Mechanical ventilation for pulmonary disease. A six year survey.

Between 1972 and 1977, 91 patients received mechanical ventilation for pulmonary disorders. Forty-nine (53.8%) left hospital and 35 of these survived for at least 1 year. Nineteen of 23 asthmatic patients survived. Cerebral damage following cardiorespiratory arrest precluded successful outcome in three of the four who died. In those with chronic lung diseases, patients with chronic bronchitis fared best; outcome was poor in those with emphysema, bronchiectasis and pulmonary fibrosis often despite trivial precipitating causes of respiratory failure. Mortality was high in patients with pneumonia even if immunologically normal.