Protocol For Weaning From Mechanical Ventilation in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: Cohort Study

Abstract

Background:

Patients with heart disease often require mechanical ventilation (MV). Although weaning protocols may reduce the duration of MV, the literature presents contradictory findings regarding their effectiveness, and there is a lack of studies specifically involving cardiac patients.

Objective:

To evaluate whether a weaning protocol reduces the duration of MV compared with weaning based on clinical judgment in cardiac patients.

Methods:

A retrospective cohort study was conducted with patients undergoing myocardial revascularization. They were randomly assigned to either the protocol-driven (intervention) group or the conventional weaning group. Weaning time, MV duration, and length of stay in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) were assessed. Comparisons between groups were performed using the unpaired Student’s t-test. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results:

A total of 214 patients were evaluated. The mean duration of MV was shorter in the intervention group (4 vs. 9 hours, p < 0.001). The mean ICU length of stay was 2 vs. 5 days in the intervention and control groups, respectively (p = 0.02).

Conclusion:

The findings suggest that protocol-guided weaning may be associated with reductions in weaning time, duration of MV, and ICU length of stay, raising the hypothesis of a potential clinical benefit that warrants further investigation in future studies.