Three patients with different neurologic diseases—amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, poliomyelitis, and idiopathic bilateral diaphragm paralysis—and with chronic ventilatory failure were successfully ventilated with negative pressure. This noninvasive ventilatory technique uses a chest cuirass and provides an alternative to tracheostomy and positive-pressure ventilation. As a result of the benefits that these three patients received, we conclude that the cuirass remains an acceptable method of ventilation for some patients with chronic neurologic disease.
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8.
GaraySM, TurinoGM, GoldringRM. Sustained reversal of chronic hypercapnia in patients with alveolar hypoventilation syndromes: Long-term maintenance with noninvasive nocturnal mechanical ventilation. Am J Med1981;70:269–274.
