@article {Fernandez1413, author = {Ram{\'o}n Fernandez and Cristina Cabrera and Gemma Rubinos and Ana Pando and Rosa Galindo and Francisco Rodr{\'\i}guez and Francisco Lopez and Isidro Gonzalez and Pere Casan}, title = {Nasal Versus Oronasal Mask in Home Mechanical Ventilation: The Preference of Patients as a Strategy for Choosing the Interface}, volume = {57}, number = {9}, pages = {1413--1417}, year = {2012}, doi = {10.4187/respcare.01500}, publisher = {Respiratory Care}, abstract = {INTRODUCTION: In home mechanical ventilation (HMV), the mask is a key factor for patient comfort and therapeutic adherence. There is no evidence on the best strategy for choosing the mask in HMV. OBJECTIVE: To explore patient preference when prescribing the mask for HMV treatment and assess its relationship with effectiveness. METHODS: A prospective study with repeated measures in stable patients receiving home nocturnal ventilation. Alternating oronasal mask (ONM) and nasal mask (NM) were tested in day and overnight sessions, with arterial blood gas measured and SpO2 monitored. At the end of each evening session, patients rated interface comfort using a visual analog scale. At 3 months we evaluated adherence and effectiveness of the treatment. RESULTS: Twenty-nine subjects (mean {\textpm} SD age 65 {\textpm} 13 y, 44\% male) completed the study. Initial functional values were PCO2 57.4 {\textpm} 5.2 mm Hg and time with SpO2 \< 90\% (T90) 81.5 {\textpm} 9.5\%. Both ONM and NM significantly decreased PCO2 and T90. Over a third (38\%) of our subjects preferred ONM, while NM was deemed more comfortable in general. At 3 months, effectiveness and adherence showed no differences between those treated with NM or ONM. CONCLUSIONS: Patient choice is an effective criterion for selecting the interface in HMV treatment.}, issn = {0020-1324}, URL = {https://rc.rcjournal.com/content/57/9/1413}, eprint = {https://rc.rcjournal.com/content/57/9/1413.full.pdf}, journal = {Respiratory Care} }