Abstract
The outcome of mechanical ventilation is reported in a series of 43 patients managed in an intensive care unit in Sri Lanka. Eighteen patients (42%) survived. Of these, all except one were discharged from hospital. Patients with organophosphate poisoning and Guillain-Barré polyneuritis had a mortality of 47% and 50% respectively. Patients who were ventilated postoperatively as a result of anaesthetic complications during surgery had a mortality rate of 20%. Patients with tetanus and myasthenia gravis had 100% recovery. The following categories of patients had a poor prognosis with 100% mortality: patients with severe head injuries, subarachnoid haemorrhage, non-traumatic coma, severe chest injuries and porphyria. The series is compared to similar series from other countries.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Bell J. A., Bradley R. D., Jenkins B. S., Spencer G. T. Six years of multidisciplinary intensive care. Br Med J. 1974 Jun 1;2(5917):483–488. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.5917.483. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Cullen D. J., Keene R., Waternaux C., Kunsman J. M., Caldera D. L., Peterson H. Results, charges, and benefits of intensive care for critically ill patients: update 1983. Crit Care Med. 1984 Feb;12(2):102–106. doi: 10.1097/00003246-198402000-00004. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Jennett B. Inappropriate use of intensive care. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1984 Dec 22;289(6460):1709–1711. doi: 10.1136/bmj.289.6460.1709. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Nunn J. F., Milledge J. S., Singaraya J. Survival of patients ventilated in an intensive therapy unit. Br Med J. 1979 Jun 9;1(6177):1525–1527. doi: 10.1136/bmj.1.6177.1525. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Oji A. Intensive care in a developing country: a review of the first 100 cases. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 1986 May;68(3):122–124. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Searle J. F. The outcome of mechanical ventilation: report of a five year study. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 1985 May;67(3):187–189. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Sinclair J. R., Watters D. A., Davison M. Outcome of mechanical ventilation in Central Africa. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 1988 Mar;70(2):76–79. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]