Noninvasive ventilation options in pediatric myasthenia gravis

Paediatr Anaesth. 2005 Aug;15(8):699-702. doi: 10.1111/j.1460-9592.2005.01617.x.

Abstract

A 10-month-old female infant with congenital myasthenic syndrome suffering from acute respiratory failure was supported using face mask positive pressure ventilation until definitive diagnosis and specific treatment was achieved. A 12-year-old girl suffering from seronegative myasthenia gravis was treated by helmet-delivered noninvasive ventilation during recurrent myasthenic episodes. Noninvasive support was really beneficial in the myasthenic crisis with respiratory muscle weakness, whereas a shift to tracheal intubation was necessary when pulmonary infection and multiple atelectasis occurred. The new helmet interface for noninvasive positive pressure ventilation can represent a valuable means of respiratory support in the early phase of respiratory failure in older children.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Equipment Design
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Head Protective Devices
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Intubation, Intratracheal
  • Lung Diseases / microbiology
  • Masks
  • Myasthenia Gravis / therapy*
  • Positive-Pressure Respiration / instrumentation
  • Positive-Pressure Respiration / methods
  • Pulmonary Atelectasis / therapy
  • Respiration, Artificial / instrumentation
  • Respiration, Artificial / methods*
  • Respiratory Insufficiency / therapy
  • Respiratory Paralysis / therapy