The Role of Diaphragmatic Rapid Shallow Breathing Index and Maximum Inspiratory Pressure in Predicting Outcome of Weaning From Mechanical Ventilation

Abstract

Initiation of mechanical ventilation and different ventilatory strategies and designs are showing new developments every day, yet weaning from mechanical support remains both a difficult and an interesting challenge to the medical staff in the ICU. This study observed the role of diaphragmatic rapid shallow breathing index and maximum inspiratory pressure in predicting outcome of weaning from mechanical ventilation. Mechanical ventilation is the defining event of intensive care unit (ICU) management. It is a life saving intervention in patients with acute respiratory failure and whose spontaneous ventilation is inadequate for sustenance of life with subsequent development of life threatening hypoxia and / or respiratory acidosis. Weaning from mechanical ventilation is the process of reducing ventilatory support, ultimately resulting in a patient breathing spontaneously and being extubated. It is wise to push the patient to face the situation of spontaneous breathing by a test mimicking the real spontaneous breathing. This process can be achieved rapidly in majority of patients when the original cause of the respiratory failure has improved. The remaining cases will require a more gradual method of withdrawing ventilation.