LIBERATION FROM MECHANICAL VENTILATION - A DECADE OF PROGRESS

Multiple complications associated with mechanical ventilation mandate that clinicians expeditiously define and reverse the pathophysiologic processes that precipitate respiratory failure and then, detect the ea rliest point that a patient can breathe without the ventilator. Over t he past decade, numerous laboratory and clinical studies have been rep orted that may inform transformation of the ''art of weaning'' to the science of liberation. We review these studies and use them to formula te a systemic approach to assure early, safe, and successful libration of patients from mechanical ventilation.