Home mechanical ventilation is classically used to treat neuromuscular patients with chronic respiratory insufficiency. Since the heart and lungs are localized in the thorax, intrathoracic pressure may directly affect heart function. Here, we report the direct cyclic effects of mechanical ventilation on the right and left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in serial cases. These cases highlight the importance of performing Doppler echocardiography in patients with neuromuscular disorders, focusing on the right and left ventricular systolic and diastolic functions in the context of ventilation setting modifications or introduction.
Keywords: Duchenne muscular dystrophy; congenital myopathy; echocardiography; ventilation.