The intervention group, in addition to the protocol described above, would undergo inspiratory muscle training with the POWER breathe K-5 (UK) device. POWER breathe K-5 will be employed once a day, with an initial loading of 40% of maximal inspiratory strength in a schedule of 30 repetitions. This number of repetitions could be reached in one to 6 sessions depending on the respiratory muscle force of the patient. Most of the times more than one session were required. Typically, subjects performed two to six sessions of 5 to 15 breaths per day, with two minutes rest in ventilation pressure support mode. When the patient was unable to comply with the schedule, the training session was interrupted at a total of 3 minutes. The load was planned to be adjusted weekly with a 5 to 10% increase until 60% of the maximal inspiratory strength was reached with a total time of 10 minutes or 100 breaths. After training with POWER breathe K-5 (UK), the patient would return to mechanical ventilation in support pressure mode for 30-60 minutes, and then follow the conventional T-piece protocol. The IMT was conducted normally between 08h and 10h, Monday through Friday.