【特別寄稿】Overview of Ventilator Withdrawal for “Intensivist”

Withdrawal of ventilator support is one of the many difficult decisions for critical care practitioners. It is important to withdraw the support as quickly as possible to minimize the complications of ventilator support, to allow the patient to leave the critical care units and to reduce the cost of health care. However, timing the withdrawal of ventilator support can be difficult.

　This issue of “Intensivist” addresses many of the important topics related to withdrawal of ventilator support. A review of the current literature and recommended procedures for withdrawal of support is included.