Long-term ventilation introduction and perspectives.

An increasing number of patients are receiving prolonged ventilation worldwide. The excessive financial burden associated with chronic ventilation hinders effective discharge from the intensive care unit to any other alternative site of care or to the home. The beneficial outcome of caring for chronic ventilator-dependent patients relies on the organization of the treatment team, quality of the medical and rehabilitative treatment programs, and leadership of the medical director. These patients require a highly organized and integrated care plan that has sufficient and prolonged administrative oversight to ensure optimum outcome and reduce costs.