Duchenne muscular dystrophy: life prolongation by noninvasive ventilatory support.

Objective: American, Japanese, and Canadian centers have demonstrated that noninvasive intermittent positive pressure ventilatory support (NVS) can be used continuously and in the long-term by people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy as a definitive alternative to tracheostomy mechanical ventilation. The aim of this study was to report this for the first time in Europe.

Design: In this study, more than 300 patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy were followed.