Weaning failure from cardiovascular origin

Abstract

The goal in weaning from mechanical ventilation (MV) is to induce spontaneous breathing (SB) and ultimately extubation. Weaning fails in about 25% of patients meeting weaning criteria and is particularly frequent in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and/or left heart disease [1]. Weaning failure prolongs the duration of MV and increases morbidity and mortality in these critically ill patients [2]. Thus early identification and treatment of the causes of weaning failure is of paramount importance to improve outcome in difficult-towean patients.