Computer system may improve weaning from ventilators

AORN Journal,  Jan, 2007  

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Patients with acute respiratory failure who are on ventilation in the intensive care unit (ICU) have a shorter duration on mechanical ventilation when placed on a computerized system of weaning from the ventilator, according to an Oct 16, 2006, news release from The American Thoracic Society. Compared to typical physician-controlled management of the weaning process, the computer-driven system resulted in a reduction in patients' time on mechanical ventilation from 12 days to 7.5 days and a reduction in length of ICU stays from 15.5 days to 12 days.

The computerized system introduces an automatic, gradual reduction in pressure support; initiates automatic spontaneous breathing trials; and generates an incentive message when the patient's spontaneous breathing trial is successful. Additionally, patients who were weaned using this computerized system had a 30% reduction in total number of ventilator-related complications, including

* reintubation,

* self-removal from ventilator assistance,

* need for noninvasive ventilation,

* mechanical ventilation longer than 21 days, and

* tracheotomy.

Computer-Driven System Reduces Patient Mechanical Ventilation Time Significantly [news release]. New York: American Thoracic Society; October 16, 2006. Available at: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-10/ats-csrlOOSO6.php. Accessed October 27, 2006.

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