PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - R. Farre
AU  - S. J. Lloyd-Owen
AU  - N. Ambrosino
AU  - G. Donaldson
AU  - J. Escarrabill
AU  - B. Fauroux
AU  - D. Robert
AU  - B. Schoenhofer
AU  - A. Simonds
AU  - J. A. Wedzicha
TI  - Quality control of equipment in home mechanical ventilation: a European survey
AID  - 10.1183/09031936.05.00066904
DP  - 2005 Jul 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - 86--94
VI  - 26
IP  - 1
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/26/1/86.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/26/1/86.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2005 Jul 01; 26
AB  - Quality control of the equipment used in home mechanical ventilation is necessary in order to ensure that patients safely and accurately receive the prescribed ventilatory support. The aim of this study was to carry out a survey on the quality-control procedures in different centres and countries. The survey was carried out in the context of a European Commission Concerted Action covering 16 European countries. The study was extensive and detailed, involving 326 centres, which provided home ventilation to >20,000 patients. The survey showed that: 1) ventilator servicing was mainly carried out by external companies (62% of centres), with a servicing frequency ranging 3–12 months; 2) interaction between servicing companies and prescribers was limited (only 61% of centres were always informed of major incidents); 3) participation of centres in equipment quality control was poor (only 56% of centres assessed that patients/caregivers correctly cleaned/maintained the ventilator); and 4) centres were insufficiently aware of vigilance systems (only 23% of centres). Moreover, the data showed considerable inter- and intra-country differences. The size of the centre was an important determinant of many of these quality-control aspects. This survey provides information that will enable the European Commission Concerted Action to formulate recommendations on procedures for home-ventilator quality control.