TY - JOUR T1 - Tracheostomy ventilation in MND: A snapshot of UK practice JF - ERJ Open Research JO - erjor DO - 10.1183/23120541.RFMVC-2020.52 VL - 6 IS - suppl 4 SP - 52 AU - Jonathan Palmer AU - Bhuvaneswari Kathiresan AU - Ben Messer AU - Michelle Ramsey Y1 - 2020/02/13 UR - http://openres.ersjournals.com/content/6/suppl_4/52.abstract N2 - Introduction: The use of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in patients with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is recommended by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE). Some UK centres also offer tracheostomy ventilation (TV). Previous studies estimate 1% of MND patients having TV in the UK.Aim: To evaluate the use of TV in patients with MND in the UK.Method: UK ventilation centres were approached to undertake a retrospective audit of the use of TV in MND between 1st April 2013 and 31st March 2018. Data were obtained by retrospective case-note review.Results: 69 patients had been set up on TV for MND, 81% (n=56) were commenced as a result of an emergency admission due to respiratory failure. 36% (n=20) were not previously diagnosed with MND. Not all patients were managed with TV into the long term, a wean was attempted in 54% (n=37) of emergencies; 8 were then managed with NIV until death; mean survival post extubation in this group was 28.8 months. 13 patients received elective tracheostomy. Elective tracheostomy placement was more likely to occur due to bulbar dysfunction or upper airway difficulties compared to those having emergency procedures. These patients were younger (53.8v61.3 years) with a male predominance (85%v15%). They had shorter mean length of stay (40v136 days) and a tendency to increased survival (34v24 months).Conclusion: TV in the UK to manage ventilatory failure in patients living with MND is limited, with less than 1% of all such patients receiving it. Elective tracheostomy for TV is incredibly rare with those choosing to opt for this procedure having a tendency towards better outcomes with a shorter length of hospital stay and increased survival. This may represent a self-selecting group.FootnotesCite this article as: ERJ Open Research 2020; 6: Suppl. 4, 52.This is an ERS Respiratory Failure and Mechanical Ventilation Conference abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only). ER -