Mechanical Ventilation in Duchenne's Disease: A Case Report

We present a case of successful long-term external mechanical ventilation of a patient with Duchenne's disease, using a device of our own design. After comparison with known and well-established methods of external mechanical ventilation, we conclude that the primary ventilatory requirements of neuromuscular patients like ours can be met by this simple, low-cost device. Although it may not be the ventilator of choice, it may still be useful in particular situations where other ventilatory modes are either unsatisfactory to the patient or are unavailable. Our patient, a 20-year-old man was ventilated at home for more than 4 years using this device. He eventually succumbed to overwhelming left-ventricular failure.