Patient characteristics and outcomes of a home mechanical ventilation program in a developing country

• Main Authors: Narongkorn Saiphoklang, Apichart Kanitsap, Pitchayapa Ruchiwit, Pattarin Pirompanich, Thiti Sricharoenchai, Christopher B Cooper
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2019-01-01
• Series: Lung India
• Subjects: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; complication; developing country; mechanical ventilation; ventilator-associated pneumonia
• Online Access: http://www.lungindia.com/article.asp?issn=0970-2113;year=2019;volume=36;issue=3;spage=207;epage=211;aulast=Saiphoklang
• ISSN: 0970-2113; 0974-598X

Background: There are limited data on home mechanical ventilation (HMV) in developing countries. This study aimed to describe the patient characteristics, feasibility, and outcomes of an HMV program at a university hospital in Thailand. Materials and Methods: Data were collected on all patients who were discharged with HMV between October 2014 and August 2015 at Thammasat University Hospital. Results: Twelve patients (eight men and four women) underwent HMV. They were aged 71.5 ± 17.6 years; mean ± standard deviation. Indications for HMV were 6 neurologic diseases (4 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, 1 multiple system atrophy, and 1 stroke), 2 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), 1 tracheomalacia, and 3 combined neurologic diseases and respiratory diseases (2 stroke and COPD, 1 stroke and tracheomalacia). The duration of follow-up was 799.5 ± 780.5 days. The ratio of family income to cost of HMV usage was 77.2:1 ± 5.5:1. All patients had tracheostomies. Modes of HMV were biphasic positive airway pressure (66.7%), pressure-controlled ventilation (16.7%), pressure-support ventilation (8.3%), and volume-controlled ventilation (8.3%). Complications occurred in ten patients (83.3%), including tracheobronchitis (20 events) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (12 events). Overall mortality was 41.7% (5/12 patients), including two patients who died due to ventilator-associated pneumonia. There were no instances of ventilator malfunction. Conclusions: HMV is feasible for patients with neurological diseases and COPD in a developing country. The relatively high rate of complications indicates the need for more comprehensive clinical services for chronic ventilator-dependent patients in this setting.