Weaning protocols for mechanical ventilation: review

Cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis: Pooling 11 randomized trials, n=1,971, Blackwood et al suggested there are some benefits to using a standardized weaning protocol. There was a reduction in weaning and ventilation time in the groups that had weaning protocols; we won't report them here, because they would be misleading in this small space. They were reported in aggregates (as "geometric means," not recognizable clinical data like ventilator-days), due to the statistical sleight of hand imposed by high heterogeneity and variable outcomes reported across trials. If you're interested: BMJ 2011;342:c7237. FREE FULL TEXT