This 72 year old female was admitted with diagnoses of lupus, respiratory failure, hyperglycemia, and dementia. She was admitted to the facility on a 70% tracheostomy collar and admission blood gas levels showed a ph level of 7.35. At the referring hospital this patient had failed numerous attempts to be weaned and the referring physician held little hope of a successful ventilator wean.

A intensive regimen of nursing care, nutritional support, and respiratory, physical and occupational therapies was put in place, with a rigid schedule of activity. Over the next 60 days, the patient was weaned completely off the ventilator. Within another 30 days, the patient had the tracheostomy tube decannulated, and was placed on a 1 liter/minute nasal cannula. She was discharged into a long-term care facility.