 days of such home mechanical ventilation (7 patients with muscular dystrophy (age [mean/std.) 33 +/- 15 years), 8 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS. age 60 +/- 8 years) a nonsignificant decrease of vital capacity (1.6 +/- 0.4 rp. 1.2 +/- 0.4 l) and an improvement of hypercapnia (49.3 +/- 8.5 rp. 43 +/- 18.5 mmHg). Quality of life (SF-36, Medical Outcomes Trust, Boston, USA) increased significantly only for mental health in patients with ALS (55 +/- 13 rp. 64 +/- 17%). Despite progression of the underlying disease the quality of life remained stable under home mechanical ventilation and mental health improved.
authors.affiliation: Zentrum für Pneumologie und Thoraxchirurgie, Krankenhaus Grosshansdorf. Holger.hein@t-online.de
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hein
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schucher
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Magnussen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016472:Motor Neuron Disease / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D009136:Muscular Dystrophies / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012919:Social Behavior; D014797:Vital Capacity
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide