Use of negative pressure ventilation to facilitate the return of spontaneous ventilation

Negative pressure ventilation was used to facilitate the return of spontaneous ventilation in 10 patients with severe, chronic respiratory disability. All patients had required tracheal intubation and intermittent positive pressure ventilation, and conventional weaning techniques had failed. Details of the method are described. It permits extubation before spontaneous ventilation can be sustained indefinitely and thus assists the return of normal speech, sleep pattern and nutrition. The lack of flexible control of ventilatory variables and absence of access to the trachea for sputum clearance limit its widespread application.