Psychophysiologic predictors of weaning from mechanical ventilation in chronic bronchitis and emphysema

This study identified psychophysiologic variables related to successful weaning in 27 ventilator-dependent patients with chronic bronchitis and emphysema (CBE) from two long-term care pulmonary-specialty hospitals in South Central Florida. Subjects were studied from admission until weaning occurred (successful weaning without mechanical ventilation) or until they were transferred without being weaned or died (unsuccessful weaning). The study subjects, 15 males and 12 females, ranged in age from 56 to 89. Baseline data on the variables (age, mastery, hope, social support, dyspnea, and rapid shallow breathing index [RSBI]) were not statistically significant by gender. The logistic regression model identified mastery and RSBI to be the best predictors of successful weaning (model chi 2 = 16.33, df = 2, and p value = .0003; prediction rate 82%).