ABSTRACT
Long-term invasive mechanical ventilation in patients unable to support spontaneous breathing demands special attention from a variety of health care professionals. The needs of such patients frequently are complex, and in addition to the usual needs common to other groups of chronically ill patients, these patients require specific care to address the particular needs encountered during long-term mechanical ventilation. Typically, a multidisciplinary team approach (Table 1) is employed to provide effective comprehensive care in patients requiring this form of therapy.
