Dyspnea, the subjective sensation of uncomfortable breathing, is frequently experienced by patients during weaning from mechanical ventilation. As the clinical manifestation of increased work of breathing, dyspnea can be a valuable predictor and indicator of changes in patient respiratory status during the weaning process. The importance of measuring dyspnea is emphasized and the numerical rating and visual analog scales as direct measures of dyspnea are described. The most reliable physiologic variables that can be used to indirectly estimate dyspnea are discussed. Strategies such as positioning, coaching, “bagging,” inspiratory muscle training, pressure support ventilation, oxygen, and relaxation/biofeedback techniques that can be used by the critical care nurse to decrease dyspnea are suggested
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1 August 1991
Weaning from Long-Term Mechanical Ventilation|
August 01 1991
Dyspnea in the Weaning Patient: Assessment and Intervention
Virginia Carrieri-Kohlman, DNSc, RN
From the Department of Physiological Nursing, School of Nursing, University of California—San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
Reprint requests to Virginia Carrieri-Kohlman, DNSc, RN, Associate Professor, Coordinator, Critical Care Program, Department of Physiological Nursing, School of Nursing, University of California—San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143-0610.
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AACN Adv Crit Care (1991) 2 (3): 462–473.
Citation
Virginia Carrieri-Kohlman; Dyspnea in the Weaning Patient: Assessment and Intervention. AACN Adv Crit Care 1 August 1991; 2 (3): 462–473. doi: https://doi.org/10.4037/15597768-1991-3011
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