Ventilator Weaning
RT-led protocolized weaning reduces ventilator days. PT/OT early mobility integration reduces ICU-acquired weakness. PT-specific weaning certification role limited.
Each lens uses its own dimensions and default weights. Scores answer different questions across paths — they aren’t apples-to-apples. How scoring works →
Protocolized weaning reduces ventilator days; PT/OT role in weaning team improves functional outcomes.
Applicable specifically in ICU and acute care with ventilated patients; very narrow population.
Acute care respiratory therapy and early mobility billed through hospital DRG; no standalone PT code but supports ICU PT billing.
ICU-specific training; institutional credentialing common; moderate time.
Valued in ICU and acute care PT/OT positions; expected competency in critical care specialty.
Patients cannot self-report during ventilation; family reports reduced anxiety with active weaning plan.
Hospital/ICU procedure — zero cash-pay consumer market.
Reimbursed inside facility per diems; no individual pricing leverage.
Niche skill but only matters to acute-care employers, not consumers.
Cannot build a private practice around vent weaning — wrong setting entirely.
No direct-to-consumer demand exists.
Protocol training is relatively short, but irrelevant to entrepreneurship.
Valued for acute-care/cardiopulm faculty lines and ACS-track instructors but not a formal credential itself.
Solid ICU rehab/early-mobility literature base for publications.
Directly strengthens acute care and cardiopulm course content in DPT curricula.
Strong RCT base on early mobilization and weaning protocols in ICU populations.
Occasionally preferred for acute-care faculty roles but rarely explicitly required.
Usually acquired through clinical experience rather than discrete cert — moderate efficiency.
- 01Similar Weaning Success Rate with High-Intensity and Sham Inspiratory Muscle Training: A Randomized Controlled Trial (IMweanT)M. Van Hollebeke; D. Poddighe; M. Hoffman; B. Clerckx; J. Muller; Z. Louvaris; G. Hermans; R. Gosselink; D. Langer · Am J Respir Crit Care Med2025RCTdoi:10.1164/rccm.202405-1042OC
- 02Lung electrical impedance tomography during positioning, weaning and chest physiotherapy in mechanically ventilated critically ill patients: a narrative reviewS. Bayat; C. Guérin; B. Louis; N. Terzi · Annals of Intensive Care2025Narrative reviewdoi:10.1186/s13613-025-01526-z
- 03The comparison of two types of physiotherapy techniques on selected weaning indices of patients requiring mechanical ventilation: a single blind randomized controlled trialF. Azimi; A. M. Nazari; F. Yadollahi; S. Etemadifar; S. Kheiri; R. Masoudi · Sci Rep2025RCTdoi:10.1038/s41598-025-03701-5
- 04Letter to the editor Effects of structured protocolized physical therapy on the duration of mechanical ventilation in patients with prolonged weaning""T. Ozudogru Celik · J Crit Care2024Otherdoi:10.1016/j.jcrc.2024.154543
- 05Outcomes of different pulmonary rehabilitation protocols in patients under mechanical ventilation with difficult weaning: a retrospective cohort studyS. Chen; S. F. Liao; Y. J. Lin; C. Y. Huang; S. C. Ho; J. H. Chang · Respir Res2024Cohort studydoi:10.1186/s12931-024-02866-3
- 06Effects of structured protocolized physical therapy on the duration of mechanical ventilation in patients with prolonged weaningJ. Bickenbach; S. Fritsch; S. Cosler; Y. Simon; M. Dreher; S. Theisen; J. Kao; F. Hildebrand; G. Marx; T. P. Simon · J Crit Care2024Otherdoi:10.1016/j.jcrc.2023.154491
- 07Effects of different types and frequencies of early rehabilitation on ventilator weaning among patients in intensive care units: A systematic review and meta-analysisR. Y. Wu; H. J. Yeh; K. J. Chang; M. W. Tsai · PLoS One2023Meta-analysisdoi:10.1371/journal.pone.0284923
- 08Use of noninvasive mechanical ventilation weaning protocol in neonatal intensive care units in Brazil: a descriptive studyJ. D. Vitti; A. A. M. Castro; N. F. Serrão Júnior · Rev Paul Pediatr2023Study protocoldoi:10.1590/1984-0462/2023/41/2021382
- 09Rehabilitation interventions for weaning from mechanical ventilation in patients with spinal cord injury: A systematic reviewL. Lippi; F. D'Abrosca; A. Folli; A. Turco; C. Curci; A. Ammendolia; A. de Sire; M. Invernizzi · J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil2023Systematic reviewdoi:10.3233/bmr-220201
- 10The effect of threshold inspiratory muscle training on the duration of weaning in intensive care unit-admitted patients: A randomized clinical trialF. Khodabandeloo; R. Froutan; A. P. Yazdi; M. T. Shakeri; S. R. Mazlom; A. B. Moghaddam · Journal of Research in Medical Sciences2023RCTdoi:10.4103/jrms.jrms_757_22
- 11Factors Associated With Ventilator Weaning Success and Failure in People With Spinal Cord Injury in an Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation Setting: A Retrospective StudyR. Korupolu; H. Uhlig-Reche; E. C. Achilike; C. Reeh; C. Pedroza; A. Stampas · Topics in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation2022Otherdoi:10.46292/sci21-00062
- 12Impact of Early Mobilization Added to Respiratory Physiotherapy Postextubation on Weaning SuccessL. Chiscano-Camón; G. Ballesteros-Reviriego; A. Ruiz-Rodríguez; B. Planas-Pascual; M. Pérez-Carrasco; A. Gómez-Garrido; S. Contreras; S. Spiliopoulou; R. Ferrer · Arch Bronconeumol2022Otherdoi:10.1016/j.arbres.2022.03.002
- 13Co-ordinated multidisciplinary intervention to reduce time to successful extubation for children on mechanical ventilation: the SANDWICH cluster stepped-wedge RCTB. Blackwood; K. P. Morris; J. Jordan; L. McIlmurray; A. Agus; R. Boyle; M. Clarke; C. Easter; R. G. Feltbower; K. Hemming; D. Macrae; C. McDowell; M. Murray; R. Parslow; M. J. Peters; G. Phair; L. N. Tume; T. S. Walsh; D. F. McAuley · Health Technol Assess2022RCTdoi:10.3310/tcfx3817
- 14The tracheotomy tube weaning in patients with severe acquired brain injury: comparison of two operative procedures in a postacute rehabilitation hospitalA. Michelutti; M. D'Angelo; M. Szulin; G. Stroppolo; S. Bargellesi; T. Giorgini; R. Quattrin; E. Biasutti · Eur J Phys Rehabil Med2021Otherdoi:10.23736/s1973-9087.21.06342-5
- 15Functional Status After Pulmonary Rehabilitation as a Predictor of Weaning Success and Survival in Patients Requiring Prolonged Mechanical VentilationL. T. Keng; S. K. Liang; C. P. Tseng; Y. F. Wen; P. H. Tsou; C. H. Chang; L. Y. Chang; K. L. Yu; M. R. Lee; J. C. Ko · Front Med (Lausanne)2021Otherdoi:10.3389/fmed.2021.675103
- 16Use of a Multidisciplinary Mechanical Ventilation Weaning Protocol to Improve Patient Outcomes and Empower Staff in a Medical Intensive Care UnitI. Gunther; D. Pradhan; A. Lubinsky; A. Urquhart; J. A. Thompson; S. Reynolds · Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing2021Study protocoldoi:10.1097/DCC.0000000000000462
- 17Transcutaneous electrical diaphragmatic stimulation reduces the duration of invasive mechanical ventilation in patients with cervical spinal cord injury: retrospective case seriesG. L. Duarte; A. L. Bethiol; L. Ratti; G. Franco; R. Moreno; R. M. Tonella; A. L. E. Falcão · Spinal Cord Ser Cases2021Case seriesdoi:10.1038/s41394-021-00396-4
- 18Effects of Inspiratory Muscle Training and Early Mobilization on Weaning of Mechanical Ventilation: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysisS. Worraphan; A. Thammata; K. Chittawatanarat; S. Saokaew; K. Kengkla; M. Prasannarong · Arch Phys Med Rehabil2020Meta-analysisdoi:10.1016/j.apmr.2020.07.004
- 19Physiotherapy and Weaning From Prolonged Mechanical VentilationA. F. Schreiber; P. Ceriana; N. Ambrosino; A. Malovini; S. Nava · Respir Care2019Otherdoi:10.4187/respcare.06280
- 20Implementing a Respiratory Therapist-Driven Continuous Albuterol Weaning Protocol in the Pediatric ICUD. K. Maue; A. J. Tori; A. L. Beardsley; N. L. Krupp; A. J. Hole; E. A. S. Moser; C. M. Rowan · Respiratory Care2019Study protocoldoi:10.4187/respcare.06447
- 21Low Levels of Physical Activity During Critical Illness and Weaning: The Evidence-Reality GapB. A. Connolly; J. L. Mortimore; A. Douiri; J. W. Rose; N. Hart; S. C. Berney · J Intensive Care Med2019Otherdoi:10.1177/0885066617716377
- 22Role of physical therapists in the weaning and extubation procedures of pediatric and neonatal intensive care units: a surveyS. Bacci; J. M. Pereira; A. Chagas; L. R. Carvalho; V. Azevedo · Braz J Phys Ther2019Cross-sectionaldoi:10.1016/j.bjpt.2018.08.012
- 23Chest physiotherapy with early mobilization may improve extubation outcome in critically ill patients in the intensive care unitsT. H. Wang; C. P. Wu; L. Y. Wang · Clin Respir J2018Otherdoi:10.1111/crj.12965
- 24A multimodal rehabilitation program for patients with ICU acquired weakness improves ventilator weaning and discharge homeA. C. Verceles; C. L. Wells; J. D. Sorkin; M. L. Terrin; J. Beans; T. Jenkins; A. P. Goldberg · J Crit Care2018Otherdoi:10.1016/j.jcrc.2018.07.006
- 25Factors influencing weaning from mechanical ventilation in neurological and neurosurgical early rehabilitation patientsS. B. Schmidt; M. Boltzmann; M. Bertram; C. Bucka; M. Hartwich; M. Jöbges; G. Ketter; B. Leineweber; M. Mertl-Rötzer; D. A. Nowak; T. Platz; K. Scheidtmann; R. Thomas; F. V. Rosen; C. W. Wallesch; H. Woldag; P. Peschel; J. Mehrholz; M. Pohl; J. D. Rollnik · Eur J Phys Rehabil Med2018Otherdoi:10.23736/s1973-9087.18.05100-6
- 26Weaning failure and respiratory muscle function: What has been done and what can be improved?P. A. F. Magalhães; C. A. Camillo; D. Langer; L. B. Andrade; M. Duarte; R. Gosselink · Respir Med2018Otherdoi:10.1016/j.rmed.2017.11.023
- 27Weaning of neurological early rehabilitation patients from mechanical ventilation: a retrospective observational studyJ. D. Rollnik; J. K. Krauss; C. Gutenbrunner; C. Wallesch; T. Münte; M. Stangel · Eur J Phys Rehabil Med2017Otherdoi:10.23736/s1973-9087.17.04300-3
- 28Early Mobilization Reduces Duration of Mechanical Ventilation and Intensive Care Unit Stay in Patients With Acute Respiratory FailureC. C. Lai; W. Chou; K. S. Chan; K. C. Cheng; K. S. Yuan; C. M. Chao; C. M. Chen · Arch Phys Med Rehabil2017Otherdoi:10.1016/j.apmr.2016.11.007
- 29Implementation of a respiratory rehabilitation protocol: weaning from the ventilator and tracheostomy in difficult-to-wean patients with spinal cord injuryI. Gundogdu; E. A. Ozturk; E. Umay; O. Z. Karaahmet; E. Unlu; A. Cakci · Disabil Rehabil2017Study protocoldoi:10.1080/09638288.2016.1189607
- 30Can an interprofessional tracheostomy team improve weaning to decannulation times? A quality improvement evaluationC. Welton; M. Morrison; M. Catalig; J. Chris; J. Pataki · Canadian Journal of Respiratory Therapy2016OtherPMID 113219404
- 31Weaning from Mechanical Ventilation Driven by non-Physician Professionals Versus PhysiciansE. Arici; S. Tastan; H. Ayhan; E. Iyigun; M. F. Can; R. Yıldız · International Journal of Caring Sciences2016OtherPMID 114986756