High Flow During Weaning From Mechanical Ventilation

Detection and relief of dyspnea in mechanically ventilated patients is a priority. Optimization of mechanical ventilation settings is unfortunately often insufficient to relieve dyspnea in patients entering the weaning process. Pharmacological treatments are effective but their use is likely to delay separation with the ventilator. Promoting the development of non-pharmacological interventions is therefore an interesting avenue. The hypothesis is that the application of high-flow humidified nasal air in orotracheally intubated patients can decrease the work of breathing and relieve dyspnea at the time of weaning from mechanical ventilation. Patients will be exposed to stepwise increase in high flow nasal air (0 L/min, 30 L/min, 50 L/min and 70 L/min) before to undergo a 60 minutes spontaneous breathing trial. During the protocol, dyspnea, inspiratory effort, respiratory drive, respiratory muscles electromyogram (EMG) and patient's comfort will be assessed.