“To trach or not to trach, that is the question”

Progressive neuromuscular disease requires increasing degrees of respiratory support to sustain life. Each step from intermittent to continuous —and noninvasive to invasive—ventilation requires thoughtful consideration based on the goals of the patient and family, and the inherent benefits and burdens of the treatment. Tracheostomy, in particular, should not be viewed as an inevitable next step when less permanent or invasive methods pr ove insufficient. Like other modes of respiratory support, tracheostomy may represent a bridge to recovery of pulmonary function, or a stabilizing action in the hope that novel therapies may prove beneficial.
Source: Paediatric Respiratory Reviews - Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Tags: Mini-symposium: Ethics and Palliative Care Source Type: research