Pilot Study Using Imagery as a Means of Improving Weaning Parameters in COPDPatients

摘要

Weaning mechanically ventilated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)patients is a difficult process due to the patient's limited functional capacity resulting from the preexisting disease, but weaning is made even more difficult by the physiologic and psychologic stresses of the weaning process itself. The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate imagery as a means of improving weaning parameters in mechanically ventilated COPD patients through reduction of stress. Weaning parameters measured (which were also indicators of stress) were heart rate, respiratory rate, mean arterial blood pressure, ratio of respiratory frequency to tidal volume, and oxygen saturation.