Emphysema, chronic bronchitis, decrease in forced expiratory volumes or need for oxygen therapy, corticosteroids or bronchodilators

Chronic heart conditions such as cor pulmonale, heart failure, cardiomyopathy, hypertensive heart disease, arrhytmias, valvular heart disease or other structural malformations, at risk of acute exacerbations in the setting of FN. Single isolated episodes of atrial fibrillation in the past were not considered here as chronic cardiovascular diseases

At least, presence of patchy ulcerations or pseudomembranes; or moderate pain with modified diet indicated

Glucose ≥121 mg/dl, or ≥250mg/m2 in a diabetic patient (or in a patient taking steroids)

Major complications were defined here as the occurrence of hypotension; acute renal, respiratory, or heart failure; arrhythmia; major bleeding; delirium; acute abdomen; disseminated intravascular coagulation; and other events considered severe according to the definitions in the FINITE study protocol.