Chronic Comorbid Illnesses Predict the Clinical Course of 866 Patients Requiring Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation in a Long-Term, Acute-Care Hospital.

Objective: To determine whether burdens of chronic comorbid illnesses can predict the clinical course of prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV)patients in a long-term, acute-care hospital (LTACH).

Methods: Retrospective study of 866 consecutive PMV patients whose burdens of chronic comorbid illnesses were quantified using the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS). Based on increasing CIRS scores, 6 groups were formed and compared: group A (≤25; n = 97), group B (26-28; n = 105), group C (29-31; n = 181), group D (32-34; n = 208), group E (35-37; n = 173), and group F (>37; n = 102).

Effects of Reinstitution of Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation on the Outcomes of 370 Patients in a Long-Term Acute Care Hospital.

Objective: To investigate the effects of the reinstitution of continuous mechanical ventilator support of >21 days in 370 prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) patients, all free from ventilator support for ≥5 days.

Methods: Four groups were formed based on the time and number of PMV reinstitutions and compared (group A: reinstitutions within 28 days, n = 51; group B: a single reinstitution after 28 days, n = 53; group C: multiple reinstitutions after 28 days, n = 52; and group D: no known reinstitutions, n = 214).

Results: Of the 370 patients, 156 (42%) required PMV reinstitutions.

Relationship of the Duration of Ventilator Support to Successful Weaning and Other Clinical Outcomes in 437 Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation Patients.

Objective: To investigate the relationships between durations of ventilator support and weaning outcomes of prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) patients.

Methods: Cohort study of 957 PMV patients sequentially admitted to a long-term acute care hospital (LTACH). The study population was 437 PMV patients who underwent weaning, having achieved ≥4 hours of sustained spontaneous breathing.

A comparison of seriously ill patients with or without AIDS requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare differences in underlying diagnoses, weaning outcomes, discharge disposition, and survival in prolonged mechanical ventilator (PMV)-dependent patients with and without AIDS.

Methods: Ninety consecutive AIDS patients requiring PMV were retrospectively matched with 90 clinically similar non-AIDS patients to form matched cohorts to determine differences in their outcomes.

Results: AIDS patients had more acute diagnoses requiring PMV, whereas non-AIDS patients had more chronic diagnoses (P < .

Influence of age on rehabilitation outcomes and survival in post-acute inpatient cardiac rehabilitation.

Purpose: To investigate the relationship of increasing age to clinical characteristics, rehabilitation outcomes, and long-term survival in a post-acute inpatient cardiac rehabilitation program.

Methods: The study population consisted of all 364 consecutive cardiac rehabilitation patients admitted over a 4-year period to an inpatient cardiac rehabilitation program in a long-term acute care hospital.Admission and discharge comparisons were made between 3 age cohorts: 65 years (n = 117), 65 to 74 years (n = 127), and ≥ 75 years (n = 120).