Abstract
Background & aims: Invasive ventilation forrespiratory failure in childrenwith moderate to severe neurological impairment iscomplex. We report the experience of non-invasiveventilation in these patients having moderate tosevere neurological impairment in a 6 beddedpaediatric critical care unit.
Methods: We retrospectively analysed a databaseof all children admitted unit at over a 33monthperiod. We analysed the sub-group of children withmoderate to severe neurological impairment whowere ventilated, either invasively or non-invasively.
Results: Over the study period, of 362 (32.8%) whorequired ventilatory support, 92 were classed ashaving moderate to severe neurological impairment. Demographic details are shown in Table.
Of the patients receiving both non-invasive andinvasive ventilation, 6 failed with NIV, requiringinvasive ventilation, while in 3 others received NIVpost-extubation.
There was no significant difference between thegroups in terms of length of stay (p=0.112) orsurvival (p=0.98).
Conclusions: NIV is a safe mode to support childrenwith moderateto severe neurological deficit.
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Cunningham, M., Walter, D., Rajan, S. et al. 1330 Can Non-Invasive Ventilation Be An Alternative to Manage Respiratory Failure in Children with Moderate to Severe Neurological Impairment?. Pediatr Res 68 (Suppl 1), 658 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-201011001-01330
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-201011001-01330