Outcome of home mechanical ventilation.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the outcome of patients discharged home on portable ventilator.


METHODS
Descriptive study.


METHODS
The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi from January 2000 to December 2004.


METHODS
All ventilator-dependent patients discharged home were contacted. Survivors were administered the EQ-5D Quality-of-Life instrument. SPSS version 13 was used to analyze data.


RESULTS
Eleven patients were discharged home on invasive ventilation. Mean age was 49 years (range 10-98 years). Cause of ventilatory failure were cervical spine trauma in 36%, primary neurological disease in 27%, critical illness neuropathy and respiratory failure in 18% each. Survival rate was 73%, with three deaths. Mean duration of ventilation was 9.45 months (95% CI 3.24, 15.67). Rate of successful weaning after discharge was 36%, with 4 patients off all forms of ventilatory support and 2 on only nocturnal support. A 2.8 (95% CI 0.5, 16.6) relative risk towards successful weaning was associated with the presence of a family member as the primary care giver. Mean scores on the EQ-5D descriptive tool were; mobility 2 (-/+0.82), self-care 2 (-/+0.82), usual activities 1.86 (-/+0.69), pain/discomfort 1.43(-/+0.79), anxiety/depression 1.29 (-/+0.76). Mean score on the EQ-VAS was 48.2(-/+ 27.3).


CONCLUSIONS
In carefully selected patients, home ventilation is a viable option with the expectation of successful weaning and survival. Patients discharged home on ventilation reported a reasonably good quality of life with proportionately more problems related to independence compared to overall well-being.
Salahuddin
Nawal
N
Department of Medicine, Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi.
Haider
Khursheed
K
Husain
Shahid Javed
SJ
Ali
Ali Bin Sarwar
AB
Siddiqui
Shahla
S
Hameed
Fazal
F
Manasia
Roshan
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D018575:Home Care Services, Hospital-Based; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan; D011788:Quality of Life; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome