[WeanNet: The network of weaning units of the DGP (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Pneumologie und Beatmungsmedizin) - results to epidemiology an outcome in patients with prolonged weaning]

Abstract

Background: In 40 % of all ventilated patients weaning is problematic. Prolonged weaning is associated with an increased mortality.

Methods: For the first time, data on epidemiology and outcomes of 6899 patients with prolonged weaning from the WeanNet register are published in this study.

Results: Patients with prolonged weaning suffer from profound comorbidities (median 5 relevant comorbidities). The majority of patients (62.2 %) were successfully weaned from the ventilator and dischared from the weaning unit without invasive ventialtion after a median of 33 days. Caused by chronic ventilatory insufficiency after prolonged weaning, non-invasive ventilation (NIV) was initiated in 19.4% of patients. The patients who were discharged with NIV were significantly younger than the average (68 vs. 71 years).In 22.9 % of the patients weaning definitively failed and continuous invasive ventilation was needed. Compared to other main reasons for mechanical ventilation patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were rarely completely weaned from the respirator and more often needed NIV for home mechanical ventilation. In total 14,9 % of the 6899 patients died during the treatment in the weaning unit.

Conclusion: WeanNet is very important in the care of patients with prolonged weaning.