Clinical validation of dysfunctional ventilatory weaning response: The Spanish experience.

PURPOSE

To validate dysfunctional ventilatory weaning response (DVWR).

METHODS

Descriptive, longitudinal, and prospective study of 80 patients from three different university hospitals in Spain.

FINDINGS

Twenty defining characteristics were associated with DVWR; eight factors from the NANDA model and four non-NANDA factors were associated with the diagnosis. Adventitious breath sounds, decreased air entry on auscultation, anxiety, and adverse environment resulted as predictive variables of dysfunctional response.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of DVWR is high, although clinical nurses do not always recognize it. DVWR has different manifestations and associated factors along the course of the weaning stage, but anxiety is associated with DVWR across the time continuum.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Validation of DVWR for use in nursing clinical practice is supported. Early detection of predictive variables could help to identify DVWR and facilitate the diagnosis in the clinical practice.