IMPORTANT, THIS PATIENT IS CHRONICALLY VENTILATED, DO NOT STOP HIS/HER VENTILATION FOLLOWING HOSPITALIZATION 

Patients admitted to the NPHVA have chronic alveolar hypoventilation.  To keep their condition stable, it is necessary and vital to maintain use of their ventilator. They are at risk for severe hypercapnia, hypoxemia, and for certain patients, death, without the use of their ventilator.  

For this reason, it is recommended to not administer oxygen without ventilatory assistance and to control PCO2 if there is any doubt or signs of hypercapnia. 
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It is also important to verify with the patient or their family if cough assist techniques are used daily to eliminate secretions and maintain thoracic compliance.