title: Acceptable respiratory physiologic limits for children during weaning from mechanical ventilation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this survey was to characterize the physiological limits considered appropriate during weaning from mechanical ventilation in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred twenty-two (222) intensivists from 63 pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) were asked to provide the limits they considered acceptable for respiratory rate (RR), tidal volume (V(T)) and end-tidal CO(2) (PetCO(2)) during weaning from mechanical ventilation of a 3-month-old, a 2-year-old and a 10-year-old patient.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pediatric intensivists working in Canada, France, Switzerland and Belgium.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-seven intensivists (43%) from 49 PICUs responded to the survey. The median minimal RR (25th;75th percentile) was: 20 breaths per minute (bpm) (15;25) for the 3-month-old, 15 bpm (10;15) for the 2-year-old and 10 bpm (10;15) for the 10-year-old patient. The median maximal RR was 50 bpm (40;60) for the 3-month-old, 40 bpm (30;40) for the 2-year-old and 30 bpm (30;40) for the 10-year-old child. The median minimal V(T) was 5 ml/kg (4;6) for the 3-month-old and 2-year-old patients and 5 ml/kg (5;6) for the 10-year-old. The median maximal PetCO(2) was 55 mmHg (50;60) for the 3-month-old, 50 mmHg (45;50) for the 2-year-old and 50 mmHg (50;55) for the 10-year-old.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This survey indicated that acceptable weaning limits are broad, as stated by the responders. We need to organize and consolidate our thinking on weaning children from mechanical ventilation before guidelines can be established.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Hôpital Sainte-Justine, Université de Montréal, 3175 chemin Côte Sainte Catherine, Montréal, Quebec, H3T 1C5, Canada.
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santschi
authors.forename: France
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gauvin
authors.forename: Georges
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hatzakis
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lacroix
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jouvet
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003422:Critical Care; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012119:Respiration; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013990:Tidal Volume; D015300:Ventilator Weaning / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data