Testing the prognostic value of rapid shallow breathing index in predicting successful weaning of patients from prolonged mechanical ventilation

摘要

Reading and comparing the two articles by Verceles et al and Adams et al we found that looking at the dynamic change in the rapid shallow breathing index (RSBI) may offer better prediction of successful liberation from mechanical ventilation (LMV). The study by Verceles et al "testing the prognostic value of rapid shallow breathing index in predicting successful weaning of patients from prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV)" evaluates a group of patients that had undergone tracheostomy and were ventilator dependent for >=21 days. The study found those patients who were successfully weaned, were found to have a lower final RSBI than those who failed. Additionally, the study found that serial RSBI measurements with downward trends and decreasing variability, were also associated with a more accurate prediction of successful weaning.