NONINVASIVE VENTILATION IN A SEVERE CASE OF LATE-ONSET CENTRAL HYPOVENTILATION SYNDROME

Background: In the literature we found only five reports about noninva sive ventilation in cases with central hypoventilation syndrome. Patie nt and Method: We report about a 4-year-old boy with severe late onset hypoventilation syndrome. During an interval of 3 months with nasal m ask ventilation during sleep he showed an excellent cognitive and stat omotoric development. After this time, he needed a noninvasive ventila tion with a negative pressure system. Results and Discussion: In our o pinion, noninvasive nasal mask ventilation is a modern method in the t reatment of patients with central hypoventilation syndrome. Tracheotom y is only necessary during the first year of life.