The transition from mechanical ventilation to spontaneous breathing can perpetuate hemodynamic alterations, resulting in dysrhythmias. During a weaning trial, the manifestation of cardiac dysrhythmias may contribute to myocardial ischemia, impaired myocardial contractility, and decreased cardiac index; which increase patient's likelihood of failure to wean from mechanical ventilation.

This study describes the association between heart rate variability (HRV), the beat-to-beat variation in heart rate measured by the variation of the R to R intervals on an electrocardiogram, and the occurrence of cardiac dysrhythmias during the initial weaning trials of mechanically ventilated patients. A total of 35 critically ill adults who received a minimum of 24 hours of mechanical ventilation were recruited from medical, surgical, and trauma intensive care units (ICUs) to participate in this study. Participants had HRV and cardiac rhythm data collected at enrollment and during the initial weaning trial using a 3-lead Holter electrocardiogram.

This study confirmed that HRV...

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