Effect of inspiratory muscle training on weaning from mechanical ventilation in acute respiratory failure

Abstract

ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the effect of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) on weaning time and success.Patients and methodsThis is a prospective, randomized clinical study conducted in an ICU. A total of 15 patients were trained by inspiratory muscle exercise twice per day and 15 patients did not go under training (control group). Training was conducted through tuning the ventilator sensitivity based on the patients’ maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP). The experimental group received IMT starting with an initial load of 30% of their MIP measured immediately after changing patients to pressure support mode of mechanical ventilation (MV) and increased up to 40% as tolerated by the patient. Training was conducted for 5 min, two sessions per day. In addition, these patients received usual care of MV patients. Sputum culture assessment for aerobic organisms was done immediately after intubation.ResultsThis is a prospective randomized control study that collected data on 30 patients with acute respiratory failure. Patients were randomly arranged into two groups (control and experimental). The mean MIP before initiation of weaning in both group was 16cm H2O. There is a significant difference in the final mean MIP between the experimental group (23.27 cm H2O) and the control group (17.40 cm H2O). There is also significant shortening in the weaning time in the experimental group and less frequent likelihood of reintubation, which was recorded in two cases of control group.ConclusionThe IMT during MV may assist in early weaning off MV among patients with acute respiratory failure, and also it improves the weaning success rate, with less frequent likelihood of reintubation.