Effect of hypophosphatemia on the withdrawal of mechanical ventilation in patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Mechanical ventilation (MV) is a life-supporting modality frequently performed in critically ill patients to mechanically assist or replace spontaneous breathing. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of hypophosphatemia on the withdrawal of MV in patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). The medical records of 67 AECOPD cases, treated with MV between 2011 and 2013, were analyzed retrospectively.