Harnessing machine learning for predicting successful weaning from mechanical ventilation: A systematic review.

Background: Machine learning (ML) models represent advanced computational approaches with increasing application in predicting successful weaning from mechanical ventilation (MV). Whilst ML itself has a long history, its application to MV weaning outcomes has emerged more recently. In this systematic review, we assessed the effects of ML on the prediction of successful weaning outcomes amongst adult patients undergoing MV.

Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar electronic databases were searched up to May 2024. In addition, ACM Digital Library and IEEE Xplore databases were searched. We included peer-reviewed studies examining ML models for the prediction of successful MV in adult patients. We used a modified version of the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist for quality assessment.

Results: Eleven studies (n = 18 336) were included. Boosting algorithms, including extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) and Light Gradient-Boosting Machine, were amongst the most frequently used methods, followed by random forest, multilayer perceptron, logistic regression, artificial neural networks, and convolutional neural networks, a deep learning model. The most common cross-validation methods included five-fold and 10-fold cross-validation. Model performance varied, with the artificial neural network accuracy ranging from 77% to 80%, multilayer perceptron achieving 87% accuracy and 94% precision, and convolutional neural network showing areas under the curve of 91% and 94%. XGBoost generally outperformed other models in the area under the curve comparisons. Quality assessment indicated that almost all studies had high quality as seven out of 10 studies had full scores.

Conclusions: ML models effectively predicted weaning outcomes in adult patients undergoing MV, with XGBoost outperforming other models. However, the absence of studies utilising newer architectures, such as transformer models, highlights an opportunity for further exploration and refinement in this field.