[Long-term effects and life expectancy after six years intermittent self ventilation].
METHODS
381 patients were treated by intermittent ventilation for up to 6 years, when ventilatory failure and symptoms persisted despite efficient medical treatment. Patients with chest wall disorders (COPD) were in hospital for 19 +/- 10 (21 +/- 14) days during the first and for 6 +/- 10 (14 +/- 12) days in the following years.


RESULTS
Survival was found above 95% in chest wall disorders. In COPD survival ranged 75% in the 2nd and 59% in the 4th years.


CONCLUSIONS
Intermittent mechanical ventilation, therefore, can restore hypercapnic ventilatory failure to normal. Survival is improve similar to a control group without ventilatory failure.
Laier-Groeneveld
G
G
Ev. Krankenhaus Lenglern, Universität Göttingen, Bovenden-Lenglern.
Criée
C P
CP
D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007385:Intermittent Positive-Pressure Ventilation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D008397:Masks; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D012648:Self Care; D015996:Survival Rate