[Mechanical ventilation in a respiratory ward. Evolution from 1994 to 2000]

To investigate the absolute and relative frequency of mechanical ventilation in the management of patients on a respiratory medicine ward between 1994 and 2000. To describe reasons for admission, mean hospital stay and outcomes.

A tertiary-care university hospital.

Observational, descriptive study of a case series.

During the study period, 257 admissions involved mechanical ventilation of 132 patients. During that time, there was a progressive increase in the total number of ventilated patients as well as in the relative frequency, such that ventilated patients eventually accounted for 6.1% of all admissions for respiratory care in 2000. Nearly 80% of admissions were related to the service's home mechanical ventilation program, either to initiate and adapt ventilation for new patients or to treat exacerbations or diagnose and treat other medical or surgical problems in already-ventilated patients. Patients transferred from the intensive care unit (ICU) because of weaning difficulties (median ventilation, 31 days) had the highest mean stay. Nine of the 132 patients had to be transferred to the ICU and 18 died while hospitalized (7% of admissions and 13.6% of patients). The patients who died were those who were more acutely and severely ill (acute exacerbation in home-ventilated patients, patients with acute respiratory failure treated initially with non-invasive ventilation and patients transferred from the ICU due to weaning difficulties).

Admissions requiring mechanical ventilation have increased and most are related to the home mechanical ventilation program. The mean stay and the mortality rate were related to the reason for admission.