Ventilator weaning outcomes in chronic respiratory failure in children

The purpose of this study was to describe mechanical ventilation weaning outcomes for children with chronic respiratory failure discharged from one of six post-acute rehabilitation facilities. Demographic, clinical and outcome data were collected from the medical record. Forty-four children were included in this prospective series; 20 (45%) were weaned off the ventilator at discharge. Children required significantly lower levels of ventilatory support at discharge than admission. Hourly use on the ventilator decreased from admission to discharge for the full cohort and for the subgroup who required a ventilator at discharge. Seventy-five percent of the children discharged with a ventilator had a portable unit. We conclude that nearly half of the children using mechanical ventilation achieve weaning during a postacute rehabilitation admission, whereas others have positive outcomes in severity, hours off the ventilator or portability of equipment.