RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Noninvasive ventilation during the weaning process in chronically critically ill patients JF ERJ Open Research JO erjor FD European Respiratory Society SP 00061-2016 DO 10.1183/23120541.00061-2016 VO 2 IS 4 A1 Jesus Sancho A1 Emilio Servera A1 Luis Jara-Palomares A1 Emilia Barrot A1 Raquel Sanchez-Oro-Gómez A1 F. Javier Gómez de Terreros A1 M. Jesús Martín-Vicente A1 Isabel Utrabo A1 M. Belen Núñez A1 Alicia Binimelis A1 Ernest Sala A1 Enrique Zamora A1 Gonzalo Segrelles A1 Angel Ortega-Gonzalez A1 Fernando Masa YR 2016 UL http://openres.ersjournals.com/content/2/4/00061-2016.abstract AB Chronically critically ill patients often undergo prolonged mechanical ventilation. The role of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) during weaning of these patients remains unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the value of NIV and whether a parameter can predict the need for NIV in chronically critically ill patients during the weaning process.We conducted a prospective study that included chronically critically ill patients admitted to Spanish respiratory care units. The weaning method used consisted of progressive periods of spontaneous breathing trials. Patients were transferred to NIV when it proved impossible to increase the duration of spontaneous breathing trials beyond 18 h.231 chronically critically ill patients were included in the study. 198 (85.71%) patients achieved weaning success (mean weaning time 25.45±16.71 days), of whom 40 (21.4%) needed NIV during the weaning process. The variable which predicted the need for NIV was arterial carbon dioxide tension at respiratory care unit admission (OR 1.08 (95% CI 1.01–1.15), p=0.013), with a cut-off point of 45.5 mmHg (sensitivity 0.76, specificity 0.67, positive predictive value 0.76, negative predictive value 0.97).NIV is a useful tool during weaning in chronically critically ill patients. Hypercapnia despite mechanical ventilation at respiratory care unit admission is the main predictor of the need for NIV during weaning.NIV is a useful tool during weaning in chronic critically ill patients independent of their premorbid condition http://ow.ly/j4Av304sEoJ