ABSTRACT
Fewer than two decades have elapsed since the first articles describing long-tenn home mechanical ventilation for children were published (1,2). During this era, long-tenn mechanical ventilation for the pediatric patient with chronic respiratory failure has evolved from an extraordinary measure to routine care for many disorders. This chapter is a comprehensive review of the current knowledge and challenges associated with long-tenn mechanical ventilation in the pediatric patient. The reader interested in further infonnation may refer to an early position statement by the American Thoracic Society in 1990 (3), and recent consensus reports published by the American College of Chest Physicians (4) and the American Association of Respiratory Care (5) pertaining to long-tenn mechanical ventilation and noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) of pediatric patients, respectively.
