title: Combined noninvasive ventilation and mechanical in-exsufflator in the treatment of pediatric acute neuromuscular respiratory failure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study aims to evaluate the efficacy and complications of combined noninvasive ventilation (NIV) and assisted coughing by mechanical in-exsufflator (MIE) for acute respiratory failure (ARF) in children with neuromuscular disease (NMD).
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study was conducted in the pediatric intensive care unit. Children with NMD and ARF treated by combined NIV and MIE were included. Treatment success was defined as freedom from tracheal intubation during the hospital stay. Physiologic indices including PaO2 , PaCO2 , pH, and PaO2 /FiO2 were recorded before and 12, 24 hr after the use of NIV/MIE.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Combined NIV/MIE was used in 15 NMD children (mean: 8.1 years, range: 3 months to 18 years) with 16 cases of ARF. There was no mortality in this cohort. Treatment success was achieved in 12 cases (75%), including six cases (38%) demanding "Do Not Intubate." ARF was due to pneumonia, with a mean baseline PaCO2 of 73.2 ± 19.0 mmHg. In the success group, hypercarbia and acidosis improved after use of NIV/MIE for 24 hr (PaCO2 : 71.7 ± 18.6 mmHg vs. 55.8 ± 11.6 mmHg, P < 0.01; pH: 7.29 ± 0.07 vs. 7.38 ± 0.05, P < 0.01). All patients tolerated NIV/MIE well despite transient skin pressure sores in five cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Combined NIV/MIE is a safe and effective approach to rapidly improve physiologic indices and decrease the need for intubation in NMD children with ARF. NIV/MIE provides a good alternative for those refusing intubation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Division of Pediatric Emergency, Department of Emergency, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tai-Heng
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jong-Hau
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Jiunn-Ren
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Zen-Kong
authors.initials: ZK
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: I-Chen
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wen-Chen
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: San-Nan
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yuh-Jyh
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Jong
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D008297:Male; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D063087:Noninvasive Ventilation / Q000379:methods*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000379:methods*; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: acute respiratory failure; mechanical in-exsufflator; neuromuscular disease; noninvasive ventilation