TABLE 6.

Transition from ‘no ventilation’ to ‘requiring’ long-term mechanical ventilation

Criteria that should define transition	%
Recurrent/progressive ventilatory failure without complicating treatable acute illness/reversible factors	100
Degree of physiological impairment	97
Acceptance and motivation of the patient based on informed choice	89
Symptom profile	81
Likelihood of acceptable quality of life	78
Patient’s diagnosis	78
Medical prognosis	78
Time (ie, duration of symptoms/ventilatory failure; time from diagnosis)	78
Access to appropriate health care personnel and technology	76
Availability of resources	73
Criteria that should NOT define transition
Health care team coercion	97
Patient demographic characteristics	97
Patient’s physical location	89
Funding availability	81
Ventilator availability	78