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Outcome of long-term mechanical ventilation support in children

Shao-Hsuan Hsia1, Jainn-Jim Lin, I-Anne Huang

  • 1Division of Pediatric Critical Care and Emergency Medicine, Taiwan, ROC. shsia@adm.cgmh.org.tw

Pediatrics and Neonatology
|October 23, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Taiwan has seen an increase in children requiring long-term mechanical ventilation (MV) support, primarily due to neurological conditions. Most of these children are now cared for in respiratory care wards.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric critical care
  • Respiratory medicine
  • Neurology

Background:

  • Advances in technology and care have improved outcomes for patients on long-term mechanical ventilation (MV).
  • This study investigates the current status of pediatric patients requiring long-term MV in Taiwan.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the clinical characteristics and outcomes of children on long-term mechanical ventilation in Taiwan.
  • To identify the primary causes and management trends for pediatric patients requiring prolonged MV support.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of medical records for patients aged 3 months to 18 years.
  • Data collected between January 1998 and December 2006.
  • Systematic review of clinical factors and patient outcomes.

Main Results:

  • 139 children (38.1% girls, 61.9% boys) were included.
  • Neurologic/neuromuscular diseases (71.9%) were the most common underlying conditions, followed by airway/lung dysfunction (13.7%).
  • Common reasons for re-hospitalization included infection (47.7%) and elective procedures (13.9%).
  • Outcomes included death (26.6%), transfer to respiratory care wards (58.3%), and home care (15.1%).

Conclusions:

  • There is an increasing population of children requiring long-term MV in Taiwan.
  • The predominant cause of respiratory insufficiency has shifted to neurogenic causes.
  • The majority of these children are managed in local hospital respiratory care wards.
Abstract

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