HOME CARE THERAPY FOR RESPIRATOR-DEPENDENT PATIENTS

Our experience with 13 patients suffering from various ventilatory dis orders who received mechanical ventilation at home for periods between 1 and 12 years is presented. Seven of the 13 patients were ventilated by positive pressure via tracheostomy, 3 by negative body ventilators and 3 by exufflation belt and positive pressure. Only a few hospitali zations were required due to pulmonary complications, and there was no case of sudden death occurring at home. Costs of home care for respir ator-dependent patients, including the initial investment of home equi pment, are much lower than the costs of long-term hospital care. A com prehensive home care program should be the preferred choice for medica lly stable ventilator-dependent patients.