Key constituents for integration of care for children assisted with long-term home ventilation: a European study

Invasive versus non-invasive paediatric home mechanical ventilation: review of the international evolution over the past 24 years

BACKGROUND

Home mechanical ventilation (HMV) is the treatment for chronic hypercapnic alveolar hypoventilation. The proportion and evolution of paediatric invasive (IMV) and non-invasive (NIV) HMV across the world is unknown, as well as the disorders and age of children using HMV.

METHODS

Search of Medline/PubMed for publications of paediatric surveys on HMV from 2000 to 2023.

RESULTS

Data from 32 international reports, representing 8815 children (59% boys) using HMV, were analysed. A substantial number of children had neuromuscular disorders (NMD; 37%), followed by cardiorespiratory (Cardio-Resp; 16%), central nervous system (CNS; 16%), upper airway (UA; 13%), other disorders (Others; 10%), central hypoventilation (4%), thoracic (3%) and genetic/congenital disorders (Gen/Cong; 1%). Mean age±SD (range) at HMV initiation was 6.7±3.7 (0.5-14.7) years. Age distribution was bimodal, with two peaks around 1-2 and 14-15 years. The number and proportion of children using NIV was significantly greater than that of children using IMV (n=6362 vs 2453, p=0.03; 72% vs 28%, p=0.048), with wide variations among countries, studies and disorders. NIV was used preferentially in the preponderance of children affected by UA, Gen/Cong, Thoracic, NMD and Cardio-Resp disorders. Children with NMD still receiving primary invasive HMV were mainly type I spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Mean age±SD at initiation of IMV and NIV was 3.3±3.3 and 8.2±4.4 years (p<0.01), respectively. The rate of children receiving additional daytime HMV was higher with IMV as compared with NIV (69% vs 10%, p<0.001). The evolution of paediatric HMV over the last two decades consists of a growing number of children using HMV, in parallel to an increasing use of NIV in recent years (2020-2023). There is no clear trend in the profile of children over time (age at HMV). However, an increasing number of patients requiring HMV were observed in the Gen/Cong, CNS and Others groups. Finally, the estimated prevalence of paediatric HMV was calculated at 7.4/100 000 children.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with NMD represent the largest group of children using HMV. NIV is increasingly favoured in recent years, but IMV is still a prevalent intervention in young children, particularly in countries indicating less experience with NIV.

Long-term mechanical ventilation and transitions in care: A narrative review

OBJECTIVES

Individuals dependent on long-term mechanical ventilation (LTMV) for their day-to-day living are a heterogenous population who go through several transitions over their lifetime. This paper describes three transitions: 1) institution/hospital to community/home, 2) pediatric to adult care, and 3) active treatment to end-of-life for ventilator-assisted individuals (VAIs).

METHODS

A narrative review based on literature and the author's collective practical and research experience. Four online databases were searched for relevant articles. A manual search for additional articles was completed and the results are summarized.

RESULTS

Transitions from hospital to home, pediatric to adult care, and to end-of-life for VAIs are complex and challenging processes. Although there are several LTMV clinical practice guidelines highlighting key components for successful transition, there still exists gaps and inconsistencies in care. Most of the literature and experiences reported to date have been in developed countries or geographic areas with funded healthcare systems.

CONCLUSIONS

For successful transitions, the VAIs and their support network must be front-and-center. There should be a coordinated, systematic, and holistic plan (including a multi-disciplinary team), life-time follow-up, with bespoke consideration of jurisdiction and individual circumstances.