Long-Term Mechanical Ventilation: Recommendations of the Swiss Society of Pulmonology

Abstract

Long-term mechanical ventilation is a well-established treatment for chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure (CHRF). It is aimed at improving CHRF-related symptoms, health-related quality of life, survival, and decreasing hospital admissions. In Switzerland, long-term mechanical ventilation has been increasingly used since the 1980s in hospital and home care settings. Over the years, its application has considerably expanded with accumulating evidence of beneficial effects in a broad range of conditions associated with CHRF. Most frequent indications for long-term mechanical ventilation are chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, obesity hypoventilation syndrome, neuromuscular and chest wall diseases. In the current consensus document, the Special Interest Group of the Swiss Society of Pulmonology reviews the most recent scientific literature on long-term mechanical ventilation and provides recommendations adapted to the particular setting of the Swiss healthcare system with a focus on the practice of non-invasive and invasive home ventilation in adults.

Keywords: Chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure; Home mechanical ventilation; Invasive ventilation; Non-invasive ventilation; Sleep-related breathing disorders.