APACHE II score cannot predict successful weaning from prolonged mechanical ventilation.

At least 5% of all intensive care unit patients require prolonged respiratory support. Multiple factors have been suggested as possible predictors of successful respiratory weaning so far. We sought to verify whether the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) can predict freedom from prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) in patients treated in a regional weaning centre.

Does the APACHE II score predict performance of activities of daily living in patients discharged from a weaning center?

Introduction: Data regarding the functional status of patients after prolonged mechanical ventilation are scarce, and little is known about its clinical predictors.

Aim: To investigate whether the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score on admission may predict performance in activities of daily living on discharge from a weaning center.

Material And Methods: All consecutive patients admitted between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2013 were enrolled ( = 130).

APACHE II score predicts mortality in patients requiring prolonged ventilation in a weaning center.

Background: In the past decade, the rate and utilization of veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) has increased dramatically. A single catheter technique has recently come into favour for providing VV-ECMO. Although it has been shown that intensivists can safely place these catheters, the safety of decannulation by intensivists has not been reported in the literature.

A single-centre seven-year experience with mechanical ventilation weaning.

Background: Weaning from mechanical ventilation is a growing and challenging issue in modern intensive care medicine. We aimed to describe a 7-year experience in mechanical ventilation weaning of a single centre in Germany.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed data regarding 403 patients admitted between 2007 and 2013 with difficult or prolonged mechanical ventilation weaning.