WEANING FROM VENTILATOR

[JANNYD4]

MY MOM HAS COPD AND HAD A STROKE 12/18/08 (LEFT LOWER CEREBELLUM).  SHE IS C02 RETENTIVE AND THEY HAD PUT HER ON THE HTC FOR A FEW DAYS WITH GOOD RESULTS, EXCEPT HI C02. SO THEY PUT HER BACK ON FULL VENT IN THE EVENING TO BLOW OFF HER C02 (INITIALLY  BLOOD GAS READING WAS 88/ NEXT DAY 79/NEXT DAY 62/)AND TODAY WITH THE C02 MONITOR ON AND VENT ON CPAP, READING IS 42, WITH O2 SATURATION AT 92-93 AND GIVING HER 28% 02....SHE ALSO BROKE HER HIP IN SEPTEMBER, AND WAS WEAK FROM THAT.  HAS BEEN ON OXYGEN FOR 5 YRS AND USING 2, 3 LTRS SETTINGS... IS THERE ANYTHING TO ASSIST IN GETTING RID OF THE C02, OTHER THEN KEEPING O2 LOWER AND DO C02 RETAINERS HAVE GOOD SUCCESS WEANING OFF THE VENTILATOR..SHE IS VERY MOTIVATED....AND DOES EVERYTHING ASKED OF HER....THANKS  JAN

[Sunny602]

I think that it depends...she is motivated which is a huge plus in her corner. You said that she is on CPAP mode on the vent? That means she is doing most of the work with a little extra help from the machine and her use of O2 isn't that high, 28% is something like 2 liters of O2 via a cannula which you said she is on chronically at home. Once she comes off, sometimes BiPAP is used at night to help with CO2 (alot like CPAP but has two pressures, a higher pressure for inspiration and a lesser pressure for exhalation), but every person is different.
Remember, I am not a doctor, but used to work in critical care as a RN...so please take what I say lightly. I also live on a vent full time now (diaphragmatic problems) and am familiar in a unique hands on way with them.
I hope that this helps...time will only tell with your mother, but like I said, from what you said it seems like she has alot of things in her favor. Sunny