[A new weaning procedure (inspiratory flow assistance)]

Inspiratory Flow Assistance (IFA) refers to new breathing mode, able to diminish the work of breathing of a patient during spontaneous breathing with a respirator. By combination of IFA with CPAP or IMV it is especially useful during weaning from the respirator. The part of work of breathing done by the respirator. The part of work of breathing done by the respirator is only indirectly determinable. The measurements done on 10 long term ventilated patients during the weaning period show that only an IFA up to an airway pressure of 10 cm H2O above CPAP guarantees mainly spontaneous breathing, while an IFA up to higher airway pressures is more and more similar to an assisted ventilation.