Average Volume-Assured Pressure Support in a 16-Year-Old Girl with Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome

Pediatric Average Volume Assured Pressure Support

Average volume assured pressure support (AVAPS) is a modality of non-invasive ventilation that enables the machine to deliver a pre-set tidal volume by adjusting the inspiratory pressure support within a set range. Data on its use in the pediatric population are limited to case reports and single centre case series. This article reviews paediatric data on use of AVAPS and highlights the need for validation to help develop specific guidelines on use of AVAPS in children.

Perioperative Pulmonary Optimization With Average Volume-Assured Pressure Support of a Pediatric Patient With Ullrich Congenital Muscular Dystrophy: A Case Report

Patients with preexisting respiratory compromise are at risk for perioperative respiratory failure. Adult literature has shown benefit with prophylactic postoperative use of noninvasive mechanical ventilation (NIMV). While pediatric literature has documented the increasing use of postoperative NIMV, there is no literature on prophylactic preoperative NIMV in patients with preexisting respiratory compromise. Further, surgical literature does not address preoperative prophylactic use of NIMV, as well as use of the newest modality of NIMV, average volume-assured pressure support (AVAPS). Here, we describe the first report of pre- and postoperative use of AVAPS in a pediatric patient with respiratory compromise from Ullrich disease.

Average volume-assured pressure support vs conventional bilevel pressure support in pediatric nocturnal hypoventilation: a case series

STUDY OBJECTIVES

Average volume-assured pressure support (AVAPS) is a modality of noninvasive ventilation that provides a targeted tidal volume by automatically adjusting the inspiratory pressure support within a set range. Pediatric studies evaluating the efficacy of AVAPS in treating nocturnal hypoventilation are confined to case reports. The aim of this study was to compare AVAPS to conventional bilevel positive airway pressure (BPAP) support in improving hypercarbia in a cohort of pediatric patients with nocturnal hypoventilation.

METHODS

Retrospective review of patient records at an established tertiary pediatric sleep laboratory over a 6-year period. Ventilatory and sleep study parameters from AVAPS and conventional BPAP titration studies were compared. AVAPS was used only if hypoventilation was not controlled using conventional BPAP. Inspiratory pressures, tidal volumes, and adherence were downloaded on final titrated ventilatory settings. Comparisons were made using paired t test.

RESULTS

A total of 19 patients (11 boys, 8 girls; median age 10.5 years, range 1 to 20 years) were identified. Diagnoses included neuromuscular disease (n = 9), obstructive hypoventilation (n = 5), parenchymal lung disease (n = 4), and congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (n = 2). AVAPS demonstrated significant improvement in peak (P = .009) and mean (P = .001). Transcutaneous CO₂ parameters compared to conventional bilevel. Oxygenation on AVAPS showed positive trend but did not reach statistical significance. AVAPS delivered higher tidal volumes (P = .04) using similar pressures. There was no statistically significant difference in obstructive apnea-hypopnea index, respiratory arousal index, sleep efficiency, and adherence between AVAPS and conventional BPAP.

CONCLUSIONS

AVAPS was an effective alternative to conventional BPAP in improving hypercarbia in our selective cohort of pediatric patients. Prospective, longitudinal studies are needed to evaluate the benefits of AVAPS feature in the pediatric population.

Tracheostomy decannulation to noninvasive positive pressure ventilation in congenital central hypoventilation syndrome

PURPOSE

Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) may permit tracheostomy decannulation (TD) in patients with congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) requiring nocturnal positive pressure ventilation via tracheostomy (PPV-T). There is limited evidence on optimal strategies for transitioning patients from PPV-T to NPPV. This study aimed to describe the clinical course and outcome of children with CCHS who underwent TD and transitioned from PPV-T to NPPV.

METHODS

Retrospective review was conducted on patients with CCHS using nocturnal PPV-T who underwent TD to NPPV. The results of clinical evaluations, airway endoscopy, polysomnography, and clinical course leading to TD were analyzed.

RESULTS

We identified 3 patients with CCHS aged 8-17 years who required PPV-T only during sleep. Patients underwent systematic multidisciplinary evaluations with a pediatric psychologist, pulmonologist, sleep physician, and otolaryngologist utilizing a TD algorithm. These included evaluation in the sleep clinic, NPPV mask fitting and desensitization, endoscopic airway evaluation, daytime tracheostomy capping, acclimatization to low-pressure NPPV, polysomnography with capped tracheostomy and NPPV titration, and if successful, TD. All patients underwent successful TD following optimal titration of NPPV during polysomnography. The duration to TD from decision to pursue NPPV was between 2.4 and 10.6 months, and the duration of hospitalization for TD was between 4 and 5 days. There were no NPPV-related complications; however, all patients required surgical closure of tracheocutaneous fistula.

CONCLUSION

NPPV may be an effective and feasible option for patients with CCHS requiring PPV-T during sleep and permits TD. In patients with CCHS, a systematic multidisciplinary algorithm may optimize successful transition to NPPV and TD.

Non-invasive home ventilation using the average volume assured pressure support feature in an infant with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia and chronic respiratory failure

Introduction

While majority of infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) can be discharged home without low flow oxygen or on supplemental low flow oxygen, some require long term home mechanical ventilation.

Case presentation

We present a case of an extremely premature infant with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia who was successfully managed at home on a new feature of non-invasive ventilation called average volume assured pressure support (AVAPS) without the need for tracheostomy. The AVAPS feature enables the machine to deliver a consistent tidal volume by automatically adjusting the inspiratory pressure within a set range.

Conclusion

The use of AVAPS feature in our case improved ventilation as indicated by a more stable gas exchange profile, making home non-invasive ventilation a more practicable method of managing severe BPD in this infant.

Ventilators and Ventilatory Modalities

Non-invasive ventilation is increasingly used in children for acute and chronic respiratory failure. Ventilators available for clinical use have different levels of complexity, and clinicians need to know in detail their characteristics, setting variables, and performances. A wide range of ventilators are currently used in non-invasive ventilation including bi-level ventilators, intermediate ventilators, and critical care ventilators. Simple or advanced continuous positive airway pressure devices are also available. Differences between ventilators may have implications on the development of asynchronies and air leaks and may be associated with discomfort and poor patient tolerance. Although pressure-targeted (controlled) mode is preferable in children because of barotrauma concerns, volume-targeted (controlled) ventilators are also available. Pressure support ventilation represents the most used non-invasive ventilation mode, as it is more physiological. The newest ventilators allow the clinicians to use the hybrid modes that combine the advantages of volume- and pressure-targeted (controlled) ventilation while limiting their drawbacks. The use of in-built software may help clinicians to optimize the ventilator setting as well as to objectively monitor patient adherence to the treatment. The present review aims to help the clinician with the choice of the ventilator and its ventilation modalities to ensure a successful non-invasive ventilation program.

Pulmonary hypertension and chronic hypoventilation in ROHHAD syndrome treated with average-volume assured pressure support

INTRODUCTION

Rapid-onset obesity with hypothalamic dysfunction, hypoventilation, and autonomic dysregulation (ROHHAD) syndrome is an exceptionally rare clinical entity with significant morbidity and high mortality with challenging-to-treat hypoventilation.

CASE PRESENTATION

An 11-year-old morbidly obese Chinese female presented with a putative diagnosis of ROHHAD associated with a left psoas ganglioneuroma. Initial polysomnography showed severe obstructive sleep apnea and hypoventilation. She was not adherent to prescribed non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV). Echocardiography demonstrated evidence of pulmonary hypertension, likely secondary to chronic hypoventilation. With behavioral modification and trial of average volume-assured pressure support (AVAPS), adherence improved with eventual improvement of her pulmonary hypertension.

CONCLUSION

AVAPS may improve ventilation and NIPPV adherence in central hypoventilation disorders such as ROHHAD, reducing risk of morbidity and mortality.

Decannulation in children affected by congenital central hypoventilation syndrome: A proposal of an algorithm from two European centers

RATIONALE

Long-life ventilatory assistance is necessary for survival in pediatric patients with congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS). Invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) through tracheostomy is the most used method, especially in the first years of life when the central nervous system is maturing. Nevertheless, IMV via tracheostomy is not ideal because tracheostomy in children is associated with impaired speech and language development, also frequent infections of the lower airway tract occur.

OBJECTIVE

Only few reports describe the transition from IMV to the noninvasive method, ending with decannulation in CCHS affected patients. We aim to provide our experience regarding decannulation program in CCHS affected children and to describe a proposal of an algorithm concerning transition from invasive to noninvasive ventilation (NIV) in CCHS patients.

METHODS

The study has been conducted retrospectively. Four children from two European centers underwent tracheostomy removal and decannulation, upon request of patients and their families.

RESULTS

All children were trained to carry out tracheostomy capping before decannulation and underwent endoscopic assessment of upper and lower airway. Subsequently they started training to NIV at mean age of 106.25 months (±40.7 SD). Decannulation occurred 12 months after and no patients needed the reintroduction of tracheal cannula in either short or long term follow up.

CONCLUSIONS

our study shows that effective liberation from IMV, the transition to NIV and decannulation are possible in CCHS affected children and offers a proposal of an algorithm which can be applied in selected centers.

Nasal mask average volume-assured pressure support in an infant with congenital central hypoventilation syndrome

Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) is a rare disorder characterized by alveolar hypoventilation and autonomic dysregulation secondary to mutations of the PHOX 2B genes. Treatment consists of assisted ventilation using positive pressure ventilators via tracheostomy, bi-level positive airway pressure (BPAP), negative pressure ventilators, or diaphragm pacing. Previous case reports have highlighted early use of nasal non-invasive BPAP use in infants with CCHS. We present a case of a 10-month-old infant who was successfully managed on a new feature of non-invasive ventilation called average volume assured pressure support (AVAPS) without the need for tracheostomy. The AVAPS feature enables the machine to automatically adjust the inspiratory pressures to deliver a constant targeted tidal volume. This feature enabled a better control of ventilation as indicated by a more stable transcutaneous carbon dioxide profile compared to conventional nasal non-invasive BPAP, making non-invasive ventilation a more accessible method of managing sleep hypoventilation in CCHS.

Use of Noninvasive Ventilation with Volume-Assured Pressure Support to Avoid Tracheostomy in Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common disorder in children but can occasionally present with life-threatening hypoxemia. Obesity is a significant risk factor for poor outcomes of OSA treatment. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is indicated in children who are not candidates for or have an unsatisfactory response to adenotonsillectomy. Children acutely at risk for significant morbidity with other therapies are candidates for a tracheostomy. An eight-year-old patient with morbid obesity and severe OSA refractory to CPAP therapy was treated successfully with a novel noninvasive ventilation (NIV) mode with volume-assured pressure support (VAPS) and avoided tracheostomy.

Advanced positive airway pressure modes: adaptive servo ventilation and volume assured pressure support

INTRODUCTION

Volume assured pressure support (VAPS) and adaptive servo ventilation (ASV) are non-invasive positive airway pressure (PAP) modes with sophisticated negative feedback control systems (servomechanism), having the capability to self-adjust in real time its respiratory controlled variables to patient's respiratory fluctuations. However, the widespread use of VAPS and ASV is limited by scant clinical experience, high costs, and the incomplete understanding of propriety algorithmic differences in devices' response to patient's respiratory changes. Hence, we will review and highlight similarities and differences in technical aspects, control algorithms, and settings of each mode, focusing on the literature search published in this area.

AREAS COVERED

One hundred twenty relevant articles were identified by Scopus, PubMed, and Embase databases from January 2010 to 2016, using a combination of MeSH terms and keywords. Articles were further supplemented by pearling. Recommendations were based on the literature review and the authors' expertise in this area. Expert commentary: ASV and VAPS differ in their respiratory targets and response to a respiratory fluctuation. The VAPS mode targets a more consistent minute ventilation, being recommended in the treatment of sleep related hypoventilation disorders, while ASV mode attempts to provide a more steady breathing airflow pattern, treating successfully most central sleep apnea syndromes.

Domiciliary noninvasive positive airway pressure therapy in children

There has been a dramatic increase in the past few decades in the number of children receiving noninvasive positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy at home. Although PAP therapy was first prescribed for children with obstructive sleep apnea, the indications have rapidly widened to include treatment for central hypoventilation syndromes, neuromuscular and chest wall disorders as well as primary respiratory diseases. Given the rapidly expanding use of PAP therapy in children, pediatric pulmonologists need to be familiar with the indications, technical and safety considerations as well as potential complications and challenges that may arise when caring for children using PAP therapy. This review article covers the definition of PAP therapy, modes, interfaces, devices, indications, contraindications, suggested settings, complications as well as the factors influencing the adherence.

Nocturnal respiratory failure in a child with congenital myopathy - management using average volume-assured pressure support (AVAPS)

This is a case report of the effective use of bi-level positive airway pressure support (BPAP) using the volume-assured pressure support feature in a pediatric patient with a congenital myopathy and significant nocturnal hypoventilation. Our patient was started on nocturnal nasal mask BPAP but required high pressures to improve her oxygen saturations and CO₂ baseline. She was then trialed on a BPAP machine with the volume-assured pressure support feature on. The ability of this machine to adjust inspiratory pressures to give a targeted tidal volume allowed the patient to be on lower pressure settings for periods of the night, with the higher pressures only when required. She tolerated the ventilation well and her saturations, CO₂ profiles, and clinical condition improved. This case report highlights the benefits of the volume-assured pressure support feature on a BPAP machine in a child with a neuromuscular disorder.

Use of volume-targeted non-invasive bilevel positive airway pressure ventilation in a patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease in which most patients die of respiratory failure. Although volume-targeted non-invasive bilevel positive airway pressure (BPAP) ventilation has been studied in patients with chronic respiratory failure of various etiologies, its use in ALS has not been reported. We present the case of a 66-year-old woman with ALS and respiratory failure treated with volume-targeted BPAP ventilation for 15 weeks. Weekly data downloads showed that disease progression was associated with increased respiratory muscle weakness, decreased spontaneous breathing, and increased use of non-invasive positive pressure ventilation, whereas tidal volume and minute ventilation remained relatively constant.

Advances in Positive Airway Pressure Treatment Modalities for Hypoventilation Syndromes

RATIONALE

Positive airway pressure therapy for hypoventilation syndromes can significantly improve health-related quality of life (HR-QOL), healthcare costs, and even mortality. The sleep-disordered breathing in such individuals are quite complex and require sophisticated devices with algorithms that are designed to accurately detect and effectively treat respiratory events that includes hypoventilation, upper airway obstruction, lower airway obstruction, central apneas and central hypopneas and reduce the work of breathing while maintaining breathing comfort.

OBJECTIVES

The therapeutic physiological rationale for the various advanced PAP modalities and the details about the principles of operation and technology implementation are provided here.

CONCLUSIONS

The physiological rationale for advanced PAP modalities is sound considering the complexity of sleep-disordered breathing in patients with hypoventilation syndromes. Although such devices are increasingly used in clinical practice, the supporting clinical evidence - specifically comparative-effectiveness studies in real-life conditions -- needs to be performed. Moreover, there is much opportunity for further refining these devices that include the ability of the device to reliably monitor gas-exchange, sleep-wakefulness state, and for reducing variability in device efficacy due to provider-selected device-settings.

Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome; safety of early transition to non-invasive ventilation

Congenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) is a rare disorder of autonomic dysregulation, characterized by alveolar hypoventilation especially during sleep. As a result, lifelong ventilatory assistance is necessary in these patients. Many infants and children initially require positive pressure ventilation via tracheostomy for support. Associated complications and psychosocial pressure may prompt early transition to non-invasive ventilation. We present the details of a patient with CCHS who successfully transitioned from tracheostomy to bilevel positive airway pressure ventilation at an early age of 3 years.

Positive outcome of average volume-assured pressure support mode of a Respironics V60 Ventilator in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a case report

INTRODUCTION

We were able to treat a patient with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who also suffered from sleep-disordered breathing by using the average volume-assured pressure support mode of a Respironics V60 Ventilator (Philips Respironics: United States). This allows a target tidal volume to be set based on automatic changes in inspiratory positive airway pressure. This removed the need to change the noninvasive positive pressure ventilation settings during the day and during sleep. The Respironics V60 Ventilator, in the average volume-assured pressure support mode, was attached to our patient and improved and stabilized his sleep-related hypoventilation by automatically adjusting force to within an acceptable range.

CASE PRESENTATION

Our patient was a 74-year-old Japanese man who was hospitalized for treatment due to worsening of dyspnea and hypoxemia. He was diagnosed with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and full-time biphasic positive airway pressure support ventilation was initiated. Our patient was temporarily provided with portable noninvasive positive pressure ventilation at night-time following an improvement in his condition, but his chronic obstructive pulmonary disease again worsened due to the recurrence of a respiratory infection. During the initial exacerbation, his tidal volume was significantly lower during sleep (378.9 ± 72.9mL) than while awake (446.5 ± 63.3mL). A ventilator that allows ventilation to be maintained by automatically adjusting the inspiratory force to within an acceptable range was attached in average volume-assured pressure support mode, improving his sleep-related hypoventilation, which is often associated with the use of the Respironics V60 Ventilator. Polysomnography performed while our patient was on noninvasive positive pressure ventilation revealed obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (apnea-hypopnea index = 14), suggesting that his chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was complicated by obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

CONCLUSION

In cases such as this, in which patients with severe acute respiratory failure requiring full-time noninvasive positive pressure ventilation therapy also show sleep-disordered breathing, different ventilator settings must be used for waking and sleeping. On such occasions, the Respironics V60 Ventilator, which is equipped with an average volume-assured pressure support mode, may be useful in improving gas exchange and may achieve good patient compliance, because that mode allows ventilation to be maintained by automatically adjusting the inspiratory force to within an acceptable range whenever ventilation falls below target levels.