title: Noninvasive interface for transtracheal mechanical ventilation for patients with severe cervical spine deformity.
abstract: This article describes a custom-molded patient-to-ventilator interface that permits mechanical ventilation via a tracheostomy site for patients for whom tracheostomy tubes can not be used because of severe cervical deformity. The nocturnal delivery of intermittent positive-pressure ventilation resulted in normalization of oxyhemoglobin saturation and end-tidal CO2 and alleviation of symptoms of alveolar hypoventilation. Thermoplastic patient-ventilator tubing interfaces can be constructed to permit ventilatory assistance for patients with tracheostomies who can not use tracheostomy tubes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, Newark 07103, USA.
authors.forename: Enrique L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: Roberta G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Bishop
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Bach
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000150:complications*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D020182:Sleep Apnea, Central / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D014139:Tracheostomy