[Chronic respiratory insufficiency in the child].

Chronic respiratory failure in childhood is a common occurrence, defined as permanent hypoxemia below two standard deviations under the mean for the child's age. In infants, this definition is less clear than in adolescents and adults. Etiologies are numerous, with the most prevalent being chronic obstructive lung disease. Chronic respiratory failure requires etiologic investigations, assessment of lesions and respiratory function, and treatment that can usually be carried out at home. Long-term oxygen therapy is indicated in severe respiratory failure. Oxygen is supplied by an extractor for at least 15 hours per day, and flows are adjusted and monitored using non-invasive measurements of oxygen saturation throughout the 24-hour cycle. The outcome of chronic respiratory failure depends on the cause, the quality of care, and the initial lesions. Chronic respiratory failure should not be considered as necessarily a permanent condition, particularly in infants.