Critical reviews in biomedical engineering
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Crit Rev Biomed Eng · Jan 2014
ReviewModeling the weaning of intensive care unit patients from mechanical ventilation: a review.
In the intensive care unit, mechanical ventilation is a life-saving procedure, and as many as 90% of patients require the intervention. For a mechanically ventilated patient, the principal goal of a health care team is to free the patient from mechanical ventilation through weaning as soon as possible. Weaning, however, still is mostly a manual process. ⋯ Despite the magnitude of these challenges, various weaning automations have been attempted through mathematical modeling or knowledge-based modeling. Some of these have been available as commercial mechanical ventilator modes since the 1990s. Even though much potential has been demonstrated through clinical trials, their infrequent usage indicates a lack of consensus concerning their applicability.