The Possibility of Ventilator Weaning in COPD Patients with Hypercapnia

Objective: To investigate the possibility and security of weaning from mechanical ventilation (MV) in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with hypercapnia. Methods: Sixty-two ventilated patients with COPD type Ⅱ respiratory failure were retrospectively analyzed in the past two years. All of the patients were divided into two groups, the hypercapnia group(≥60 mm Hg)and the control group(60 mm Hg)according to p(CO2) level before ventilator weaning (22 cases and 38 cases respectively). The breathing mechanics and the blood gas analysis were recorded at 12 h,6 h and just before ventilator weaning, and at 1 h, 6 h, 24 h and 48 h after ventilator weaning. Results: There were no significant differences in respiratory rate (RR), tidal volume (Vt), RR/Vt and compliance of the respiratory system (Crs) of reaction kinetics before ventilator weaning in two groups(P 0.05). There were no significant differences in the difference time points of pH and p(O2) before and after ventilator weaning(P 0.05). The levels of p(CO2) and HCO3-were higher in hypercapnia group compared to those in the control group(P 0.01). Twenty-two(91.67%) in hypercapnia group were successful ventilator weaning and 34(89.47%) of the control group.There were no significant differences between two groups(P 0.05). Conclusion: Simplex hypercapnia is not a contraindication for ventilator weaning.