A PROGRESSIVE CARE PROGRAM FOR PROLONGED VENTILATORY FAILURE - ANALYSIS OF OUTCOME

Forty consecutive patients who could not be weaned from mechanical ven tilation in the intensive care unit (ICU) entered a multidisciplinary progressive care programme (PCP). The mean number of hours per day of ventilatory support was 19.9 at the time of transfer but only 6.7 at d ischarge. Eleven patients did not require ventilation after discharge, 24 received ventilation non-invasively and only three via a tracheost omy. Survival at discharge from hospital was 90% compared with the pre dicted survival of 53% from the Apache Il scores on admission to the I CU. Seventy-six percent were alive 1 yr after discharge and 80% of pat ients were discharged directly from the PCP to their homes. Mental and emotional scores in a quality of life questionnaire (SF 36) were norm al, but physical function remained limited.