Background Pressure support ventilation (PSV) mode and T-piece trial were used as weaning methods in mechanically ventilated COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) patients. Thus, the objective of study to assess the value of combining T-piece trial to PSV mode in weaning of COPD patients.
Patients and methods 80 mechanically ventilated COPD patients admitted to respiratory intensive care were divided into two groups, group I: 40 patients weaned by PSV mode and group II: 40 patients weaned by PSV mode and T-piece trial.
Results The mean age of patients were 62 years. (73.8%) were males and (73.75%) were smokers. No significant differences were found between both groups in age, sex, body mass index, smoking status, APACHE score, exacerbation frequency and hospital admission. No significant differences were found between both groups as regard vital capacity, negative inspiratory force, rapid shallow breathing index, PaO2 (partial arterial oxygen pressure), PaCO2 (partial arterial carbon dioxide pressure) and arterial oxygen saturation at the end of PSV mode in both groups. A significant decrease in PaO2, arterial oxygen saturation and increase in PaCO2 were observed in group II patients after adding T-piece trial. 34(85%) patients were successfully extubated in group I, while 33 (82.5%) patients were successfully extubated in group II. Duration of MV, duration of weaning, ICU stay and mortality were significantly higher in group II patients.