title: [Mechanical ventilation in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis].
abstract: In the final stage of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the majority of patients develop chronic respiratory failure. If these patients are not informed about the acute respiratory insufficiency, they run the risk of having to be intubated and stay in Intensive Care Unit over a long term; many of them die of respiratory failure without being informed about the available options. Prognosis and treatment options should be discussed with the patient and family. Their informed consent to prolonged mechanical ventilation of the lungs and stopped it under certain circumstances would be obtained before the condition progress to critical. The non invasive artificial home ventilation has led to advances in the management of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, as a longer period of survival with a higher level of quality of life. We also have analyzed ethical and social aspects and the results of long term mechanical ventilation in the literature.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Neumología, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: González-Lorenzo
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Díaz-Lobato
mesh_terms: D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000150:complications*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D011788:Quality of Life; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D013727:Terminal Care