RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 1-Year Survival of Subjects Discharged From a Long-Term Chronic Ventilator Unit
JF Respiratory Care
FD American Association for Respiratory Care
SP 1284
OP 1290
DO 10.4187/respcare.05419
VO 62
IS 10
A1 Panagis Galiatsatos
A1 Tracy Friedlander
A1 Dina Dababneh
A1 Katie Nelson
A1 Denise Kelly
A1 Thomas Finucane
A1 Michelle Bellantoni
A1 William B Greenough III
YR 2017
UL http://rc.rcjournal.com/content/62/10/1284.abstract
AB INTRODUCTION: Among survivors of intensive care, many remain dependent on mechanical ventilation and are discharged to long-term chronic ventilator units or to skilled nursing facilities. Few long-term outcome data are available on patients transferred from long-term chronic ventilator units.METHODS: We retrospectively followed subjects discharged from a long-term chronic ventilator unit from 2010–2012. We determined where these subjects went, evaluating whether location of discharge had an effect on mortality.RESULTS: We followed 79 subjects who were 64.9 ± 15.9 y old. Average stay in the long-term chronic ventilator unit was 38.5 ± 20.1 d. Within the first year after discharge, 24 (30.3%) subjects died: 17 in a skilled nursing facility, 7 at home. Of those who survived the first year, 28 had been discharged to a skilled nursing facility and 27 to home. Survivors were younger (62.6 ± 12.4 vs 70.4 ± 13.1 y, P = .03), had shorter intensive care unit lengths of stay (10.4 ± 5.0 vs 16.4 ± 11.5 d, P = .03), and were more likely discharged home from long-term chronic ventilator unit (49.0% vs 29.1%, P = .040).CONCLUSIONS: Subjects discharged from an long-term chronic ventilator unit and were alive at 1 y had shorter stays in the ICU and were more likely to be discharged home. Further attention is warranted to assure the survival of critical care patients once they are discharged from intensive care units.