Recent Relevant Publications
Summaries and links to selected professional, disability, and disease journals and newsletters — Vol. 39, No. 1 (Spring 2025).
An educational programme for home mechanical ventilation in motor neuron disease
Riva-Rovedda F, Clari M, Conti A, Esposito T, Tabbia G, Mattei A, Calvo A, Solidoro P, Dimonte V.
"Respiratory failure represents the leading cause of death among people with motor neuron disease (MND). Home mechanical ventilation supports respiratory function, but its management places a significant demand on patients and informal caregivers. The need for consistent support to deal with home mechanical ventilation is recognised. Regardless, specific educational interventions are infrequently reported. Within its multidisciplinary clinical care pathway, the Regional Expert Centre for MND of a Northern Italy university hospital offers patients and their caregivers an educational programme on how to deal with noninvasive ventilation (NIV) and invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) at home. NIV education is usually performed in an outpatient setting. Pneumologists and nurses train patients and caregivers about ventilator functions, management of respiratory interfaces, inhalation therapy, skin integrity preservation and respiratory deterioration detection, while respiratory therapists train patients and caregivers about the use of an assisted cough device. IMV education is performed at the hospital. Respiratory therapists, supported by nurses, train caregivers about ventilator functions, management of tracheostomy cannula, tracheal suction, inhalation therapy and use of assisted cough devices. Finally, a certification of the skills acquired is released. Future studies should assess the effectiveness of this programme in terms of satisfaction and clinical outcomes."
Breathe (Sheff). 2025 Feb 25;21(1):240094. doi: 10.1183/20734735.0094-2024
Saving lives, one breath at a time: The key role of noninvasive ventilation interfaces
Praud JP.
"Home noninvasive ventilation (NIV) for children must consider the key role of the interface, in addition to selecting the ventilatory mode and settings. Acceptance and adherence to NIV often depend on the time spent selecting the right mask, as well as on regular and careful attention to preventing and addressing various issues that arise during NIV."
Pediatr Pulmonol. 2025 Mar;60 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S117-S119. doi: 10.1002/ppul.27306
Initiation of noninvasive ventilation in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Jimenez JV, Tang MJ, Wilson MW, Morrison AH, Ackrivo J, Choi PJ.
"Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) has been shown to improve survival and symptom burden in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, limited data exist regarding the clinical and physiological parameters at the time of NIV initiation. This study aimed to describe the clinical characteristics and respiratory physiological markers in a cohort of ALS patients with chronic respiratory failure."
Muscle Nerve. 2024 Nov;70(5):1099-1103. doi: 10.1002/mus.28250