[Guidelines for Non-Invasive and Invasive Home Mechanical Ventilation for Treatment of Chronic Respiratory Failure - Update 2017]

Today, invasive and non-invasive home mechanical ventilation have become a well-established treatment option. Consequently, in 2010 the German Society of Pneumology and Mechanical Ventilation (DGP) has leadingly published the guidelines on "Non-Invasive and Invasive Mechanical Ventilation for Treatment of Chronic Respiratory Failure". However, continuing technical evolutions, new scientific insights, and health care developments require an extensive revision of the guidelines.For this reason, the updated guidelines are now published. Thereby, the existing chapters, namely technical issues, organizational structures in Germany, qualification criteria, disease specific recommendations including special features in pediatrics as well as ethical aspects and palliative care, have been updated according to the current literature and the health care developments in Germany. New chapters added to the guidelines include the topics of home mechanical ventilation in paraplegic patients and in those with failure of prolonged weaning.In the current guidelines different societies as well as professional and expert associations have been involved when compared to the 2010 guidelines. Importantly, disease-specific aspects are now covered by the German Interdisciplinary Society of Home Mechanical Ventilation (DIGAB). In addition, societies and associations directly involved in the care of patients receiving home mechanical ventilation have been included in the current process. Importantly, associations responsible for decisions on costs in the health care system and patient organizations have now been involved.The currently updated guidelines are valid for the next three years, following their first online publication on the home page of the Association of the Scientific Medical Societies in German (AWMF) in the beginning of July 2017. A subsequent revision of the guidelines remains the aim for the future.

[Survey of nursing services with regard to mechanical ventilation at home]

BACKGROUND

Homecare for mechanically ventilated patients is complex and challenging for homecare institutions. The framework conditions of homecare are regulated by a likewise complex social legislation. The German Respiratory Society (DGP) and the German Interdisciplinary Society for Home Care Ventilation (DIGAB) have published recommendations on the structure of homecare for ventilated patients in their recent guideline and recommended a certification of homecare nursing services.

RATIONALE

Prior to a certification process, the homecare task force of the DIGAB conducted a survey in order to compare the current structures with the guideline recommendations.

METHODS

Voluntary disclosure of information by means of a written questionnaire consisting of eleven items was requested.

RESULTS

37 homecare institutions with a total of 78 subsidiaries providing service all over Germany returned their questionnaires. While educational standards are mostly in line with the guideline recommendation, it was found that only 43 % of 812 recorded patients followed up with a specialised weaning centre or centre for ventilation. 84 % of these patients were ventilated invasively. In spite of the fact that all homecare institutions took care of invasively ventilated patients, there was a lack of company-owned standards for specific nursing measures.

CONCLUSIONS

Homecare for ventilated patients in Germany has reached a decent degree of organisation, while follow-up with specialised centres for ventilation, and with that medical specialist care appears to be underserved. The certification process for homecare institutions should be pursued with emphasis in order to create uniform quality standards. The number of invasively ventilated patients in homecare settings is probably higher than previously estimated and could be the result of a lack of weaning capacity.