As your patient¡¯s indications for mechanical ventilation resolve and she¡¯s able to take more breaths on her own, the healthcare team will consider removing her from the ventilator. Weaning methods may vary by facility and provider preference. Although protocols may be used to guide ventilator withdrawal, the best methods involve teamwork, consistent evaluation of patient parameters, and adjustment based on these changes.

Some patients may need weeks of gradually reduced ventilator assistance before they can be extubated; others can¡¯t be weaned at all. Factors that affect ease of weaning include underlying disease processes, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or peripheral vascular disease; medications used to treat anxiety and pain; and nutritional status.