Ely E W
Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy, Pulmonary, and Critical Care Medicine, The Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee 37232-4760, USA.
Respir Care Clin N Am. 2000 Jun;6(2):303-19,vi. doi: 10.1016/s1078-5337(05)70071-x.
Over the past decade, a number of studies have examined methods of hastening liberation of patients from mechanical ventilation. This article outlines weaning protocols that have been proven superior to weaning performed by board-certified intensivists. The author also presents techniques to faciliate the implementation of weaning protocols based on the published experience of one hospital.