Safety and efficacy of MMV/ATC for the weaning of post-operative open-heart patients

Abstract

PURPOSE: Early extubation of patients undergoing elective coronary artery bypass surgery is a trend in surgical practice. Mandatory Minute Ventilation (MMV) is a mode of ventilation that guarantees set minute ventilation but allows an automatic transition from mechanical support to spontaneous breathing. Automatic Tube Compensation (ATC) is a mode extension that provides compensation for the flow-dependent endotracheal tube resistance during both inspiration and expiration. Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of a computer-driven MMV/ATC (Drager Medical, Telford, PA) as a weaning method in the post-operative open-heart patient.