American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation
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Am J Phys Med Rehabil · Jun 2002
Duchenne muscular dystrophy: prolongation of life by noninvasive ventilation and mechanically assisted coughing.
To quantitate prolongation of survival for patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy with the use of noninvasive intermittent positive-pressure ventilation (IPPV) with and without access to a protocol involving mechanically assisted coughing. ⋯ Noninvasive respiratory aids can prolong survival and permit extubation or decannulation of patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy with no breathing tolerance.