Treatment and the Therapeutic Results of Acute Respiratory Paralysis Caused by Poliomyelitis

Abstract

By way of summary of the above therapeutical results, the following may be said:

(1) The mortality rate in the acute phase was 12%, and was thus remarkably low. Before the introduction of treatment by tracheotomy and the employment of an overpressure respirator, the mortality rate in Aurora Hospital was 93%.

(2) The mortality rate later in the chronic phase was equal to that in the acute phase. The question arises whether the weakest of the former respirator patients should not be sent to a special therapeutic centre instead of home.

(3) Fifteen per cent remained chronic respirator patients, a figure which corresponds to the results generally quoted in published reports.

(4) Twenty-one of the patients sent home were able to do some productive work. This represented 47% of all those treated, and 61% of the surviving patients.