Pressure support ventilation: reducing the work of breathing during weaning

Pressure support ventilation decreases the work of breathing by providing the patient with positive airway pressure during the inspiratory phase. The use of this type of ventilatory support is likely to increase over the next few years for patients, especially during the weaning period. By understanding how pressure support ventilation works and what patient parameters need to be monitored, the critical care nurse can help patients decrease respiratory muscle fatigue during weaning and thus decrease the weaning time for these patients.