[Evaluation of Weaning Success in Long-Term Invasively Ventilated Patients at a Weaning Center]

Despite the use of enormous personnel and other resources in German weaning centers, approximately 20 % of patients currently fail to get weaned from mechanical ventilation (MV) and need out-of-hospital ventilation.Between 03/2015 and 11/2019, we carried out a pilot project with 33 patients (48 % female, mean age 68 ± 11 years at hospital admission) in order to re-evaluate their options of a possible weaning from MV. At this stage the patients had been invasively ventilated for 475 ± 775 days. The mean stay in our weaning center was 26 ± 19 days. 24/33 (73.53 %) patients were successfully weaned from MV. Of those, 11/24 (44 %) were discharged with non-invasive out-of-hospital ventilation. The completely weaned patients had a survival period of 3 or 12 months (92 % and 77 %), respectively. In those discharged with non-invasive ventilation, the survival period of 3 or months was 91 % and 81 %, respectively. In those discharged with invasive ventilation, this was 86 % and 71 %, respectively.The current results demonstrate that even those undergoing long-term out-of-hospital invasive ventilation can be successfully weaned from MV. Therefore, we suggest regular re-evaluations of weaning opportunities in invasively ventilated ambulatory patients.