Including a weaning predictor in the daily assessment of weaning readiness increased mechanical ventilation weaning time
Q In patients receiving mechanical ventilation, does including a weaning predictor in the daily assessment of weaning readiness reduce weaning time?
METHODS
Design:
randomised controlled trial.
Allocation:
concealed.
Blinding:
blinded (patients, healthcare providers, and respiratory therapists). The respiratory care practitioner who assessed readiness for weaning was not blinded.
Follow up period:
to hospital discharge or death.
Setting:
intensive care units (ICUs) of 3 hospitals in the US and Canada.
Patients:
304 patients >18 years of age (mean age 65 y, 54% men) who had acute respiratory failure and had been on mechanical ventilation for ⩾24 hours (median 2 d). Exclusion criteria included expected survival <48 hours and primary neurological event without expectation for recovery.
Intervention:
all patients underwent a daily screen by a respiratory care practitioner to assess readiness for weaning from the ventilator, including measurement of frequency tidal volume ratio …
