Volume-assured pressure support mode for noninvasive ventilation: can it improve overnight adherence in children with neuromuscular disease?

Purpose Volume-assured pressure support in noninvasive ventilation (VAPS-NIV) is a newer mode providing automatic pressure support adjustment to ensure a constant alveolar ventilation. Previous studies have shown that NIV effectiveness depends on patient adherence and tolerance. The aim of this study was to determine the adherence and efficacy of VAPS-NIV compared to spontaneous-time (S/T) mode in pediatric patients with neuromuscular disease (NMD). Methods This was a prospective observational study. Children with NMD who utilized NIV at home for ≥ 3 months were recruited from the Long-term ventilation clinic at The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada, from July 1, 2015, to July 1, 2019. Baseline characteristics, date of initiation of NIV, and pulmonary function tests were recorded. Polysomnogram (PSG) data and adherence were recorded and analyzed comparing VAPS and S/T modes. Results Twenty children with NMD (17 male, 85%) were enrolled. The mean (SD) age at initiation of NIV was 11.6 ± 4.6 years. The median (IQR) duration of ventilation was 1.36 (0.80–2.98) years. The mean average daily usage and the median daily usage for VAPS mode and S/T mode were 8.4 ± 1.6 versus 7.2 ± 2.5 h ( p = 0.012) and 8.6 ± 1.4 versus 7.8 ± 2.1 h ( p = 0.022), respectively. There was no difference in sleep architecture, gas exchange, or parent proxy report of NIV tolerance between S/T and VAPS modes. Conclusion VAPS was associated with an improvement in adherence to therapy in children with NMD compared to S/T mode. Longitudinal studies are required to evaluate long-term clinical outcomes using VAPS mode in children with NMD.