Table 1.

Patient Characteristics

	n = 20
Age (years) (mean ± SD)	58 ± 16.9
Gender (n men/women)	12 / 8
Race (n African American/White/Hispanic)	14 / 6 / 0
COPD (yes)	5
APACHE II (mean ± SD)	25 ± 8.8
SOFA (mean ± SD)	7 ± 3.4
Reason for mechanical ventilation
Pneumonia	6
Upper airway obstruction	4
Asthma	2
Sepsis	2
Neurologic	2
Delirium	1
Pulmonary edema	1
Hemorrhagic shock	1
Unclear cause	1

SD: standard deviation

COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

APACHE II: Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II

SOFA: Sequential Organ Failure Assessment