Weaning from Ventilatory Support

Abstract

Weaning from various forms of respiratory support usually is a technically simple task. However, occasionally a patient may appear resistant to attempts to discontinue mechanical ventilation, or continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), and may become persistently hypoxemic when the fractional concentration of inspired oxygen (FIO₂) is reduced. Unfortunately, conventional methods for discontinuing respiratory support often have not provided a methodical means of weaning patients and rarely were conventional methods based on sound physiologic principles. Therefore, weaning often is a subjective process which may compromise patient care. The following approach represents but one way that successful discontinuation of respiratory support may be systematically approached.