Analysis of prognostic factors in patients requiring long-term mechanical ventilation

Objective To analyze prognostic factors in patients admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) and received mechanical ventilation for more than 7 days.Methods 46 patients receiving long-term mechanical ventilation (LTMV) from April 2001 to June 2003 were divided into two groups:death group and survival group based on discharged result.Admitting clinical and physiological parameters were analyzed retrospectively by Logistic regression methods.Results Of the patients enrolled in the study,22 (47.8%) died in the ICU and 24 (52.2%) were survival.Differences in central venous pressure (CVP),actived partial thromboplastin time (APTT),level of plasma albumin,sodium and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE Ⅱ) score between survivors and nonsurvivors were significant (P0.05).The development of sepsis and undergoing tracheotomy were also significant difference between two groups (P0.05).With multiple logistic regression,higher ALB level (P=0.009;OR=0.793;95% confidence interval:0.67～0.95) and undergoing tracheotomy (P=0.033;OR=0.21;95% confidence interval:0.05～0.88) were independent predictors of bettter outcome.Conclusion LTMV patients may be at high risk for ICU death.Therefore the relevant factors should be evaluated cautiously before decision-making for mechanical ventilation.