[Home ventilation of pediatric patients - description of a program]
OBJECTIVE: To describe a German program for home ventilatory support, and to analyze the possibility of applying it in Brazil. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We assessed Dr. von Haunersches Kinderklinikacute;s Pediatric Intensive Care Unity - Ludwig-Maximilians - Universität - München (Munich, Germany) home ventilatory support program between April 1997 and June 1998. RESULTS: Patients aged between 1 and 21 years - 11 boys and 15 girls - participated in the study. Fifteen out of 26 children presented neuromuscular pathologies, 8 of them had ventilatory problems of central causes, and 3 children presented obstructive pulmonary diseases. Twelve (46.2%) were receiving noninvasive ventilatory assistance, and 19 (73.1%) only needed intermittent ventilatory support. CONCLUSION: The program relies on a permanent multidisciplinary staff to treat intercurrent diseases. Patients, at predetermined periods, are re-evaluated as to the evolution of respiratory insufficiency. The adequate system organization provides patients and their families with security, and accounts for the success of the home ventilatory support program. A great deal of organizational efforts should be consolidated before implementing similar programs in Brazil.
Resener
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Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
Martinez
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Reiter
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Nicolai
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