WEANING IN GERIATRIC PATIENTS: A RETROSPECTIVE CLINICAL STUDY
Güldem TURAN, Arzu YILDIRIM AR, Yıldız Yiğit KUPLAY, Süheyla ABİTAĞAOĞLU, Ceren ŞANLI KARİP, Murat ÖKSÜZ
University of Health Sciences Fatih Sultan Mehmet Health Research and Application Center Intensive Care Unit Ä°STANBUL
Introduction: With the growth of the geriatric population in the society, the number of
geriatric patients followed up at intensive care units has also increased. Weaning in geriatric
patients is a long and necessary process. In our study, we evaluated the weaning process in a
geriatric patient group.
Materials and Method: The relationship between the weaning process and mortality rates
in 814 patients aged>65 years who were hospitalised in our intensive care unit between 1
January 2015 and 31 December 2016 was retrospectively analysed. Our geriatric patients were
divided into three age groups: young (65–74), middle (75–84) and advance (>85).
Results: The mean Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Enquiry II score was 21.8±9.2
and Simplified Acute Physiology Score 2 was 43.2±20.9. Mechanical ventilation was provided
to 615 patients. The mean duration of the weaning process onset was 6±13.4, 5.85±7.87 and
6.5±7.1 days in the three groups, respectively. Weaning was successful in 286 (46%) of the 615
geriatric patients, and 20 patients were discharged with a home ventilator.Conclusion: The weaning process in geriatric patients may be extended with age-related
pulmonary dysfunction. The number of weaning trials in this process also increased. Our results
indicate that the mean number of weaning trials in successfully weaned patients is higher. We
consider that given the increase in geriatric patient follow-up rates in intensive care units, it
will be possible to ensure successful weaning and lower mortality rates, along with successful
management of such patient groups, by increasing the number of weaning trials.
Keywords :
Geriatrics; Respiratory insufficiency; Weaning; Critical care
