Clinical Pearls

Identifying determinants of repeated ventilator weaning failure offers opportunities for clinicians to recognize interventions that may prevent this phenomenon and expedite independence from mechanical ventilation. Chen and colleagues tested an explanatory psychophysiological ventilator weaning model to identify psychological and physiological factors that may predict repeated weaning failure. They found the following:

—Karen McQuillan,rn, ms, cns-bc, ccrn, cnrn

See Article, pp 292–302

This prospective cohort study was conducted in a 13-bed medical intensive care unit (MICU) to determine risk factors for unplanned extubation and compliance with protocols. Jarachovic and colleague studied 190 mechanically ventilated patients in an adult MICU over 12 months and found the following:

—Maureen Seckel,rn, msn, aprn-bc, apn, ccrn, ccns

See Article, pp 304–312

The effectiveness of the intra-aortic balloon catheter is based on timing and the patient’s condition. Hanlon-Pena and Quaal undertook a review of the evidence supporting current timing practices and noted the following:...