Post-ICU weaning from mechanical ventilation: the role of long-term facilities.
A review of the largest observational studies on post-ICU weaning from prolonged mechanical ventilation yields evidence that more than half of such patients can be successfully liberated from mechanical ventilation. Success is likely to fall within a 3-month window, with late successes and partial ventilator independence still possible thereafter. There is a uniformity of practice in finishing difficult weaning with self-breathing trials of increasing duration.
Scheinhorn
D J
DJ
Barlow Respiratory Research Center, Los Angeles, CA 90026, USA. djs@barlow2000.org
Chao
D C
DC
Hassenpflug
M S
MS
Gracey
D R
DR
D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008134:Long-Term Care; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D013997:Time Factors; D015300:Ventilator Weaning / Q000379:methods