Outcomes of pediatric mechanical ventilation.

Mechanical ventilation is one of the most commonly used life-support technologies in the PICU, is an absolute indicator of the need for PICU care, and adds considerably to the cost of intensive care. Patients with chronic disease account for a large proportion of admissions to the PICU and of patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery and neurosurgery. Although the average length of use of mechanical ventilation in the PICU is about 5 days, there is tremendous variability in the length of ventilation (SD approximately 9 days). Survival among ventilated patients varies greatly and depends mostly on the nature and severity of the underlying disease.