title: Determinants of outcome for patients admitted to a long-term ventilator unit.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This prospective cohort study was done to identify determinants of successful weaning from mechanical ventilation among patients admitted to the 10-bed long-term ventilator unit (LTVU) of a teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective patient surveillance and data collection were done on 472 patients admitted to the LTVU over a 4-year period (January 1996 to December 1999).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the absence of home mechanical ventilation at the time of hospital admission, absence of intensive care unit (ICU) readmission, and admission to the LTVU from a nonmedical service were independently associated with successful weaning. No statistical difference between hospital survivors and nonsurvivors was associated with length of stay in the LTVU and length of stay in the hospital.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients admitted to an LTVU require prolonged hospitalizations and intensive resource utilization. These data suggest that improved methods for identifying patients who are unlikely to benefit from prolonged mechanical ventilation may assist physicians in their discussions with patients and family members as they consider various treatment options.
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary and Critical Care Division, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iregui
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Malen
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tuteur
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lynch
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Holtzman
authors.forename: Marin H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kollef
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D015300:Ventilator Weaning / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*