Skip to main content
  • Original article
  • Open access
  • Published:

Management of kyphoscoliosis patients with respiratory failure in the intensive care unit and during long term follow up

Abstract

Background

We aimed to evaluate the ICU management and long-term outcomes of kyphoscoliosis patients with respiratory failure.

Methods

A retrospective observational cohort study was performed in a respiratory ICU and outpatient clinic from 2002–2011. We enrolled all kyphoscoliosis patients admitted to the ICU and followed-up at regular intervals after discharge. Reasons for acute respiratory failure (ARF), ICU data, mortality, length of ICU stay and outpatient clinic data, non-invasive ventilation (NIV) device settings, and compliance were recorded. NIV failure in the ICU and the long term effect of NIV on pulmonary performance were analyzed.

Results

Sixty-two consecutive ICU kyphoscoliosis patients with ARF were enrolled in the study. NIV was initially applied to 55 patients, 11 (20%) patients were intubated, and the majority had sepsis and septic shock (p < 0.001). Mortality in the ICU was 14.5% (n = 9), reduced pH, IMV, and sepsis/septic shock were significantly higher in the non-survivors (p values 0.02, 0.02, 0.028, 0.012 respectively). Among 46 patients attending the outpatient clinic, 17 were lost to follow up and six were died. The six minute walk distance was significantly increased in the final follow up (306 m versus 419 m, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

We strongly discourage the use of NIV in the case of septic shock in ICU kyphoscoliosis patients with ARF. Pulmonary performance improved with NIV during long term follow up.

Background

Kyphoscoliosis (KS) is characterized by diminished chest wall compliance and impaired respiratory mechanics, leading to progressive hypoventilation, hypercapnia and chronic respiratory failure (CRF)[1]. Acute exacerbations, particularly respiratory tract infections, rapidly worsen these patients’ respiratory conditions and precipitate acute respiratory failure (ARF), which usually requires intensive care unit (ICU) hospitalization and either non-invasive or invasive mechanical ventilation[2].

Non-invasive, positive pressure ventilation (NIV) has become an accepted treatment option for CRF in chest wall diseases[3]. Following the use of NIV in kyphoscoliosis patients with CRF, improvements in hypoventilation symptoms and a reduction in hospital readmissions have been shown[46]. However, ICU management and the long-term, post-ARF/ICU outcomes are rarely reported in these patients.

In the present study, we aimed to evaluate ICU management and long-term outcomes of patients with CRF due to kyphoscoliosis.

Methods

This study was conducted in a level III medical intensive care unit at a tertiary education hospital. The study was designed as a retrospective observational cohort study between August 2002 and May 2011. Patients were followed up for at least 12 months after discharge from ICU. The study was approved by the local ethical committee of the government teaching hospital.

Patients

Kyphoscoliosis patients who were admitted to the medical ICU with acute or acute-on-chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure were enrolled in the study. ARF was defined by the presence of acute breathing discomfort and arterial blood gases values (ABG): partial arterial oxygen pressure (PaO2) < 60 mmHg on room air, or PaO2 over the fraction of inspired oxygen (PaO2/ FiO2) <300, partial arterial carbon dioxide pressure (PaCO2) ≥ 45 mmHg and pH ≤ 7.35[7]. The reasons for ARF were recorded as cor pulmonale[8], sepsis/septic shock[9] due to pneumonia, lower respiratory tract infection, urinary tract and blood stream infection.

Sepsis was defined as proven or strongly suspected infection, and two of four criteria for systemic inflammatory response syndrome: 1. A respiratory rate more than 20/min or partial carbon dioxide pressure less than 32 mmHg; 2. A heart rate of more than 90 beats/min; 3. A temperature more than 38.3°C or less than 36.0°C; 4. A white blood cell count of more than 12,000 cells/μl or less than 4,000 cells/μl, or more than 10% immature cells[9]. Septic shock was defined as sepsis-induced hypotension (systolic blood pressure of less than 90 mmHg or a reduction of more than 40 mmHg from baseline in absence of other causes of hypotension), and patients requiring vasopressor to maintain a mean arterial pressure of more than 70 mmHg despite adequate fluid resuscitation[9].

Pneumonia was defined as the acute onset of symptoms suggestive of a lower respiratory tract infection and radiographical evidence of a new infiltrate[10]. The presence of a nosocomial infection on admission to ICU was recorded, and all patients were treated according to guidelines[11].

Assessment of mechanical ventilations

Non-invasive mechanical ventilation

NIV was delivered in pressure assist-control mode with ICU mechanical ventilators via a double tube circuit with a full-face mask. Pressure support (PS) was initially set at 10 cmH2O and gradually increased to a maximum of 30 cmH2O until the exhaled tidal volume was 8-10 ml/kg and guided by patient tolerance. Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) was set at 5 cmH2O and raised if needed to treat hypoxemia, or lowered to enhance patient comfort. The fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) was adjusted to keep oxygen saturation (SaO2) at 90%. NIV was applied intermittently for periods of 1 to 4 h and initial ABG samples were obtained at the end of first hour. The duration of each session was determined by improvement in ABG levels, the level of consciousness, and patient compliance. The level of consciousness was assessed by the Glasgow coma scale (GCS)[12].

Intubation and NIV failure criteria

NIV was considered to have failed if at least one of the following criteria for endotracheal intubation (ET) occurred: 1. Cardiac arrest or severe hemodynamic instability (mean arterial pressure < 65 mmHg or the need for vasoactive agents); 2. Respiratory arrest; 3. Mask intolerance with agitation requiring sedation; 4. Severe difficulty clearing secretions; 5. Failure of gas exchange within the first 1 to 4 h of NIV therapy; 6. Lack of improvement in consciousness[3, 13].

Invasive mechanical ventilation

Invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) was delivered in pressure assist-control ventilation (PCV) mode and PS was initially set at 10 cmH2O and then gradually increased to a maximum of 30 cmH2O until the exhaled tidal volume was 8-10 ml/kg, as with the NIV settings. An intermittent sedation protocol was applied with midazolam according to Richmond agitation-sedation scale[14]. After cessation of sedation, patients were evaluated for weaning. When patients were conscious and hemodynamically stabile, a T-tube trial was performed, and after 30 minutes patients were extubated according to our weaning protocol. If there was still a demand for mechanical ventilation after weaning due to hypercapnia we preferred to continue with NIV. We prescribed domiciliary NIV devices according to home mechanical ventilation guidelines after a good response was achieved by NIV during the ICU stay[15]. All patients received education from a specialized NIV nurse for using these NIV devices prior to discharge.

Follow up

Patients were evaluated for the efficacy of NIV and treatment adherence in an outpatient clinic one month after ICU discharge, and then at 3–6 months intervals. Treatment efficacy was assessed by clinical status and ABG values. IPAP (inspiratory positive airway pressure) and EPAP (expiratory positive airway pressure) values of NIV devices were recorded. The physiological and functional parameters were compared with IPAP-EPAP and IPAP-EPAP/weight as defined by Budweisser et al.[16]. Objective NIV usage was also measured by a specialized NIV nurse at every outpatient clinic visit by checking the built-in time counter of the NIV device. The NIV compliance was defined by the use of NIV more than four hours a day or > 20 hour a week[15].

Data collections

We recorded patients’ age, gender, body mass index (BMI, kg/m2), Glasgow coma scale (GCS)[8], acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II scores[17], ABG values on admission to ICU, co-morbid diseases, causes of ARF, presence of oxygen therapy, NIV or IMV (tracheostomy) use for long-term home therapy prior to ICU stay, ICU respiratory management (need for NIV, ventilation mode and duration, need for and duration of tracheal intubation, tracheostomy), status on ICU discharge (deceased or alive) and respiratory status/management on ICU discharge (spontaneous breathing, NIV, tracheostomy).

Arm span (largest distance across the middle fingers when the arms are stretched horizontally sideways) was used as the height of KF patients for BMI and spirometry measurements[18]. The six-minute walk test (6-MWT) was performed on eligible patients in the follow up period, and the 6-minute walk distance (6-MWD) was recorded (in meters)[19].

We also recorded pulmonary function tests, ABG values at the first and last outpatient clinic admission, treatment compliance, and whether the patient was deceased or surviving. The total number of hospital and ICU readmissions with additional ARF episodes were obtained from the hospital electronic database.

Statistical analysis

A descriptive analysis was used for patients’ demographics, ICU data. Survivors versus non-survivors and NIV success versus NIV failure were compared by the Mann Whitney U test for non-parametric continuous variables, and the χ2 test was used for dichotomous variable. The relationship of IPAP-EPAP/weight with 6-MWD and PaCO2 and spirometry results were evaluated with the Spearman’s correlations test. The Wilcoxon two related sample test was used for comparison of the first and last ABG and spirometry test results during the follow up period. Median and interquartile ratio was used for continuous variables. Count and percentage were used when applicable. A p value < 0.05 was accepted as statistically significant.

Results

Patients

During the study period, 62 kyphoscoliosis patients (29 female) with ARF were included. Thirty-nine patients were admitted from the ward, 17 from the emergency department, and six from another ICU (Table1). The reasons for kyphoscoliosis were idiopathic (n = 42, 67.7%), post-rachitic (n = 9, 14.5%), rheumatologic disease (n = 7, 11.4%), post-poliomyelitis (n = 2, 3.2%) and post-traumatic (n = 2, 3.2%). The median (interquartile range) age was 52 (45–65) years, and median BMI was 23 (21–27) kg/m2. All patients were hypercapnic and 55 (88.7%) patients were both hypercapnic and hypoxemic. The reasons for ICU admission were: two patients (3.3%) had a home NIV device problem, 26 (41.9%) had cor pulmonale, 26 (41.9%) had severe sepsis, and eight (12.9%) had septic shock. Pneumonia was diagnosed in 17 patients, seven of which had septic shock. Other reasons for sepsis were urinary tract infection (n = 3), lower respiratory tract infection (n = 13), and blood stream infection (n = 1). Patients’ comorbidity and domiciliary devices (NIV or oxygen), and ABGs values on admission to the ICU are shown in Table1.

Table 1 Patient’s comorbidity and ICU data

Assessment of mechanical ventilation

In the study period, seven patients (11.4%) initially received IMV (two via tracheostomy) and 55 (88.6%) patients received NIV. Eleven patients (17.7%) were intubated after initial NIV application. Two patients died during NIV therapy due to acute myocardial infarction. The overall NIV success rate was 76.4% (42/55). Mechanical ventilation and ICU outcomes are shown in Figure1. Five NIV failures and two patients who were initially intubated died because of sepsis with a resistant pathogen.

Figure 1
figure 1

Mechanical ventilation outcomes of kyphoscoliosis patients in intensive care unit.

All intubated and tracheostomized (n = 2) patients were ventilated in pressure assist-control mode with the median (IQR) PS 17 (10–19) cmH2O to get tidal volume 8–10 ml/kg and PEEP to 6 (5–6) cmH2O. During NIV applications, the median PS was 15 (10–19) cmH2O and PEEP was 6 (5–6) cm H2O; the median NIV hours per day were 11.0 (9.2-12.9). None of the patients had pneumothorax. The median length of stay in the ICU was 8 (5–14) days. The overall ICU mortality was 14.5% (see Figure1 for mortality relative to mechanical ventilation support). Five patients were tracheostomized due to weaning failure. Surviving and non-surviving patients were further compared according to gender, age, initial ABGs, mechanical ventilation (IMV or NIV), and the presence of sepsis and septic shock on admission to the ICU (Table2). The non-surviving kyphoscoliosis patients had significantly lower pH values, a higher rate of IMV, and a higher rate of sepsis and septic shock (Table2) (p values were 0.02, 0.02, 0.028, 0.012 respectively). Both groups had a statistically similar length of stay in the ICU (p = 0.40) (Table2).

Table 2 A comparison patient data of survivors versus non-survivors of kyphoscoliosis patients in the ICU

In the 55 patients who received NIV ABGs values were obtained on admission to the ICU and after the first hour of NIV, to assess NIV response (summarized in Table3). NIV failure patients had significantly lower pH values at admission and after the first hour of NIV (p < 0.005, p < 0.026 respectively, Table3).

Table 3 Arterial blood gases values on admission to the ICU and after the first hour of NIV in patients with NIV success and failure

There were 13 patients where NIV failed; 11 were intubated for IMV and two died due to myocardial infarction during NIV. A significantly higher rate of sepsis/septic shock was found in the NIV failure patients (n = 11/13) than in the NIV success patients (n = 16/42) (p < 0.004, χ square, fisher exact test, Figure2).

Figure 2
figure 2

Sepsis in patients with non-invasive ventilation success and failure.

Follow up period

Fifty-three patients were discharged from ICU (18 to home, 35 to the the ward). Two patients died in the ward and overall hospital mortality was 17.7% (n = 11). The long-term follow up outcomes are summarized in Figure3.

Figure 3
figure 3

Follow-up outcomes of kyphoscoliosis patients.

After the initial one-month follow up at the outpatient clinic, 29 patients were followed-up for longer than 12 months. The median (IQR) follow up was 48 months (24–65) and NIV compliance rate was 79.3%. The re-hospitalization of eight of these 29 patients was recorded during the follow up period and they were re-admitted 19 times for pneumonia (n = 8), pulmonary embolism (n = 3), acute cor pulmonale (n = 5), pneumothorax (n = 1), and NIV device impairment (n = 2). The initial and final pulmonary function test results (ABG, spirometry and 6-MWD) are summarized in Table4.

Table 4 Long-term pulmonary function tests of kyphoscoliosis patients

Median IPAP and EPAP of NIV device were 20 (18–25) cmH2O, and 5 (5–6) cm H2O respectively in initial follow up. The median IPAP-EPAP difference was 15 (12–19) cmH2O, and the median IPAP-EPAP/weight ratio was 0.26 (0.16-0.31). The relationship between IPAP-EPAP/weight with 6-MWD, PaCO2 and spirometry results were evaluated with Spearman’s correlations test. IPAP-EPAP/weight ratio was significantly positively correlated with 6-MWD (r = 0.49, p = 0.029) but no correlation was found between PaCO2 and spirometry test results.

Discussion

In the present study we evaluated acute and chronic respiratory failure management and outcomes in a substantial population of the rare disease kyphoscoliosis. The success rate of applying non-invasive mechanical ventilation in kyphoscoliosis patients with acute respiratory failure was found to be 76.4% in our ICU. The rate of sepsis in patients with NIV failure was higher than in patients with NIV success. The mortality rate was higher in patients in ICU with NIV failure, using IMV, and with septic shock. The prescription rates of long-term mechanical ventilation and NIV compliance were 70.6% and 79.3% respectively. The six-minute walk distance increased significantly after long-term NIV.

There are currently no reports on the reasons why kyphoscoliosis patients with acute respiratory failure require ICU admission and mechanical ventilation. However, pneumonia and cor pulmonale are seen in one third of hospitalized chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with NIV[20]. The primary reasons for ARF in our kyphoscoliosis patients were cor pulmonale and sepsis. Pneumonia was the primary cause of sepsis. We found that NIV failure patients had a higher mortality rate than initially intubated patients. This may be related to delayed intubation due to a minimal improvement of ABG values after the first hour of NIV treatment. NIV success patients had a 4.5 percent mortality rate (Figure1).

NIV failure risk factors in COPD are well studied and defined with guidelines[3, 2123]. Confalonieri and co-workers presented a chart where NIV failure in patients with COPD was in a red zone[23]. Patients in the red zone had a respiratory rate ≥ 30, GCS ≤ 11, pH < 7.25, and an APACHE II score ≥ 29 on admission to ICU. These were accepted as the most important parameters for NIV failure criteria[23]. Although the patients presented here were not diagnosed with COPD, NIV failure kyphoscoliosis patients in the ICU had a significantly higher APACHE II score and respiratory rate, but lower GCS and pH values (20 versus 14 score; 26 versus 25 breath /min, 14 versus 15 score; 7.28 versus 7.37, respectively). These results were not as severe as those observed in NIV failure due to COPD, as described[3, 2123].

Follow up

NIV compliance for long-term usage varies according to the underlying diseases, such as COPD, obesity hypoventilation, neuromuscular disease and kyphoscoliosis. The NIV compliance rate of kyphoscoliosis patients is currently reported to be between 79 and 90%[2426]. In the present study, 29 kyphoscoliosis patients with NIV were tightly compliant to the outpatient clinic controls. Patients without a NIV device (n = 10) did not attend the outpatient clinic. The NIV compliance rate (>4 hours a day) was 79.3%.

Volume or pressure cycled NIV settings have previously been used for long-term home therapy and both have showed similar results in various studies[3, 2729]. We used pressure cycled NIV devices. Budweiser and co-workers showed that PS greater than 15 cmH2O improved the decrease in PaCO2 for long-term follow up in patients with restrictive thoracic diseases[16]. They concluded that IPAP-EPAP/weight ratio correlated with the PaCO2 decrease at the initial follow up after hospital discharge with long-term NIV[16]. However we did not find any correlation between ΔPaCO2 and IPAP-EPAP/weight and the initial outpatient clinic data (pulmonary function, 6-MWD and ABG values). IPAP-EPAP/weight ratio was significantly correlated with 6-MWD but not with the other parameters. A recent review which evaluated 41 studies published over an 18 year period, looked at the physiological effects of NIV on work-of-breathing (WOB), pressure-support of 15 cmH2O and a PEEP of 5 cmH2O, and showed reduced WOB in patients primarily with chronic pulmonary disease including kyphoscoliosis[30]. In the present study IPAP was, in most cases, set greater than 20 cmH2O, and EPAP was set as 5 cmH2O, similar to previous studies[16, 30].

The mortality rates of kyphoscoliosis patients with long-term domiciliary NIV therapy have been reported as 9.5% over two years, and 21% over five years[26, 28]. In the present study the mortality rate was 20.7% over 4 years.

There are some limitations in our study. Firstly, we designed it retrospectively and in one center. Secondly, the physiological respiratory muscle function tests (ie, diaphragm functions) and the measurement of the degree of spinal curvature were not done. The use of the degree of curvature and the severity of respiratory failure relation is controversial[31, 32]. Thirdly, the ICU mortality risk analysis was not done due to small number of non-surviving patients.

Conclusion

Kyphoscoliosis patients with respiratory failure due to pump failure have a mainly good response to NIV. However, in specific disease groups and the presence of sepsis/septic shock NIV failure may result. For this reason we strongly discourage the use of NIV in the case of septic shock. Although this is a single center study and we cannot generalize the results for all patients, this study may help to make a decision on the clinical management of kyphoscoliosis patients with ARF in the ICU. Pulmonary function tests and 6-MWD of kyphoscoliosis patients can improve with nearly 15 cmH2O pressure support with pressure cycled NIV devices during long term follow up.

References

  1. Bergofsky EH: Respiratory failure in disorders of the thoracic cage. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1979, 119: 643-669.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Banfi P, Redolfi S, Robert D: Home treatment of infection-related acute respiratory failure in kyphoscoliotic patients on long-term mechanical ventilation. Respir Care. 2007, 52: 713-719.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Clinical indications for noninvasive positive pressure ventilation in chronic respiratory failure due to restrictive lung disease, COPD, and nocturnal hypoventilation--a consensus conference report. Chest. 1999, 116: 521-534.

  4. Gonzalez C, Ferris G, Diaz J: Kyphoscoliotic ventilatory insufficiency: effects of long-term intermittent positive-pressure ventilation. Chest. 2003, 124: 857-862. 10.1378/chest.124.3.857.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Hill NS, Eveloff SE, Carlisle CC, Goff SG: Efficacy of nocturnal nasal ventilation in patients with restrictive thoracic disease. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1992, 145 (2 Pt 1): 365-371.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Masa Jiménez JF, Sánchez De Cos Escuin J, Disdier Vicente C, Hernández Valle M, Fuentes Otero F: Nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation. Analysis of its withdrawal. Chest. 1995, 107: 382-388. 10.1378/chest.107.2.382.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. British Thoracic Society Standards of Care Committee: Non-invasive ventilation in acute respiratory failure. Thorax. 2002, 57: 192-211.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Willius FA: Cor Pulmonale. Can Med Assoc J. 1946, 54: 42-46.

    PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Bone RC, Balk RA, Cerra FB, Dellinger RP, Fein AM, Knaus WA, Schein RM, Sibbald WJ: Definitions for sepsis and organ failure and guidelines for the use of innovative therapies in sepsis. The ACCP/SCCM Consensus Conference Committee. American College of Chest Physicians/Society of Critical Care Medicine. Chest. 1992, 101: 1644-1655. 10.1378/chest.101.6.1644.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Niederman MS, Mandell LA, Anzueto A, Bass JB, Broughton WA, Campbell GD, Dean N, File T, Fine MJ, Gross PA, Martinez F, Marrie TJ, Plouffe JF, Ramirez J, Sarosi GA, Torres A, Wilson R, Yu VL: American Thoracic Society. Guidelines for the management of adults with community-acquired pneumonia. Diagnosis, assessment of severity, antimicrobial therapy, and prevention. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2001, 163: 1730-1754.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. American Thoracic Society; Infectious Diseases Society of America: Guidelines for the management of adults with hospital-acquired, ventilator-associated, and healthcare-associated pneumonia. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2005, 171: 388-416.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Winston SR: Preliminary communication: EMT and the Glasgow [correction of Glascow] Coma Scale. J Iowa Med Soc. 1979, 69: 393-398.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Mehta S, Hill NS: Noninvasive ventilation in acute respiratory failure. Respir Care Clin N Am. 1996, 2: 267-292.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Sessler CN, Gosnell MS, Grap MJ, Brophy GM, O'Neal PV, Keane KA, Tesoro EP, Elswick RK: The Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale: validity and reliability in adult intensive care unit patients. Am J RespirCrit Care Med. 2002, 166: 1338-1344. 10.1164/rccm.2107138.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Make BJ, Hill NS, Goldberg AI, Bach JR, Criner GJ, Dunne PE, Gilmartin ME, Heffner JE, Kacmarek R, Keens TG, McInturff S, O'Donohue WJ, Oppenheimer EA, Robert D: Mechanical ventilation beyond the intensive care unit, Report of a consensus conference of the American College of Chest Physicians. Chest. 1998, 113 (5 Suppl): 289-344.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Budweiser S, Heinemann F, Fischer W, Dobroschke J, Wild PJ, Pfeifer M: Impact of ventilation parameters and duration of ventilator use on non-invasive home ventilation in restrictive thoracic disorders. Respiration. 2006, 73: 488-494. 10.1159/000088712.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Knaus WA, Draper EA, Wagner DP, Zimmerman JE: APACHE II: a severity of disease classification system. Crit Care Med. 1985, 13: 818-829. 10.1097/00003246-198510000-00009.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Miller MR, Hankinson J, Brusasco V, Burgos F, Casaburi R, Coates A, Crapo R, Enright P, van der Grinten CP, Gustafsson P, Jensen R, Johnson DC, MacIntyre N, McKay R, Navajas D, Pedersen OF, Pellegrino R, Viegi G, Wanger J, ATS/ERS Task Force: Standardization of spirometry. Eur Respir J. 2005, 26: 319-338. 10.1183/09031936.05.00034805.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Committee ATSon Proficiency Standards for Clinical Pulmonary Function Laboratories: ATS statement: guidelines for the six-minute walk test. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2002, 166: 111-117.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Chu CM, Chan VL, Lin AW, Wong IW, Leung WS, Lai CK: Readmission rates and life threatening events in COPD survivors treated with non-invasive ventilation for acute hypercapnic respiratory failure. Thorax. 2004, 59: 1020-1025. 10.1136/thx.2004.024307.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Organized jointly by the American Thoracic Society: the European Respiratory Society, the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine, and the Société de Réanimation de Langue Française, and approved by ATS Board of Directors, December 2000. International Consensus Conferences in Intensive Care Medicine: noninvasive positive pressure ventilation in acute Respiratory failure. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2001, 163: 283-291.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Ambrosino N, Foglio K, Rubini F, Clini E, Nava S, Vitacca M: Non-invasive mechanical ventilation in acute respiratory failure due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: correlates for success. Thorax. 1995, 50: 755-757. 10.1136/thx.50.7.755.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Confalonieri M, Garuti G, Cattaruzza MS, Osborn JF, Antonelli M, Conti G, Kodric M, Resta O, Marchese S, Gregoretti C, Rossi A: Italian noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) study group. A chart of failure risk for noninvasive ventilation in patients with COPD exacerbation. Eur Respir J. 2005, 25: 348-355. 10.1183/09031936.05.00085304.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Leger P, Bedicam JM, Cornette A, Reybet-Degat O, Langevin B, Polu JM, Jeannin L, Robert D: Nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation. Long-term follow-up in patients with severe chronic respiratory insufficiency. Chest. 1994, 105: 100-105. 10.1378/chest.105.1.100.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Simonds AK, Elliott MW: Outcome of domiciliary nasal intermittent positive pressure ventilation in restrictive and obstructive disorders. Thorax. 1995, 50: 604-609. 10.1136/thx.50.6.604.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Janssens JP, Derivaz S, Breitenstein E, De Muralt B, Fitting JW, Chevrolet JC, Rochat T: Changing patterns in long-term noninvasive ventilation: a 7-year prospective study in the Geneva Lake area. Chest. 2003, 123: 67-79. 10.1378/chest.123.1.67.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Hill NS, Eveloff SE, Carlisle CC: Efficacy of nocturnal ventilation in patients with restrictive thoracic disease. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1992, 145: 365-371.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Leger P: Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation at home. Respir Care. 1994, 39: 501-510.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Goldstein RS: Hypoventilation: neuromuscular and chest wall disorders. Clin Chest Med. 1992, 13: 507-521.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Kallet RH, Diaz JV: The physiologic effects of noninvasive ventilation. Respir Care. 2009, 54: 102-115.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Muirhead A, Conner A: The assessment of lung function in children with scoliosis. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 1985, 67: 699-702.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Smyth RJ, Chapman KR, Wright TA, Crawford JS, Rebuck AS: Pulmonary function in adolescents with mild idiopathic scoliosis. Thorax. 1984, 39: 901-904. 10.1136/thx.39.12.901.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the physiotherapist R. Evin for helping to perform 6-minute walk test and the nurses S. Solmaz and R. Sancar for their help in the outpatient clinic.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nalan Adıgüzel.

Additional information

Competing interests

As the authors of “Management of kyphoscoliosis patients with respiratory failure in the intensive care unit and during long-term follow up” we declare that we have no competing interests that might be related to the contents of the manuscript.

Authors’ original submitted files for images

Below are the links to the authors’ original submitted files for images.

Authors’ original file for figure 1

Authors’ original file for figure 2

Authors’ original file for figure 3

Rights and permissions

Open Access This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0 ), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Adıgüzel, N., Karakurt, Z., Güngör, G. et al. Management of kyphoscoliosis patients with respiratory failure in the intensive care unit and during long term follow up. Multidiscip Respir Med 7, 30 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1186/2049-6958-7-30

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/2049-6958-7-30

Keywords