The optimal timing of endotracheal intubation in critically ill patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation remains undefined. A new analysis of the large, prospective Intensive Care Over Nations (ICON) database compares patients who underwent intubation early – within two days of ICU admission – to those who underwent intubation later. Results show that later intubation (after two days) was associated with a greater hazard of death after 10 days of ICU stay than early intubation.

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