title: Weaning failure: my heart is not up to it.
abstract: Weaning patients from mechanical ventilation has been compared to a cardiac stress test. Weaning failure (WF) from a cardiac origin can be common in patients with limited cardiac reserve. Diuretic and vasodilator therapies are indicated for WF due to excessive preload, afterload, or myocardial ischemia. Alteration in intrathoracic pressure and lung volumes may also impact weaning process in a patient with poor cardiac function. Noninvasive ventilation decreases cardiac stress load and should be utilized in weaning patients with poor cardiac reserves. In fact, positive pressure therapy is now the standard of care for treating a patient with acute pulmonary edema and to decrease afterload (Frazier et al. Biol Res Nurs 2000; 1(4): 253-264; Pinsky MR. Chest 2005; 128(5 Suppl 2): 592S-597S.). Recently, biomarkers and echocardiography have been utilized to assess weaning success during spontaneous breathing trials. In this article, we describe the physiological alterations in cardiac and pulmonary systems during the weaning process and its impact on weaning outcome.
authors.affiliation: VA Western New York Healthcare System, Division of Critical Care Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Medicine, State University of New York, Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Jahan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Porhomayon
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Papadakos
authors.forename: Nader D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Nader
authors.forename: Ali A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: El-Solh
mesh_terms: D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000502:physiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000502:physiology; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D015300:Ventilator Weaning; D014939:Work of Breathing / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain
keywords: Mechanical ventilation; cardiac failure; echocardiography; natriuretic peptide; outcome; weaning