The authors describe 61 patients who were classified as unfit for weaning outside of a weaning center. Patients who could be weaned in a weaning center (50 patients) differed from those who could not be weaned (11 patients) by the number of their comorbidities, and differed significantly in the duration of the previous ventilation in an outpatient setting (48.1 versus 26.2 days, p = 0.043). We should not conclude from this, however, that a renewed attempt at weaning is not very promising for patients with primary weaning failure who have had long periods of ventilation in an outpatient setting. In 2019, we were able to wean four out of five patients in our weaning center who had been on ventilation in outpatient care for over 183 days on average, within an average of 25 days (whereby three patients were discharged with non-invasive ventilation [NIV], one patient with spontaneous breathing, and all with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD]). In the case of the patient who could not be weaned, massive psychological problems were in the foreground.
If there is a potential, a new weaning attempt is therefore urgently recommended, even after long-term ventilation in the outpatient setting.
Footnotes
Conflict of interest statement
The authors declare that no conflict of interest exists.
References
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