Paediatric Long-Term Home Respiratory Support: Recommendations of the Swiss Society of Paediatric Pulmonology.

The number of paediatric patients evaluated for long-term home respiratory support has risen sharply in recent years, reflecting both improved survival of children with complex chronic conditions and expanded therapeutic indications. This population is characterized by substantial clinical heterogeneity, encompassing obstructive, restrictive, or central ventilatory disorders. Contributing comorbidities - such as severe obesity, chronic aspiration with secondary lung disease, neuromuscular weakness, impaired central respiratory drive, and dynamic upper airway obstruction - further complicate diagnostic assessment and long-term management. This consensus statement, developed by the Special Interest Group of the Swiss Society of Paediatric Pulmonology, provides comprehensive recommendations for Switzerland. It defines current indications for non-invasive and invasive home respiratory support, proposes criteria for patient selection, and outlines key competencies and composition of an optimal multidisciplinary care team. The document also specifies requirements for equipment provision, safety measures, and training of caregivers, while offering structured guidance for monitoring strategies, long-term follow-up, and management of acute exacerbations. Ethical considerations and best practices for transitioning adolescents to adult respiratory care are additionally addressed, with the aim of standardizing care pathways and improving clinical outcomes.