Figure 3.

Kaplan–Meier curves of the risk for remaining mechanically ventilated in protocol-directed (cases) versus physician-directed weaning groups (controls). The protocol-directed weaning procedure allowed reduction in the overall duration of mechanical ventilation, whatever the patient's diagnosis. The overall mechanical ventilation duration was 16.6 ± 13 days in cases and 22.5 ± 21 days in controls (P = 0.02).