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Abstract

When 54 year old Lisa was admitted to the Western Division of the Toronto Hospital in November 1987, it was for removal of a benign cranio-cerebral tumor. The pulmonary compromise she had lived with for many years--the result of a congenitally short spine--was accentuated during the months following surgery. With breathing difficulties and recurrent pneumonia, Lisa required assisted ventilation. And though she tolerated being off the ventilator for a total of five hours during the day, repeated attempts to wean her were unsuccessful.