Experience with a CAVC Unit

Our clinical experience with our first 50 patients, admitted over a 15-year period, has been previously reported (7). Subsequently we have extended this experience by the admission of an additional 27 patients. A summary of this experience is illustrative of the evolving role of the CAVC unit. 

The change in referral patterns is exemplified by 12 patients with spinal cord injury and respiratory failure of whom 10 were admitted prior to 1999. In contrast, of nine patients with ALS, eight have been admitted since 2000 and five are currently locked in, being totally unable to communicate (Fig. 1). 

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