Weaning from VV ECMO

Abstract

Discontinuing extracorporeal respiratory support is a crucial step in patient management, but deciding when and how to wean patients represents a significant challenge for ICU physicians. Due to the lack of definite criteria, the decision is usually based on the personal experience and clinical judgment of attending physicians; however, some indications come from guidelines of scientific societies, local hospital protocols, or published case series. In the following paragraphs, we will discuss the following aspects of the weaning process: (a) When is a patient ready for weaning? (b) How is weaning performed? (c) How is ventilation managed during the weaning process?.