Practical Problems in the Respiratory Care of Patients with Muscular Dystrophy

Abstract

THE muscular dystrophies comprise several groups of inherited disorders with a wide variation between the groups in the distribution and severity of muscle involvement.¹ The respiratory muscles, in common with other skeletal muscles, are affected in all types of muscular dystrophy, so that patients have an increased risk of respiratory complications and premature death.² Respiratory insufficiency often remains covert because impaired skeletal-muscle function prevents patients from exceeding their limited ventilatory capacity; however, it can easily be detected with routine pulmonary-function tests. The case for regular pulmonary assessment in neuromuscular disease has recently been cogently argued in the Journal.³ The . . .