Role of measurement of plasma proteins in diagnosis of weaning induced pulmonary oedema, a randomized blind study

Abstract

Weaning is the process of decreasing the amount of support that the patient receives from the mechanical ventilator, so the patient assumes a greater proportion of the ventilator effort. The purpose is to assess the probability that mechanical ventilation can be successfully discontinued. Weaning may involve either an immediate shift from full ventilator support to a period of breathing without assistance from the ventilator or a gradual reduction in the amount of ventilator support. Weaning failure is defined as the failure to pass a spontaneous-breathing trial or the need for intubation within 48 hours following extubation, failure of SBT is often related to cardiovascular dysfunction or inability of the respiratory pump to support the load of breathing.