This 65 year old female became ventilator dependent post surgery for a bowel obstruction. She had failed multiple attempts to wean from mechanical ventilation at the referring hospital. She was extremely weak and was very fearful of any attempt to wean off the ventilator.

A plan of care was developed between nursing, rehabilitation, dietary, and respiratory care. When this plan was initiated, this patient could not sit up on the edge of the bed without maximum assistance of two therapists. While she could eat, she took most of her caloric needs via G-tube. With aggressive therapy, she was able to walk with the assistance of one person after sixty days. At that time, she was utilizing the ventilator with rest and night time sleep only. At ninety days, she was able to walk 150 feet unassisted, but still required night time ventilation. At 120 days she was completely weaned off ventilator support and had the G-tube removed. At 160 days, her tracheostomy tube was decannulated, and she was discharged home on room air.