查看文章

Canadian longitudinal data from a pediatric domiciliary long‐term mechanical ventilation (LTMV) program is lacking.

Our aim was to report on the clinical characteristics and trends of children followed in one of Canada's pediatric home ventilation programs over the past 20 years.

A retrospective chart review was conducted on patients receiving long‐term domociliary mechanical ventilation between January 1, 1991 and December 31, 2011 in a single center. Domiciliary long‐term mechanical ventilation was defined as the daily use of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) or noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NiPPV) for at least 3 months, in the users' home or in a long‐term residential facility.

Between 1991 and 2011, a total of 379 children were identified (313 [83%] with noninvasive ventilation). The median age at initiation was 9.6 years (interquartile range [IQR] 2 …