[Home ventilation in neurologic diseases. Survey of 62 patients]

Home ventilation has developed as a sufficient and safe method in many neurological diseases afflicting respiratory functions. To achieve an overview of the situation of these patients in Germany, a questionnaire was distributed by the manufacturer of the most commonly used ventilator in Germany. The patients were asked to send the form back, even anonymous, to the Department of Neurology, RWTH Aachen. 65 of 110 questionnaires were answered, most of patients with muscle dystrophy's (n = 14), Polio (n = 14) and spinal cord injuries (n = 11). Home ventilation in ALS was performed in 3 cases only. The majority of patients (n = 30) was aged between 20 and 49 years, but here were also 5 children younger than 10 years. Most patients were ventilated not more than 4 years, but there were also 5 patients ventilated for over 20 years, all of them Polio-patients. 70% of all lived at home with their relatives, who take care for them. Nevertheless, 13 were full- or part-time working.