The aim of this study was to describe the population admitted to a weaning center (WC) to receive invasive mechanical ventilation (MV), analyze their evolution and identify weaning failure predictors. The medical records of 763 patients admitted to the respiratory care service in the period between May 2005 and January 2012 were reviewed; 372 were selected among 415 tracheotomized and mechanically ventilated. Different variables were analyzed as weaning failure predictors. The mean age of patients admitted was 69 years (SD 14.7), 57% were men. The median length of hospitalization in ICU was 33 days (IQR 26-46). Admission to ICU was due to medical causes in 86% of cases. During hospitalization in WC 186 (50%) patients achieved the successful weaning at a median of 13 days (interquartile range-IQR 5-38). A predictor of weaning failure was age. When we studied the subpopulation with partial disconnection of mechanical ventilation, we found a history of COPD and ageas predictors. Although 25% of the patients died, or required referral to a center of major complexity before 2 weeks of hospitalization, more than half of the patients were able to be removed permanently from the invasive mechanical ventilation (MV), this could support the care of chronic critical patients in MV and rehabilitation centers in Argentina because patients in these centers have a chance of weaning from MV, despite the high chances of developing complications.
Keywords: prolonged mechanical ventilation; tracheostomy; weaning; weaning failure; weaning predictors.