Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 3, 2026
Investigation into Deep Breathing through Measurement of Ventilatory Parameters and Observation of Breathing Patterns
Published on: September 16, 2019
Achieving quality health outcomes through the implementation of a spontaneous awakening and spontaneous breathing
Kimmith Jones1, Robin Newhouse, Karen Johnson
1Kimmith Jones is Clinical Nurse Specialist, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, 2401 W Belvedere Ave, Baltimore, MD 21215 (kimmithjones@gmail.com). Robin Newhouse is Chair and Professor, Organizational Systems and Adult Health, University of Maryland School of Nursing, Baltimore. Karen Johnson is Research Director, Nursing, Banner Healthcare System, Phoenix, Arizona. Kristin Seidl is Director of Nursing and Patient Care Outcomes, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore.
Background:
Continuous sedation infusions can lead to prolonged treatment with mechanical ventilation (MV), resulting in serious complications. Spontaneous awakening trials (SATs) and spontaneous breathing trials (SBTs) are strategies that limit the amount of sedative agents a patient receives and promote extubation.
Objective:
The objective of this performance improvement project was to evaluate the outcomes of an evidence-based practice protocol that included SATs and SBTs on the duration of treatment with MV, ventilator utilization ratio (VUR), intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS), and incidence of self-extubations and reintubations.
Methods:
A convenience sample of 112 discharged patients' medical records was used for this descriptive, comparative secondary data analysis. An evidence-based SAT/SBT practice protocol was designed by a multidisciplinary team and implemented. Three months after the implementation, a retrospective medical record review was conducted to evaluate patient outcomes.
Results:
The median duration of treatment with MV was significantly lower in the postprotocol group (3.8 days vs 2.7 days, U = 1222, Z = -2.013, P = .04, r = 0.19). A significant decrease was found in the VUR (0.68 vs 0.52, U = 2.5, Z = -2.293, P = .02, r = 0.69). No difference was found in the ICU LOS and frequency of self-extubation or reintubation after a self-extubation between the preprotocol and postprotocol groups. Ten of 45 SAT opportunities (22%) and 67 of 130 SBT opportunities (52%) were missed by the nurse or the respiratory therapist.
Conclusion:
The duration of treatment with MV and the VUR were reduced in patients who received the SAT/SBT protocol. The incidence of self-extubation was not different when an SAT was implemented. The ICU LOS was not reduced in patients who received SATs and SBTs.
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