Bristol Paediatric Respiratory Medicine

2008 Bristol Course on Sleep and Long Term Ventilation in Children

Course Outline and Objectives

The course aims to provide each participant with a thorough understanding of the major issues in long term ventilation for children and young people. This is delivered through a highly practical and interactive three-day program of lectures and workshops based around a structured syllabus.

It is aimed at paediatricians (including those in training), respiratory physicians with an interest in long term ventilation in children, nurses and other professionals involved in hospital or community care of children with sleep disordered breathing or long term ventilatory needs, and sleep physiology technicians.

Following the course, each candidate will have a clear understanding of the following:

• physiology of normal respiration and the consequences of abnormal physiology
• the presentation and diagnosis of compromised respiration in each of the three main disease entities requiring long term ventilation in children: neuromuscular problems, disorders in respiratory drive, and problems with the large airway or lung
• the range of sleep investigations and their interpretation
• the choice and use of ventilators and interfaces, including tracheostomy
• the practicalities of initiation of ventilation
• the approach to equipment problems and unstable patients
• discharge planning and support in the community, including commissioning arrangements
• the ethical issues in long term ventilation

For a detailed course timetable please click here. (pdf)