Mechanical ventilation is a life-support care facility for individuals who suffer from respiratory insufficiency. This technology undoubtedly has improved the recovery process of the patients but also welcomes some complications if the patient does not fit to wean off the ventilators timely. Prolonged ventilation leads to multiple physical, medical and even psychological complications that can impact the quality of life of the patient as well as overall prognosis.
Reasons of Failure to Wean From Ventilator
A ventilator dependent patient is expected to wean off ventilator sooner or later. However, there are possibilities when patient may struggle hard to get off these machines. Weak respiratory muscles are generally observed in prolonged ventilated patients that causes them to lose ability to resume spontaneous breathing after weaning. Moreover, medical conditions like pneumonia, coma, chronic pulmonary diseases and heart failure can also accelerate prolonged dependence of the patient on machines. While considering obstacles of weaning, anxiety and fear cannot be ignored. These psychological factors can also prolong the reliance of patients on ventilated machines while impeding their ability to breathe normally.
Complications and Risks When Patient Cannot Be Weaned From Ventilator
The inability to take patients off the ventilator can have considerable consequences. Prolonged mechanical ventilation has its own set of risks and complications that can range from physical health to psychological and financial issues.
Here is a list of possible complications when patient fails to wean off the ventilator:
- Prolonged ventilation means increased hospital stay which ultimately results in increased health care costs. Even at home patient needs special resources and trained staff to continue ventilation safely and effectively.
- Psychological and Cognitive Impairment is normally observed in patients that need prolonged ventilation facility. Patients feel stressed and isolated due to their condition and inability to communicate with others which increases anxiety and depression among them.
- A patient may be exposed to certain infections if fails to wean off the ventilator for a long time. These infections sometimes trigger sepsis, a life-threatening phenomenon that requires intensive and immediate medical intervention.
- VAP or ventilated associated pneumonia is the most expected medical complication in case of prolonged ventilation. The presence of artificial airway reduces the ability of patients to clear secretions inside oral cavity or throat which embraces VAP wholeheartedly and demands a prolonged antibiotic therapy.
- Barotrauma or lung injury is another severe medical condition which can be expected if a patient fails to wean off the ventilator. High pressure from ventilator can lead to lung tissue damage or air leakage around the lungs which can worsen the respiratory status of the patient and result in delayed extubation.
- Ventilator dependent patients not only need breathing mechanism but require a whole care regime comprising physical therapy, nutritional support as well as continuous medical management.
- When exposed to artificial breathing for a long period of time, patients generally suffer from weakness of respiratory muscles and disuse atrophy in diaphragm. Consequently, they fail to breathe spontaneously after being removed from the ventilating machines.
- Patients with tracheostomies for prolonged ventilator support might find it challenging to transition to breathing without the tracheostomy tube, further delaying the process of weaning.
To minimize the risks associated with weaning process, healthcare professionals must follow latest 2023 guidelines about weaning patients off from ventilator.
BetterOptions: The Best Facility For Ventilator Patients in Vancouver, WA, USA
BetterOptions provide best services, staff, care and equipment with homelike settings to properly care ventilated dependent patients in Vancouver, WA, USA. You can Call Us Now (+01) (360) 607-8028) OR Send An Email for further details.
