Variation in Definition of Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation.

Consistency of definitional criteria for terminology applied to describe subject cohorts receiving mechanical ventilation within ICU and post-acute care settings is important for understanding prevalence, risk stratification, effectiveness of interventions, and projections for resource allocation. Our objective was to quantify the application and definition of terms for prolonged mechanical ventilation. We conducted a scoping review of studies (all designs except single-case study) reporting a study population (adult and pediatric) using the term prolonged mechanical ventilation or a synonym.

Prolonged mechanical ventilation in Canadian intensive care units: a national survey.

Background: We sought to describe prevalence and care practices for patients experiencing prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV), defined as ventilation for 21 or more consecutive days and medical stability.

Methods: We provided the survey to eligible units via secure Web link to a nominated unit champion from April to November 2012. Weekly telephone and e-mail reminders were sent for 6 weeks.

Interhospital variability in satisfaction with withdrawal of life support: room for improvement?

Objective: To develop instruments to measure the current level of satisfaction with the withdrawal of life support among nurses and respiratory therapists and to use these instruments to determine whether differences in satisfaction levels with the withdrawal of life support could be found among different institutions.

Design: A multicenter, self-administered, questionnaire-based study.

Setting: The intensive care units of three academic and 11 community hospitals.