Monitoring of Electrical Activity of the Diaphragm Shows Failure of T-Piece Trial Earlier than Protocol-Based Parameters in Prolonged Weaning in Non-communicative Neurological Patients

Background The weaning target in tracheotomised patients is not extubation, but spontaneous breathing without the support of a ventilator. Overloading the respiratory pump during such spontaneous breathing trials is unfavorable, prolongs weaning time, and increases morbidity and mortality. The goal of this study was to evaluate the electrical activity of the diaphragm during a t-piece trial in non-communicative neurological patients and the comparison to clinical parameters of exhaustion.