Initiating patients on home mechanical ventilation

• Published in: Nederlands tijdschrift voor geneeskunde Vol. 161; p. D880
• Main Authors: de Mul, N, van der Steen, M S, Gaytant, M A, Tjan, D H T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Dutch
• Published: Netherlands 2017
• Subjects: Home Care Services; Humans; Quality of Life; Respiration, Artificial; Respiratory Insufficiency - therapy
• ISSN: 0028-2162

More and more patients with chronic respiratory insufficiency are eligible for home mechanical ventilation. As a result, medical doctors are increasingly confronted with said patients. The treatment goal of this supporting therapy is to improve quality of life and possibly life extension. Centres for home mechanical ventilation decide on the indication, whereas the clinical setup of the ventilator takes place in a hospital setting. Staff in the Dutch Gelderse Vallei hospital have been initiating - both non-invasive and invasive - home mechanical ventilation for various patient groups for the last 4 years. This is a labour-intensive process during which numerous issues can occur. Experience and expertise is necessary for a successful process. A multidisciplinary approach and accessible consultation between stakeholders is of great importance when setting up home mechanical ventilation for these patients.