The next stage of the ventilator tracheostomy weaning process is to reduce the support from the ventilator that the patient requires, towards CPAP therapy, while maintaining adequate oxygenation.

There are a number of strategies for ventilator weaning which should be determined locally and documented in a weaning plan. The patient should be monitored throughout for sign of deterioration, and weaning efforts should be stopped if the patient shows any of the following:

• Clinical deterioration
• Oxygen desaturation
• Tachypnoea
• Tachycardia
• New cardiac dysrhythmia
• Fever
• Exhaustion

For more information about tracheostomy management, check out the All-Wales TRACHES checklist (linked below) which provides the simple things you need to do to look after a patient with a tracheostomy.