The impact of programmatic psychological nursing on the time length of ventilator weaning in myasthenia gravis patients with mechanical ventilation

Abstract

Objective To investigate the impact of psychological nursing on time length of ventilator weaning in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG). Methods Forty-four MG patients with mechanical ventilation were enrolled to the testing group. In this group, the time of ventilator weaning was determined according to the results of basic status and blood gas analysis. Furthermore, the designed, targeted and individuated psychological care was conducted in this group at different phases. In the control group, only the programmatic method of ventilator weaning was used with the steps of CMV, SIMV, SPONT, intermittence and completely weaning. The time length of ventilator weaning and the length of stay were compared between two groups.Results The time length of weaning in testing group was 14 days comparing with 18 days in control group.Although there was no statistical significance ( P = 0.752), the time length of ventilator weaning in testing group was shorter than that in control group. The length of stay was longer in control group than that in testing group (P = 0.039). Conclusions The time length of ventilator weaning and length of stay could be shortened with the designed, targeted and individuated psychological care during different phases of ventilator weaning in patients with MG. Therefore, the nursing efficacy would be improved and the pains and economic burden of patients would be relieved. Key words: Psychological nursing; Myasthenia gravis; Mechanical ventilation