What to Know When Weaning Off a Ventilator

Vent weaning is a term used to describe the process of decreasing ventilator support. This process is done gradually using specific protocols that follow established best practices for pulmonary care.

Techniques

Ventilator weaning begins with a spontaneous breathing trial (SBT). This trial allows respiratory therapists and pulmonologists to determine whether a patient can breathe with little or no ventilator support. Different SBT strategies can be used for weaning but, Pressure Support and T-piece trials are the most common. It is important to note that a patient’s clinical status and anxiety levels can significantly impact the weaning process. Therefore, weaning trials vary among all patients.

Timing

Before beginning an SBT, patients must be assessed to determine their readiness for weaning. This is accomplished by checking cardiovascular status, oxygenation levels, mental status, and the amount and consistency of tracheal secretions.

Are all patients able to be weaned from the ventilator?

Unfortunately, no. Several factors determine whether a patient will successfully wean from the ventilator. Perhaps the most important is whether the underlying cause of the respiratory failure has been resolved. Other causes of weaning failure include cardiac dysfunction, underlying lung disease, infections, and poor sleep quality.

How long will it take to wean?

Since many individual factors impact the process of weaning, the length of time varies among patients.

Afterward

Considering that all patients are unique, developing a personalized plan of care to achieve the patient’s and family’s recovery goals is essential. Ongoing communication between the care team and the patient allows for care plan revisions to deliver optimal patient-centered care.