Stages | Definitions |
Treatment of ARF | Period of care and resolution of the disorder that caused respiratory failure and prompted mechanical ventilation |
Suspicion | The point at which the clinician suspects the patient may be ready to begin the weaning process |
Assessing readiness to wean | Daily testing of physiological measures of readiness for weaning (MIP, fR/VT) to determine probability of weaning success |
Spontaneous breathing trial | Assessment of the patient's ability to breathe spontaneously |
Extubation | Removal of the endotracheal tube |
Reintubation | Replacement of the endotracheal tube for patients who are unable to sustain spontaneous ventilation |
ARF: acute respiratory failure, MIP: maximal inspiratory pressure, fR/VT: respiratory frequency to tidal volume ratio (rapid shallow breathing index).