Rapidly and slowly progressive neuromuscular disease: differences in pulmonary function, respiratory tract infections and response to lung volume recruitment therapy (LVR).

Introduction: Reduced lung volumes are a hallmark of respiratory muscle weakness in neuromuscular disease (NMD). Low respiratory system compliance (C) may contribute to restriction and be amenable to lung volume recruitment (LVR) therapy. This study evaluated respiratory function and the immediate impact of LVR in rapidly progressive compared to slowly progressive NMD.

Typical within and between person variability in non-invasive ventilator derived variables among clinically stable, long-term users.

Background: Despite increasing capacity to remotely monitor non-invasive ventilation (NIV), how remote data varies from day to day and person to person is poorly described.

Methods: Single-centre, 2-month, prospective study of clinically stable adults on long-term NIV which aimed to document NIV-device variability. Participants were switched to a ventilator with tele-monitoring capabilities.

Worth the effort? Weighing up the benefit and burden of continuous positive airway pressure therapy for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea in chronic tetraplegia.

Study Design: Mixed methods OBJECTIVES: Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is the recommended treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). The aim of this study was to estimate CPAP adherence in people with tetraplegia and OSA, and to explore the barriers and facilitators to CPAP use.

Setting: Hospital outpatient department in Melbourne, Australia METHODS: People with chronic tetraplegia and OSA were commenced with auto-titrating CPAP and supported for 1 month.