Long-term ventilation in children: state of the art and future perspectives

ABSTRACT
Home mechanical ventilation (HMV) has transformed the care of children with chronic respiratory failure, improving survival, reducing hospital dependence, and enabling better quality of life. The choice between invasive and noninvasive modalities must be individualized, but successful outcomes universally depend on structured initiation, careful parameter adjustment, and systematic follow-up.
Local practices, health system organization, reimbursement policy, and home care provider availability have significant influence on HMV successes. Future advances will rely on technology, multidisciplinary expertise, and broader access to specialized home-care services.

IMPACT STATEMENT
This review provides a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of long-term home mechanical ventilation in children, integrating current evidence with practical clinical considerations. It aims to support clinicians in decision-making, optimize patient selection and ventilatory strategies, and guide future development of pediatric home ventilation programs.

Received: Aug 31, 2025
Accepted: Dec 01, 2025
Published: Dec 01, 2025