prolonged mechanical ventilation

Introduction

Mechanical ventilation for >= 4 days with tracheostomy or ventilation for >=21 days without tracheostomy

Management

• 1 year prognosis:
  • 9% of patients alive with no functional dependency
  • 26% of patients alive with moderate dependency
  • 21% alive with complete functional dependency
  • 44% morptality
• patients with poor outcomes are older, have more comorbities & are more frequently discharged to a postacute care facility
• annual cost of prolonged mechanical ventilation per patient (2010): $306,135 +/- $285,467
• estimated $3.5 million per independently functioning survivor at 1 year

More general terms

• mechanical ventilation (assisted ventilation)