Failure to wean: exploring the influence of age-related pulmonary changes.

Half of the patients admitted to intensive care units are elderly and may require mechanical ventilation for respiratory failure. Although age is not an independent factor for determining weaning outcomes, it may play a role. Elderly patients are predisposed to hypoxic-hypercapnia failure caused by age-related pulmonary changes and coexisting diseases. These age-related changes limit the respiratory reserve, which affects the body's ability to provide an adequate oxygen supply to meet the demand. The consequence is that during weaning there may be an imbalance between supply and demand and weaning failure may result. More research is needed regarding the weaning of elderly patients. Some specific areas that require further investigation are the relationship between age and dyspnea, the influence of age on weaning, and the relationship between age and the work of breathing.