Background: Prolonged mechanical ventilation patients rely on medical expenses per year had increased by nearly 20 billion in 15 years. However, the high cost shows the high morbidity rate, high mortality rate and low ventilator weaning rate of prolonged mechanical ventilation patients, so it is worthwhile to explore how to improve the respiratory function and even their quality of life of patients in the respiratory care ward (RCW).~OBJECTIVE: To investigate the improvement of respiratory function and the effect of respirator detachment in 45-degree semi-sitting and upper limb training, and to understand the correlation between this training activity and death risk.~METHODS: This study used repeated experimental measurements and purpose sampling, and the investigators invited patients in the respiratory care ward (RCW) in northern Taiwan. They were randomly assigned to the experimental group and the control group. The experimental group was given 45 degree Semi-sitting 2hrs and upper-limb exercise training 10mins once a day. After 4 weeks, the investigators measure the respiratory parameters such as the maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP), the tidal volume (VT), the minute ventilation (MV), and the rapid shallow breathing index(RSBI) of these two groups, and used the generalized estimating equation (GEE) to compare with them.
Prolonged mechanical ventilation patients rely on medical expenses per year had increased by nearly 20 billion in 15 years, so it is worthwhile to explore how to improve the respiratory function and even their quality of life of patients in Respiratory care wards (RCWs). This study used repeated experimental measurements and purpose sampling, and the investigators invited patients in respiratory care ward in northern Taiwan. They were randomly assigned to the experimental group and the control group. The experimental group was given 45 degree Semi-sitting 2 hrs and upper-limb exercise training 10 mins once a day. There were 29 prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) patients in the experimental group and 26 in the control group. Our conclusions showed that PMV patients can significantly improve the maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) in the post-test while performed a 45-degree semi-sitting position with upper limb training for 4 weeks. The minute ventilation (MV) has a trend of increasing month by month in the experimental group, but it is necessary to consider whether it is due to the improvement of lung function or just cause of the increased oxygen consumption and accelerated respiratory rate, so it can not be inferred to improvement of the patient's condition or lung function.