Treatment of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy with Respiratory Muscle Weakness and Hypoventilation
In Duchenne muscular dystrophy, progressive loss of muscle function eventually affects the muscles responsible for breathing. When respiratory muscle weakness leads to hypoventilation, specific interventions become necessary to support adequate ventilation.
Weakness of the breathing (respiratory) muscles with hypoventilation. As the muscles that assist in breathing get weaker, the respiratory system must be adequately supported.
Management in this setting may involve an invasive ventilation strategy. The full structured regimen — including the complete selection criteria, sequencing, and clinical decision points — is available via the link below.
As the muscles that assist in breathing get weaker, the respiratory system must be adequately supported.
Some young men choose to switch to an invasive system, which means that a surgical opening called a tracheostomy is performed, allowing air to be delivered directly into the trachea (windpipe).
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