Conference Summary Respiratory Care Controversies II

Introduction Is There a Role for Screening Spirometry? Are Corticosteroids Useful in Late-Stage Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome? Should Patients Be Able to Follow Commands Prior to Extubation? Are Sleep Studies Appropriately Done in the Home? Should Tracheostomy Be Performed as Early as 72 Hours in Patients Requiring Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation? Should Prone Positioning Be Routinely Used for Lung Protection During Mechanical Ventilation? Are Inhaled Vasodilators Useful in Acute Lung Injury and Acute Respipratory Distress Syndrome? Are Esophageal Pressure Measurements Important in Clinical DecisionMaking in Mechanically Ventilated Patients? Are There Benefits or Harm From Pressure Targeting During LungProtective Ventilation? Are Specialized Endotracheal Tubes and Heat-and-Moisture Exchangers Cost-Effective in Preventing Ventilator Associated Pneumonia? Should a Patient Be Extubated and Placed on Noninvasive Ventilation After Failing a Spontaneous Breathing Trial? Is Humidification Always Necessary During Noninvasive Ventilation in the Hospital? Summary