This type of mechanical ventilation generally requires intubation or tracheostomy.  Mechanical ventilation refers to the use of life-support technology to perform the work of breathing for patients who are unable to do so on their own, and the majority of critically ill patients in the intensive care unit, require a period of this treatment.  New born infants in the Level 2 Nursery may also require mechanical ventilation.  The use of prolonged mechanical ventilation is associated with nosocomial pneumonia, cardiac-associated morbidity, and death.

Instructions to Patient
Patients must maintain stable vital signs and must be hemodynamically stable throughout weaning process.

Additional Information
A mechanical ventilation protocol was developed for those mechanically ventilated patients who are at least 16 years of age or older, in order to wean the patient from the ventilator as soon as possible.  This protocol helps decrease pneumonia rates associated with mechanical ventilation.

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