VENTILATION WITH NEGATIVE EXTRATHORACIC P RESSURE IN A NEWBORN GIRL WITH CONGENITAL CENTRAL HYPOVENTILATION SYNDROME

A female infant with congenital central hypoventilation syndrome requi red intubation and intermittent mandatory ventilation from the first d ay of life, On day 38 she was extubated and negative extrathoracic pre ssure ventilation was initiated. Ventilation was adequate with a peak pressure of minus 30 cmH(2)O and endexpiratory pressure of minus 6 cmH (2)O and a rate of 25 per minute (inspiratory time 1 s). Upper airway obstruction occured during respiratory tract infections and was succes sfully treated with additional continuous positive airway pressure via nasal mask. The infant was discharged home at an age of 7 months and is treated with nocturnal negative extrathoracic pressure ventilation at 16 months. On one occasion, hospital admission was required during a respiratory tract infection. Negative extrathoracic pressure ventila tion offers a safe and non-invasive alternative to positive pressure v entilation via tracheostomy for infants with congenital central hypove ntilation syndrome.