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Albumen: a protein found in mammals, often measured in a blood analysis to determine an individual's nutritional needs. A low albumen level can impede the ventilator weaning process by decreasing inspiratory muscle strength and reducing the ability to breathe on one's own.
Acid-base balance (pH): measure of hydrogen ions in the blood reflecting balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Abnormalities in this value may indicate a change in respiratory or metabolic status. An example of a metabolic change would be sepsis, a severe infection that can affect multiple body organs and eventually lead to respiratory failure.
End tidal carbon dioxide (PetCO2): the amount of carbon dioxide in exhaled air; a measure that should correlate with levels of carbon dioxide in the lungs. Assists in assessing the adequacy of ventilation and the tolerance of modifications to the ventilator or tracheostomy tube (e.g., speaking valve placement).
Oxygen saturation: amount of oxygen in the blood (hemoglobin), measured most accurately in samples of arterial blood (blood gases); also reflected in a noninvasive measure such as pulse oximetry. Helpful in measuring trends in blood oxygen saturation and tolerance of ventilator or tracheostomy tube modifications.
Mechanical ventilation (ventilator dependence): mechanical assistance in the breathing process; it may be used to augment the efforts of a patient who has spontaneous, but weak, breaths or for individuals who cannot breathe on their own.
Respiratory rate: the number of breaths per minute. May be spontaneous or delivered by a ventilator. An abnormally high, sustained respiratory rate may indicate an underlying respiratory or metabolic problem and impending respiratory failure.
Heart rate: number of beats per minute of the heart, reflected in the patient's pulse and potentially reflective of increased stress on the patient's system.
Negative inspiratory force: a maximum inspiratory effort that can be produced by a patient; greater values are a positive prognostic factor for ventilator weaning.
Tracheostomy: an artificial airway; the tube used to secure the opening or stoma created by a tracheotomy, or surgical creation of an opening in the trachea.
Weaning: the process of removing a patient from mechanical ventilation. Reduction of support may be gradual or more rapid, dependent on patient tolerance. May also refer to the process of removing a tracheostomy tube.
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