The early development of pediatric intensive care

The polio epidemic in Copenhagen in 1952 was a significant stimulus to the development of Intensive Care. Eighty-five percent of the patients with respiratory involvement died despite the use of Cuirass negative pressure ventilators. After some controversy Ibsen, an anesthetist, was consulted. He found that many patients were dying with CO2 retention. He advocated tracheostomy, suction, and ventilation. Owing to the lack of positive pressure ventilators, this was undertaken by students who contributed 167 000 h of hand ventilation. The mortality decreased to 25%. Anesthetists, having special experience with ventilation, became the leaders in the field as Intensive Care developed.