History and Epidemiology of PMVed Children (Including Home-Ventilated Children)

Prolonged or long-term mechanical ventilation (PLMV) in children emerged soon after the development of ventilator supports. The number and variability of children on PLMV have increased, not only in the acute setting, but also in the chronic setting. Provision for select cohorts, such as children with neuromuscular diseases, evolution of noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation, and extension into home mechanical ventilation, not only in high-income settings but also in low-income settings, continues to redefine PLMV. The statistics and epidemiology of children with PLMV vary from country to country and from institution to institution. These variations may be due to differences in ventilator-related practices, and availability of resources such as long-term care units, home care programs, and regional or institutional healthcare systems.