Effect of respiratory muscles training in weaning of mechanically ventilated COPD patients

BackgroundInspiratory muscle weakness is common in patients receiving mechanical ventilation, especially COPD patients with prolonged duration of mechanical ventilation. Inspiratory muscle training could limit or reverse these unhelpful sequelae and facilitate more rapid and successful weaning.ObjectiveAssessment of the effect of respiratory muscle training in weaning of mechanically ventilated COPD patients admitted in respiratory ICU in the Abbassia chest hospital.Patients and methodsThe study was conducted on 40 COPD patients admitted to the respiratory intensive care unit in the Abbassia chest hospital in the period between October-2011 and March-2013. All patients were diagnosed as having acute exacerbation of COPD with acute respiratory failure necessitating mechanical ventilatory support and difficult weaning; patients were subdivided into 2 groups: GROUP (A): (20 patients) include patients who received respiratory muscle training and GROUP (B): (20 patients) include patients who did not receive inspiratory muscle training.ResultsThere was a significant difference between the 2 groups as regards the primary outcomes including weaning success rate, duration of mechanical ventilation, length of stay in ICU, length of stay in hospital. Also there was a significant improvement of secondary outcomes in group (A) including PO2, O2 saturation, TV, RR, MIP over the 5 days of IMT; while there was a significant difference between the 2 groups regarding the above secondary outcomes in favor to group (A).ConclusionInspiratory muscle training increases muscle strength and endurance as well as it assists in weaning from mechanical ventilation in COPD patients with difficult weaning.