Relationship between Volume and Survival in Closed Intensive Care Units Is Weak and Apparent Only in Mechanically Ventilated Patients

Abstract

In the currently studied healthcare system characterized by 24/7 intensivist coverage, the authors found wide variability in outcome among ICUs even after adjusting for severity of illness but no relationship between ICU volume and outcome. Only mechanically ventilated patients in very low-volume centers had slightly worse outcomes.