Therapy Study of Automated Protocolized vs. Physician-Directed Non-Protocolized Weaning

The purpose of this study was to determine whether computer-driven protocolized weaning is superior to physician-directed non-protocolized weaning in over-24-hours-ventilated surgical intensive care unit (ICU) patients. The main hypothesis was that weaning duration differs between both methods. Secondary hypotheses were that reintubation rate, duration of mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay and workload for physicians and nurses differ between both methods.