Non-invasive ventilation
Nocturnal non-invasive ventilation (NIV) is required by some children to maintain their airway and normalize their breathing patterns when they are asleep. Children who have ongoing obstruction to their upper airway despite surgery to remove adenoids and tonsils, or children who are weak due to a variety of medical conditions, may experience problems breathing and maintaining normal oxygen levels overnight. These groups of children may benefit from NIV which involves the use of a mask that is placed on the child's face which is connected by tubing to a machine.
The most common form of NIV is called Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) and is used to treat children who have obstructive sleep apnoea. This involves using a machine or pump to deliver room air through tubing to a mask on the child's face. The delivery of low pressure air keeps the airway open and results in improved sleep and ventilation during the night.
Children who suffer from neuromuscular weakness may require another type of machine to help them breathe when they are asleep.
The mask can sit either over the nose or mouth or both, and is kept in place by small head straps.
Starting a child on NIV requires experienced staff to educate both the child and the family, and to individualize a management plan for ongoing treatment. Generally a sleep study is required to optimize the machine pressures to normalize a child's sleep and breathing patterns.
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Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) brochure (PDF 225 KB)
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