Respiratory intensive care: a 10-year survey.

The work of the respiratory intensive care unit at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary covering a period of 10 years and involving more than 2,000 patients has been analysed. The rate of admission of patients with acute respiratory or metabolic disturbances remained surprisingly constant over the years, allowing for the increase in available beds after 1965. A disturbing feature was the notable increase in the incidence of severe self-poisonings. The continued importance of infection as a life-threatening complication is also emphasized. The reduction in mortality observed in some of the most gravely ill patients appears to justify this approach to patient care.