Correspondence
In Reply
We are grateful for the important advice. Under no circumstances should the duration of a current invasive ventilation in an outpatient setting negatively influence a new weaning attempt in a specialized weaning center. We were only able to show that early weaning in a specialized center increases the probability of success in the weaning process. Similar to the cases reported by the correspondents, we also know of courses in which patients could be weaned in our centers after months of ventilation in an outpatient setting.
Data from the WeanNet database also showed that a longer duration of ventilation before the initial contact with a certified weaning center was the most strongly associated factor for weaning failure (1). Therefore, presenting patients who are ventilated, even after a long period of ventilation in an outpatient setting, to a specialized weaning center to assess the weaning potential should definitely be considered.
DOI: 10.3238/arztebl.2020.0544b
On behalf of the authors:
Dr. med. Florian Bornitz
Thoraxklinik – Universität Heidelberg, Germany
florian.bornitz@med.uni-heidelberg.de
Conflict of interest statement
The author declares that no conflict of interests exists.
a registry-based study from the WeanNet Initiative. Dtsch Arztebl Int 2020; 117: 197–204 VOLLTEXT
| 1. | Windisch W, Dellweg D, Geiseler J, et al.: Prolonged weaning from mechanical ventilation: results from specialized weaning centers— a registry-based study from the WeanNet Initiative. Dtsch Arztebl Int 2020; 117: 197–204 VOLLTEXT |
| 2. | Bornitz F, Ewert R, Knaak C, Magnet FS, Windisch W, Herth F: Weaning from invasive ventilation in specialist centers following primary weaning failure—a prospective multi-center study of weanability in patients receiving prolonged domiciliary ventilation. Dtsch Arztebl Int 2020; 117: 205–10 VOLLTEXT |
