Indications and outcome associated with positive-pressure ventilation in dogs and cats: 127 cases.

The outcome of PPV appears to be most heavily determined by the underlying disease process and no clear improvement in outcome could be demonstrated in this study, despite advances in veterinary critical care and ventilator management strategies since previous studies. Dogs and cats receiving PPV for more than 24 h in this study had a higher likelihood of a positive outcome. Several indices of oxygenation and illness severity at the onset of PPV were predictive of outcome and maybe useful when considering prognosis of these cases.