[Mechanical ventilation in pediatrics (III). Weaning, complications and other types of ventilation. Weaning from mechanical ventilation].

Weaning from mechanical ventilation can be defined as the process that allows the transition from mechanical ventilation to spontaneous breathing. This process can account for a significant proportion of total ventilation time and failure to resume spontaneous breathing affects patient outcome. Thus, to ensure maximum success, patient readiness for weaning and extubation should be evaluated through the following steps: the patient must fulfill pre-established clinical and ventilatory support criteria for extubation, the patient should be observed during a breathing trial on minimal or no ventilatory support, and variables used to predict weaning success should indicate a favorable outcome. Breathing trials are usually conducted while the patient breathes spontaneously through a T-tube system or through the ventilator circuit on minimal ventilatory support. Neither of these methods has proved superior to the other. The best prognostic indicator of weaning outcome is clinical assessment of respiratory effort. Once mechanical ventilation is discontinued, it may be necessary to treat post-extubation complications or even to resume ventilatory support.