Clinical Characteristics of Patients Initiated on Long-Term Noninvasive Ventilation Support: A Single-Center Experience

Objective: Long-term noninvasive ventilation (NIV) support is increasingly being used by pediatricians for children with complex medical diseases. However, data on NIV support among children in Turkiye are limited. Methods: This study included children who received long-term NIV support between July 2022 and July 2024 at a single center. Demographic and clinical characteristics and short-term clinical outcomes were retrospectively evaluated. Results: A total of 30 patients were included. The median age at NIV initiation was 39.5 months (range: 9-108 months), and the most common underlying etiology was cardiovascular diseases (n = 9, 30%). Twenty-six patients were discharged with long-term NIV support, with a median discharge time of 5.5 days (range: 3-13 days) after NIV initiation. Of the 26 patients discharged with NIV support, four died during follow-up. Three patients, all of whom were from the cardiovascular group, no longer required respiratory support. Conclusions: NIV can be used effectively for a wide variety of diseases in children. Understanding the current status of NIV support in our clinical setting may help us design a protocol to improve future outcomes.