pt. 1. Introduction -- pt. 2. The difficult to wean patient in the ICU setting -- pt. 3. Rehabilitation in the intensive care unit -- pt. 4. Chronic ventilatory assistance in the hospital (non ICU) -- pt. 5. Long-term mechanical ventilation in the community -- pt. 6. Special considerations -- pt. 7. Chronic respiratory failure in different patient groups -- pt. 8. Perspectives on long-term ventilation -- pt. 9. Worldwide approaches to long-term ventilation.