Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, Vol 12, 450-457, Copyright © 1965 by Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society

Respirator Care In A General Hospital A Five-Year Survey

¹ Department of Anesthesia, University of Western ontario and Victoria Hospital,London,Ontario

In a general hospital, 201 respirator cases have been managed by the Depar–tment of Anaesthesia Although the over–all survival rate was 40 per cent, a classi–fication based on the prognosis of the condition that caused the respiratory insufficiency showed that an 82 per cent survival rate was obtained in patients with a potentially favourable prognosis Pulmonary infection was the main cause of death in this group, and measures to control contamination of the airway appeared to improve the patient's chance of survival Patients with a1 potentially unfavourable prognosis had a very low survival rate (17 per cent) and the clinical observation of a terminal "decay syndrome" was of prognostic Value.

Patients in whom the respnatory insufficiency was only one of many other derangements usually benefited at least temporarily from respirator treatment Although the high moitality rate in this group (64 per cent) was only in part associated with respirator care, it could be lowered by the prevention of pul–monary infection.

It was thought that the control of infection and the prevention of contamina–tion was a greater problem than the maintenance of adequate pulmonary venti–lation in determining the success of respirator care The avoidance of pulmonary infection together with the earlier recognitioin of respiratory insufficiency and the well–timed institution of respirator therapy could improve our results.

Note:

Presented at the Canadian Anaesthetists Society Meeting, Charlottetown, P E I, June 23, 1965