Table 1 Patient characteristics

Number of included patients

18

Age (years), mean ± SD

54 ± 18

Male gender, n (%)

13 (72)

Weight (kg), median (IQR)

72 (66, 81)

SAPS II, mean ± SD

43 ± 16

LOD score, mean ± SD

6 ± 3

Cause for ICU admission, n 5 %

 Neurologic failure

7 (38)

 Respiratory failure

6 (33)

 Shock

5 (27)

Duration of mechanical ventilation before inclusion (days), median (IQR)

4 (2, 6)

Total duration of mechanical ventilation (days), median (IQR)

12 (7, 25)

Length of ICU stay (days), median (IQR)

21 (11, 30)

Ventilator-associated pneumonia, n (%)

3 (15)

ICU mortality, n (%)

10 (55)