Twenty-five years of respiratory intensive care.

During the years 1961 to 1986 the four-bedded Artificial Ventilation Unit of the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh has treated 3046 patients with respiratory problems of all types. There has been a steady increase in the number of patients admitted each year to the present level of 180-190, a fall in mean length of stay from 15 to six days and the mortality rate has been reduced to 13%. The type of case admitted has shown considerable variation over the years with the most significant change being a large increase in the patients admitted post-operatively. The size of the unit has placed severe restrictions on the work that can be undertaken.