Abstract
Optimizing patient-ventilator synchrony is essential in managing patients who require prolonged mechanical ventilation in the long-term acute-care hospital. Inadequate synchrony can increase work of breathing, cause patient discomfort, and delay both weaning and general rehabilitation. Achieving optimal synchrony in the long-term acute-care hospital depends on a number of factors, including adjusting ventilator settings in response to improving lung function; adjusting psychotropic medications to control delirium, anxiety, and depression; and ensuring there is a well positioned correctly sized tracheostomy tube in the airway. The purpose of this review is to provide an update on issues pertinent to patient-ventilator synchrony in the LTACH setting.
Footnotes
- Correspondence: Alexander C White MD, Department of Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine, Rose Kalman Research Center, New England Sinai Hospital, 150 York Street, Stoughton MA 02072. E-mail: awhite{at}nesinai.org.
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Dr White has disclosed a relationship with Breath Technology. Dr Ghamloush and Dr O'Connor have disclosed no conflicts of interest.
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No discussion follows this paper; Dr White was unable to attend the conference.
- Copyright © 2011 by Daedalus Enterprises Inc.