Wiener medizinische Wochenschrift
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Wien Med Wochenschr · May 2006
Case Reports[Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis--when planning is almost too late].
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a disease with progressive muscle weakness, also affecting respiratory muscles. In the terminal phase most patients experience a progression. Nutrition, speech and breathing capacity decrease. ⋯ Prolonging life is only possible by invasive long-term ventilation with all the problems of intensive care measures. The patient could have been given low dose morphine from the time of the family conference. Ventilation by CPAP-mode was insufficient for him.