Our aim was to determine whether thenar tissue oxygen saturation (S(tO2)), measured by noninvasive near-infrared spectroscopy, and its changes derived from an ischaemic challenge are associated with weaning outcome. Our study comprised a prospective observational study in a 26-bed medical-surgical intensive care unit. Patients receiving mechanical ventilation for >48 h, and considered ready to ...

Sarikaya O, Kalaca S, Yeğen BÇ, Cali S. The impact of a faculty development program: evaluation based on the self-assessment of medical educators from preclinical and clinical disciplines. Adv Physiol Educ 34: 35–40, 2010; doi: 10.1152/advan.00024.2010.—Self-assessment tools have previously been used to assess the impact of a faculty development program on the teaching skills of medical educato...

Approximately 20% of all mechanically ventilated patients fail their first attempt to wean. Prolonged mechanical ventilation increases morbidity, mortality, and costs. No single weaning parameter predicts patient ability to wean. Weaning studies suggest that daily trials of spontaneous breathing for appropriate patients assured by standing protocol and driven by respiratory care practitioners a...

Nurse-led weaning can improve patient outcome. Exploration of the factors that influence the commencement of weaning. Themes of decision-making, pathophysiological and multidisciplinary team factors emerged. Experience was a key factor in the decision to wean. The use of protocol-led weaning may not be useful in the decision to wean.

OBJECTIVE To determine the time to wean from mechanical ventilation and time spent off the ventilator per day after tracheotomy in critically ill patients in a 28-bed mixed medical and surgical intensive care unit (ICU) in Amsterdam, Netherlands. METHODS We conducted a retrospective analysis of consecutive patients during the 14-month period from November 1, 2003, through January 1, 2005. Inc...

Spontaneous breathing trials (SBTs) are among the most commonly employed techniques to facilitate weaning from mechanical ventilation. The preferred SBT technique, however, is still unclear. To clarify the preferable SBT (T-piece or pressure support ventilation [PSV]), we conducted this systematic review. We then searched the MEDLINE, EMBASE, SciELO, Google Scholar, CINAHL, ClinicalTrials.gov, ...