[Decompensation in chronic respiratory insufficiency in children].

In patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive or restrictive pulmonary disease, noninvasive ventilation can be used in an attempt to avoid endotracheal intubation and complications associated with mechanical ventilation. The main obstructive pathology concerned is bronchopulmonary dysplasia: bronchial hyperreactivity is a main feature of the situation, leading eventually to acute or prolonged assisted ventilation. Usually performed by tracheostomy, ventilation can possibly be managed through a nasal mask. The use of noninvasive ventilation is also indicated when symptoms of hypoventilation and daytime hypercarbia develop in a variety of neuromuscular disorders.