Current concepts of respiratory complications of neuromuscular disease in children

Chronic neuromuscular diseases affect the respiratory muscles in varying pa tterns and degrees. As a result, patients with these disorders develop rest rictive pulmonary disease, ineffective cough, atelectasis and pneumonia, an d chronic respiratory insufficiency leading to respiratory failure. Therape utic strategies are evolving to augment cough and airway clearance, improve lung volumes, and support the patient with progressive ventilatory failure . These techniques have improved longevity and quality of life for many pat ients with neuromuscular disease. Curr Opin Pediatr 2000, 12:203- 207 (C) 2 000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.