Protocol-driven ventilator weaning reduces use of mechanical ventilation, rate of early reintubation, and ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Background: Mechanical ventilation is the defining event of intensive care unit management. To reduce use, a literature-based protocol was introduced to facilitate weaning. The effect of protocol-driven ventilator weaning on ventilator use, ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), and intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS) is described in a survey of 2 years' activity in a multidisciplinary surgical ICU.