[Ventilator treatment at home--experiences with old and new methods]

Nocturnal ventilation in respiratory insufficiency due to neuromuscular disease and/or thoracic deformity leads to improvement in the quality of life and daytime arterial blood gases, and also in survival. Several methods for nocturnal ventilation are now available. In this paper we report our experiences of treatment with nocturnal ventilation with various methods in 26 patients in Gothenburg. We conclude that respiratory insufficiency due to neuromuscular disease and/or primary treatment for thoracic deformity should be nocturnal positive pressure ventilation via a nasal mask. If this treatment fails positive pressure ventilation should be administered via special mouth pieces or via tracheostoma.