Table 1 Patient’s characteristics, ventilator settings and blood gas analysis prior to tracheostomy (PBW – predicted body weight)

Patient Number

N = 29

N = 34

Age [years]

57.4 ± 14.5

59.5 ± 12.8

Tracheostomy [day]

16.8 ± 8.3

16.3 ± 8.9

SAPS II

36.7 ± 10.6

36.5 ± 10.0

FiO₂

0.42 ± 0.10

0.41 ± 11.5

P/F ratio [mmHg]

241.1 ± 196.6

211.6 ± 66.7

V_t [ml]

461.8 ± 102.3

462.9 ± 108.7

Breathing frequency [/min]

20.8 ± 3.4

20.2 ± 3.0

Driving Pressure [cmH₂O]

14.6 ± 4.8

12.7 ± 3.6

PIP [cmH₂O]

26.1 ± 5.8

24.3 ± 6.3

PEEP [cmH₂O]

11.3 ± 2.9

11.6 ± 3.1

pH

7.37 ± 0.07

7.36 ± 0.06

PaO₂ [mmHg]

81.8 ± 14.7

77.6 ± 17.4

PaCO₂ [mmHg]

50.9 ± 12.9

57.0 ± 15.2