Outcome of mechanical ventilation in Central Africa.
The outcome of mechanical ventilation is reported in a prospective series of 200 patients managed in an intensive care unit in Zambia. Fifty two patients survived (26%), and 46 patients were subsequently discharged from hospital (23%). Ten patients died in whom a complication of ventilation was a factor. Patients not expected to survive by the authors had a 96.3% mortality whereas patients with a chance of survival had a mortality rate of 58.8%. Two diagnostic groups were found to have a high mortality: head injury (85.1%) and non-traumatic coma (76.4%). This series is compared with similar series from developed countries and recommendations are made for the institution of mechanical ventilation in the developing world.
Sinclair
J R
JR
Department of Surgery, University of Zambia.
Watters
D A
DA
Davison
M
M
D003128:Coma / Q000401:mortality; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000401:mortality; D003906:Developing Countries; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000401:mortality; D015024:Zambia