Specific Equipment Required for Home Mechanical Ventilation in Children

Abstract

Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) may be used in a growing number of conditions and diseases in children, both in the acute and the chronic setting. However, respiratory mechanics and maxillofacial development are different in children as compared to adults, which justify age-adapted ventilators and interfaces. Children requiring NPPV represent a heterogeneous group, not only with regard to the underlying disease but also with regard to age, weight and maxillofacial physiognomy. A paucity of interfaces is available for young children. Individually adapted interfaces may be mandatory for these patients. The ventilators available for home NPPV have been shown to have severe limitations, especially with regard to the detection of the patient’s inspiratory effort and their ability to deliver the required volume or pressure within an acceptable time frame for the patient. A close collaboration of the industry with paediatric experts in NPPV should be able to overcome these technical challenges.