RESULTS	Compared with conventional ventilation , transtracheal open ventilation significantly decreased both the duration of mechanical ventilation ( 7.6 + / -4.7 vs. 18.6 + / -10.6 d , p < 0.0001 ) and length of stay in the intensive care unit ( 10.2 + / -4.5 vs. 21.3 + / -9.7 d , p < 0.0001 ) .\