RT Journal
A1 McGillicuddy EA, Schuster KM, Davis KA, Longo WE
T1 VEntilator-associated pneumonia and septic shock in emergency colorectal procedures in elderly patients—reply
JF Archives of Surgery
JO Archives of Surgery
YR 2010
FD June 1
VO 145
IS 6
SP 602
OP 603
DO 10.1001/archsurg.2010.74
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archsurg.2010.74
AB 
We thank Ñamendys-Silva and colleagues for their inquiry regarding ICU length of stay and mechanical ventilation. Overall, 156 patients (53.4%) required postoperative ICU care (median ICU length of stay, 4 days). One hundred fifteen patients (39.3%) were underwent mechanical ventilation postoperatively (median time of mechanical ventilation, 5 days). Twenty-five percent of patients in this study developed pneumonia, and although there was a clear correlation between length of mechanical ventilation and development of pneumonia, in a minority of patients it was difficult to clinically distinguish VAP from an aspiration event.