Long-term mechanical ventilation in infants with neuromuscular disease

Seven children with neuromuscular disease were placed on mechanical ventilation before the age of 2 years. The outcome for these patients was variable and did not correlate with primary diagnosis. There appeared to be a high correlation between the incidence of electrocardiogram changes and death. Our experience demonstrates that there was a high mortality rate (57%) in neuromuscular patients supported by mechanical ventilation before the age of 2 years.