Table 3.
Outcome in 229 study patients
| Supine | Semi-recumbent | Odds ratio (95% CI) | p-value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (n = 112) | (n = 117) | |||
| Any complication | 57 (50.9%) | 76 (65.0%) | 0.56 (0.32–0.98) | 0.031 |
| Tracheostomy used | 51 (45.5%) | 69 (58.9%) | 0.58 (0.33–1.02) | 0.042 |
| Mechanical ventilation | 39 (34.8%) | 53 (45.2%) | 0.65 (0.37–1.14) | 0.106 |
| Gastrointestinal bleed | 30 (26.8%) | 34 (29.1%) | 0.89 (0.48–1.66) | 0.701 |
| Pneumonia | 26 (23.2%) | 29 (24.8%) | 0.92 (0.48–1.76) | 0.781 |
| Autonomic instability | 14 (12.5%) | 17 (14.5%) | 0.84 (0.37–1.91) | 0.654 |
| Episode of hypotension | 11 (9.8%) | 20 (17.1%) | 0.53 (0.22–1.23) | 0.108 |
| Urinary tract infection | 12 (10.7%) | 7 (6.0%) | 1.89 (0.66–5.55) | 0.194 |
| Bacteraemia | 8 (7.1%) | 6 (5.1%) | 1.21 (0.38–3.86) | 0.525 |
| Wound infection | 5 (4.5%) | 11 (9.4%) | 0.45 (0.12–1.47) | 0.143 |
| Pressure sore | 5 (4.5%) | 7 (6.0%) | 0.73 (0.18–2.79) | 0.606 |
| Renal failure | 1 (0.9%) | 2 (1.7%) | 0.52 (0.01–1.11) | 1.00 |
| Nasogastric tube used | 77 (68.8%) | 93 (79.5%) | 0.57 (0.30–1.80) | 0.063 |
| Mean (range) dose of benzodiazepine used (mg/kg/day) | 0.98 (0.50–1.46) | 0.89 (0.44–1.47) | 0.482 | |
| Mean (range) dose of pipecuronium used (mg/kg/day) | 0.41 (0.04–1.08) | 0.59 (0.20–0.97) | 0.818 | |
| Stress ulcer prophylaxis given | 26 (23.2%) | 28 (23.9%) | 0.96 (0.50–1.85) | 0.898 |
| Mean (range) duration on ICU (days) | 15 (2–66) | 17 (1–108) | 0.197 | |
| Mean (range) duration in hospital (days) | 27 (3–121) | 29 (3–108) | 0.468 | |
| Mortality | 11 (9.8%) | 17 (14.5%) | 0.64 (0.27–1.53) | 0.277 |
Data are number (%) unless otherwise indicated.
ICU: intensive care unit.