The Comparison of Automatic Tube Compensation (ATC) and T-piece During Weaning

Automatic Tube Compensation (ATC) is a newly developed mechanical ventilatory support method. The aim of this study was to compare the ATC and the T-piece as a weaning method.

Patients who were treated in ICU with mechanical ventilation for longer than 24 hours were included in this prospective clinical study. Fifty patients were divided into two groups for weaning, ATC or T-piece group. Patients tolerating 30 minutes spontaneous breathing trial underwent immediate extubation. The following parameters were recorded just before the spontaneous breathing trial and every 5 minutes during the 30 minute period; PEEP, Pplt, Pmean, FiO2, heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, respiratory rate, SaO2, ETCO2. The primary outcome of the study was successful extubation defined as the ability to maintain spontaneous breathing for 48 hours after extubation.

The mean duration of weaning were 4.96 days and 7.42 days in the ATC and T-piece groups, respectively (p value 0.022). There were no significant differences between the groups with respect to the hemodynamic parameters, mechanical ventilation and gas exchange parameters.

In terms of success for weaning, there was no superiority between the ATC and the T-Piece methods for spontaneous breathing and it was concluded that each of the methods can be used for weaning. The ATC group were compared in terms of successful weaning period but have shown no significant periods of time were found to be lower.