Respiratory therapies for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a primer.
Respiratory complications are a common cause of morbidity and mortality in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Treatment of respiratory insufficiency with noninvasive ventilation (NIV) improves ALS patients' quality of life and survival. Evidence-based practice guidelines for the management of ALS patients recommend treatment of respiratory insufficiency with NIV as well as consideration of insufflation/exsufflation to improve clearance of airway secretions. Despite these recommendations respiratory therapies remain underused. In this review we provide a practical guide for the clinician to prescribe and manage respiratory therapies for the patient with ALS.
Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, 1C327 UH, EMG Lab, SPC 5036, 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA. kgruis@umich.edu
Kirsten L
KL
Gruis
Noah
N
Lechtzin
D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D012138:Respiratory Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*