The adult multidisciplinary respiratory neuromuscular clinic. Issue 3 (September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shah, Neeraj M.; Murphy, Patrick B.; Kaltsakas, Georgios
• Is Part Of: Breathe. Volume 16:Issue 3(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-09
• Subjects: Respiratory organs -- Diseases; Respiratory organs -- Diseases -- Treatment; Periodicals; 616.2005
• DOI: 10.1183/20734735.0121-2020
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1810-6838

Abstract

Many neuromuscular disorders (NMD) are complicated by respiratory failure. These patients are best managed in a multidisciplinary outpatient clinic to provide timely access to the various disciplines they require. The key mainstay of treatment of respiratory failure in patients with NMD is noninvasive ventilation, supported by secretion clearance, speech and language therapy, optimisation of nutrition and the maintenance of mobility. Patients with specific conditions may also require cardiology, neurology, orthopaedics, urology and psychological services. The respiratory NMD multidisciplinary team should also provide access to palliative care, and caregiver health and wellbeing should also be reviewed at clinical reviews. The future of care for the respiratory NMD patient will increasingly involve home services and telehealth and the clinic should be equipped and resourced to deliver these. Although not all health systems will be able to provide all elements of the multidisciplinary team discussed here, this review provides the "ideal" recipe for the adult multidisciplinary team and the evidence base underpinning this from which a clinic can be developed. Educational aims: To provide an overview of the care of an adult neuromuscular disorder patient presenting to the multidisciplinary respiratory clinic. To provide the evidence base for establishing the different elements of the multidisciplinary respiratory clinic. Care for neuromuscular-related respiratory failure is complex and is best delivered in a multidisciplinary context. The future will increasingly involve home services and telehealth, and their burden needs to be considered when establishing this service. https://bit.ly/33fNsMT