Instrumental Respiratory Physiotherapy in Difficult-to-wean ICU Patients

Difficult ventilatory weaning is associated with a 20% mortality rate. 40% of these patients will develop intensive care unit (ICU)-acquired neuromyopathy, associated with reduced cough strength and a 4-fold increase in the risk of reintubation. The objective measure of cough strength is peak expiratory flow (PEF). Instrument-assisted coughing is a respiratory physiotherapy technique capable of significantly increasing PEF in chronic neuromuscular patients and draining bronchial secretions.

The objective of the study is to determine whether an early, systematic, instrumental, intensive respiratory physiotherapy strategy in patients with difficult ventilatory weaning and ICU-acquired neuromyopathy significantly improves PEF immediately prior to extubation, compared with a conventional, protocolized management strategy.