Home care therapy for respirator-dependent patients.

Our experience with 13 patients suffering from various ventilatory disorders who received mechanical ventilation at home for periods between 1 and 12 years is presented. Seven of the 13 patients were ventilated by positive pressure via tracheostomy, 3 by negative body ventilators and 3 by exufflation belt and positive pressure. Only a few hospitalizations were required due to pulmonary complications, and there was no case of sudden death occurring at home. Costs of home care for respirator-dependent patients, including the initial investment of home equipment, are much lower than the costs of long-term hospital care. A comprehensive home care program should be the preferred choice for medically stable ventilator-dependent patients.