A prognostic model for one-year mortality in patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation.

Objective: A measure that identifies patients who are at high risk of mortality after prolonged ventilation will help physicians communicate prognoses to patients or surrogate decision makers. Our objective was to develop and validate a prognostic model for 1-yr mortality in patients ventilated for 21 days or more.

Design: The authors conducted a prospective cohort study.

The use of selective bronchography in predicting reversal of neoplastic obstructive atelectasis.

Objectives: To assess the ability of selective bronchography to predict which patients with neoplastic postobstructive atelectasis will respond to interventional therapies directed at the reexpansion of the affected lung. Furthermore, to compare the utility of selective bronchography with the current predictive standard that reversal of postobstructive atelectasis is unlikely when it is > or = 4 weeks in duration (ie, the 4-week rule).

Design: A prospective observational study.

Cannulation of the internal jugular vein: is postprocedural chest radiography always necessary?

Objectives: To determine whether clinical features can be used in a decision rule to prospectively identify a subgroup of internal jugular catheter placements that are correctly positioned and free from mechanical complications, thus obviating the need for routine postprocedural chest radiographs in selected patients.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Tertiary care teaching hospital.