Gepost in: Oxygenatie en ventilatie
Clinical review: The ABC of weaning failure – a structured approach
About 20% to 30% of patients are diffi cult to wean from invasive mechanical ventilation. The pathophysiology of diffi cult weaning is complex. Accordingly, determining the reason for diffi cult weaning and subsequently developing a treatment strategy require a dedicated clinician with in-depth knowledge of the pathophysiology of weaning failure. This review presents a structural framework (‘ABCDE’) for the assessment and treatment of diffi cult-to-wean patients. Earlier recognition of the underlying causes may expedite weaning from mechanical ventilation.

Auteur(s):
Leo M Heunks and Johannes G van der Hoeven
Publicatie:
Heunks and van der Hoeven Critical Care 2010, 14:245