Weaning from Mechanical Ventilation

First Things First (assess & treat for the following)

  • For the majority of ICU patients, weaning from mechanical ventilation is easily accomplished after the underlying disorder that produced acute respiratory failure has been adequately treated. COROLLARY: Don’t attempt weaning until shock is resolved, organ failure is stable to resolving, infection source control is achieved, and so forth.
  • Only a small minority of patients require prolonged ventilator weaning, and this is usually due to weakness and debilitation.
  • Proper sedation and delirium management leads to expedited ventilator weaning.

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Last updated: May 16, 2010