The open respiratory medicine journal
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Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation (PMV) is associated with a higher cost of care and increased morbidity and mortality. Patients requiring PMV are referred mostly to Long-Term Acute Care (LTAC) facilities. ⋯ Protocol-driven liberation from mechanical ventilation in LTAC by RT can significantly decrease the duration of a mechanical ventilator, leading to decreased mortality and cost savings.
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Pneumonia is a major reason for hospitalization for Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease patients (AECOPD). There is limited data available on the outcomes of AECOPD patients with or without pneumonia. Therefore, the study investigates the prognosis of AECOPD patients with or without Community-acquired Pneumonia (CAP), concerning the Length of Hospital Stay (LOS), in-hospital complications and early readmission. ⋯ COPD patients with CAP had longer LOS and more short term complications as ICU admission, mechanical ventilation and higher readmission rate in comparison to COPD patients without CAP.