The aim of the present study was to determine whether lung volume recruitment (LVR) acutely increases respiratory system compliance (C_rs) in individuals with severe respiratory muscle weakness (RMW).Individuals with RMW resulting from neuromuscular disease or quadriplegia (n=12) and healthy controls (n=12) underwent pulmonary function testing and the measurement ofC_rsat baseline, immediately after, 1 h after and 2 h after a single standardised session of LVR. The LVR session involved 10 consecutive supramaximal lung inflations with a manual resuscitation bag to the highest tolerable mouth pressure or a maximum of 50 cmH₂O. Each LVR inflation was followed by brief breath-hold and a maximal expiration to residual volume.At baseline, individuals with RMW had lowerC_rsthan controls (37±5 cmH₂Oversus109±10 mL·cmH₂O⁻¹, p<0.001). Immediately after LVR,C_rsincreased by 39.5±9.8% to 50±7 mL·cmH₂O⁻¹in individuals with RMW (p0.05). LVR had no significant effect on measures of pulmonary function at any time point in either group (all p>0.05). During inflations, mean arterial pressure decreased significantly relative to baseline by 10.4±2.8 mmHg and 17.3±3.0 mmHg in individuals with RMW and controls, respectively (both p<0.05).LVR acutely increasesC_rsin individuals with RMW. However, the high airway pressures during inflations cause reductions in mean arterial pressure that should be considered when applying this technique.

Rationale: Several studies have explored the experiences of ventilator-assisted individuals living at home with family caregivers. However, few explore the experiences of these individuals as they transition from a hospital setting to living at home with a view to identifying modifiable processes that could optimize transition. Objectives: This descriptive, qualitative study sought to elucidate barriers to, and facilitators of, transition to home mechanical ventilation from the perspective of Canadian ventilator-assisted individuals and their family caregivers. Methods: Participant recruitment occurred through hospital and community respiratory clinicians based in the four Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, and Saskatchewan. Semistructured telephone or face-to-face interviews at home were undertaken with 33 individuals, including 19 ventilator-assisted individuals and 14 family caregivers, after 3 to 24 months of transitioning to home mechanical ventilation. Interview data were analyzed by content analysis. Results: Formal teaching of knowledge and skills relevant to home mechanical ventilation within the hospital setting before transition was perceived as having an immediate and enduring positive impact on transition. However, family–clinician conflict, information gaps, and persistent lack of trained personal support workers to provide care in the home contributed to maladjustment relating to transition. Participants strongly recommended improved transitional care in the form of respiratory health professional telephone support, home outreach, and training of personal support workers. Conclusions: Transition to home mechanical ventilation is a complex and demanding process. Extended home mechanical ventilation training and support may be helpful in mediating adjustment challenges, thus reducing stress and caregiver burden, and improving health-related quality of life for ventilator-assisted individuals and family caregivers.

BACKGROUND: When the demand placed on the respiratory system is increased, the abdominal muscles become vigorously active to achieve expiration and facilitate subsequent inspiration. Abdominal muscle function could limit ventilatory capacity and a method to detect abdominal muscle fatigue would be of value. The maximum relaxation rate (MRR) of skeletal muscle has been used as an early index of the onset of the fatiguing process and precedes failure of force generation. The aim of this study was to measure MRR of abdominal muscles and to investigate whether it slows after maximum isocapnic ventilation (MIV). METHODS: Five normal subjects were studied. Each performed short sharp expiratory efforts against a 3 mm orifice before and immediately after a two minute MIV. Gastric pressure (PGA) was recorded and MRR (% pressure fall/10 ms) for each PGA trace was determined. RESULTS: Before MIV the mean (SD) maximum PGA MRR for the five subjects was 7.1 (0.8)% peak pressure fall/10 ms. Following MIV mean PGA MRR was decreased by 30% (range 25-35%), returning to control values within 5-10 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: The MRR of the abdominal muscles, measured from PGA, is numerically similar to that described for the diaphragm and other skeletal muscles. After two minutes of maximal isocapnic ventilation abdominal muscle MRR slows, indicating that these muscles are sufficiently heavily loaded to initiate the fatiguing process.

Background: Across Europe, Canada, Australia, and the United States, the prevalence of home mechanical ventilation (HMV) prevalence is 6.6-12.9 per 100,000. At-home ventilator-assisted individuals (VAIs) are often vulnerable and highly comorbid, requiring complex care. In Canada, most VAI care is provided by family, leading to poor health-related quality of life and increased caregiver burden. No supportive interventions or peer support programs are tailored to VAI caregivers. Owing to the financial, geographic, and time limitations, Web-based support delivery may especially meet VAI family caregiver needs. We have developed a peer mentor training and Web-based peer support program for VAI caregivers including information-sharing, peer-to-peer communication, and peer mentorship. Objective: Study Stage 1 aims to (1) evaluate the face and content validity of the peer mentor training program and (2) investigate participant satisfaction. Study Stage 2 aims to evaluate (1) the feasibility of participant recruitment and Web-based program delivery; (2) acceptability, usability, and satisfactoriness; (3) experiences of caregivers and peer mentors with the Web-based peer support program; and (4) effect of the Web-based peer support program on caregiver health outcomes. Methods: Study Stage 1: We will train 7 caregivers to act as peer mentors for the Web-based peer support program trial; they will complete questionnaires rating the utility of individual training sessions and the training program overall. Study Stage 2: We will recruit 30 caregiver peers for a pilot randomized controlled trial of the 12-week Web-based peer support program using a waitlist control; the program includes private chat, a public discussion forum, and weekly moderated chats. Caregiver peers will be randomized to the intervention or waitlist control group using a 1:1 ratio using Randomize.net. Both groups will complete pre- and postintervention health outcome questionnaires (ie, caregiving impact, mastery, coping, personal gain, positive affect, and depression). Caregiver peers in the intervention arm will only complete a program evaluation and will be invited to participate in an interview to provide insight into their experience. Peer mentors will be invited to participate in a Web-based focus group to provide insight into their experience as mentors. We will judge the feasibility per the number of recruitment and program delivery goals met, use analysis of covariance to compare health outcomes between intervention and control groups, and analyze qualitative data thematically. Results: Peer mentor training was completed with 5 caregivers in July 2018. To date, 2 caregivers have beta-tested the website, and the Web-based peer support program trial will commence in September 2018. Results are expected by early 2019. Conclusions: This study will result in the production and initial evaluation of a rigorously developed, evidence- and stakeholder-informed Web-based peer training and peer support program for caregivers of VAIs residing at home. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/11827

Acute short-term noninvasive ventilation (NIV) for hypercapnic respiratory failure in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has well-established benefits; however, the role of long-term home NIV remains controversial. In the past decade, studies utilizing aggressive NIV settings to maximally reduce carbon dioxide levels (PaCO₂) have resulted in several positive clinical trials and led to updated guidelines on home NIV for stable hypercapnic COPD patients. This clinical respiratory review discusses the high-intensity NIV approach, summarizes recent key trials and guidelines pertaining to home NIV in COPD, and considers key clinical questions for future research and application in the Canadian context. With recent evidence and Canadian Thoracic Society (CTS) guidelines supporting the use of NIV in carefully selected COPD patients with persistent daytime hypercapnia, we believe it is time to reconsider our approach.