VENTILATOR WEANING

Course overview

MECHANICAL VENTILATION IS AN ESTABLISHED SUPPORTIVE TREATMENT FOR PATIENTS WITH VARIOUS FORMS OF RESPIRATORY FAILURE. DESPITE THE WIDESPREAD USE AND CLEAR BENEFITS OF MECHANICAL VENTILATION, IT IS NOT A RISK-FREE INTERVENTION. PROLONGED MECHANICAL VENTILATION INCREASES THE RISK OF PNEUMONIA, BAROTRAUMA, TRACHEAL INJURIES AND MUSCULOSKELETAL DECONDITIONING. AT THE SAME TIME, DELAYED WEANING IS ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED MORBIDITY, MORTALITY, HOSPITAL STAY AND RISK OF LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY DISCHARGE. THIS ACTIVITY DESCRIBES THE METHODS USED TO WEAN FROM THE MECHANICAL VENTILATOR AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THESE PATIENTS.