PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Atikun Limsukon AU - Chalerm Liwsrisakun AU - Chaiwat Bumroongkit AU - Athavudh Deesomchok AU - Theerakorn Theerakittikul AU - Pattraporn Tajarernmuang AU - Chaicharn Pothirat TI - Late Breaking Abstract - In-hospital specialized weaning unit increase weaning success and increase ICU bed availability AID - 10.1183/13993003.congress-2019.PA2294 DP - 2019 Sep 28 TA - European Respiratory Journal PG - PA2294 VI - 54 IP - suppl 63 4099 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/54/suppl_63/PA2294.short 4100 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/54/suppl_63/PA2294.full SO - Eur Respir J2019 Sep 28; 54 AB - Background: Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai hospital is a 1,400-beds, tertiary care hospital accepting about 48,000 inpatients per year but has only 12 medical ICU and 12 intermediate care beds which, often times, are occupied by prolonged, mechanically ventilated patient (PMV).Objectives: Our specialized weaning unit, called “ventilator-dependent unit (VDU)”, may increase weaning success in PMV patient and increase critical care bed availability.Methods: The VDU comprised of 8 beds, nurse to patient ratio was 1:2 to 1:3. All patients receive holistic care, protocolized weaning/SBT then liberal from mechanical ventilation when possible, nutritional support supervised by nutritionist and regular rehabilitation. Stepwise educational programs and hand-on training were provided for family. Family readiness for home care was also assessed by home visit team. Telephone and on-site visit at regular interval were carried on by our allies.Results: From October 2017 to March 2019, there were 103 admissions, 50 (48.5%) were PMV over 2 weeks. Mean age was 73 years. Diagnoses included COPD (12 patients), congestive heart failure (26), stroke (6), asthma (2), OSA (2) and cancer (4). Mean SAPSII was 34. Thirty-three (66%) of PMV patients improved and were discharged from VDU. Median LOS was 22.5 days. Among these patients, 14 patients were successfully weaned, 5 patients required home NIV and 14 patients required invasive ventilation via tracheostomy. The ICU bed turnover rate increased from 5 to 6 patients per bed per month compared to previous year.Conclusion: In middle-income country, like Thailand, in-hospital specialized weaning unit improve weaning success rate and critical care bed utilization.FootnotesCite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2019; 54: Suppl. 63, PA2294.This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only).