# Factors associated with weaning success from prolonged mechanical ventilation in surviving Chinese pediatric intensive care units: a multicenter analysis

**Authors:** Tian Li, Zhengzheng Zhang, Hong Ren, Chengjun Liu, Zihao Yang, Yibing Cheng, Wei Xu, Dong Qu, Hengmiao Gao, Furong Zhang, Hongjun Miao, Feng Ye, Musheng Li, Jianping Tao, Jianhui Zhang, Li Huang, Weiming Chen

PMC · DOI: 10.3389/fped.2026.1737174 · Frontiers in Pediatrics · 2026-02-20

## TL;DR

This study identifies factors influencing successful weaning from prolonged mechanical ventilation in Chinese pediatric intensive care units.

## Contribution

The study provides insights into ventilation strategies and risk factors for weaning success in Chinese PICUs.

## Key findings

- Higher fraction of inspired oxygen at PMV diagnosis is associated with weaning failure.
- Lower airway diseases have a higher chance of successful weaning compared to central nervous system diseases.
- Pressure control is the most commonly used ventilation method in PMV weaning.

## Abstract

To describe factors of ventilation strategies associated with weaning success for surviving patients from prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) in Pediatric Intensive Care Units (PICUs).

Conducted a retrospective study across eleven PICUs in mainland China from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2022.

234 patients diagnosed with PMV were included in the study. Weaning Outcomes: 58.1% (136 patients) successfully weaned, includeing 11.1% (26 patients) required only a tracheostomy. 9.8% (23 patients) needed non-invasive ventilation. 32. 1% (75 patients) continued to require mechanical ventilation. 34.2% (80 patients) on invasive pressure control mode at PMV diagnosis. Pressure control was the most commonly used method. Synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation (SIMV) used by 30.4% (71 patients). Pressure support ventilation (PSV) used by 5. 1% (12 patients). 63.2% (148 patients) received physiotherapy. 44.9% (105 patients) received cough augmentation techniques. 26.9% (63 patients) underwent tracheostomy after an average of 29 days of invasive mechanical ventilation. Higher fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) on PMV diagnosis day associated with weaning failure, the OR value is 0.674. While lower airway diseases had one more times chance of weaning seccess than central nervous system diseases, the OR value is 2.144.

Among survivors, ventilation strategies for PMV weaning in Chinese PICUs are diverse, with pressure control commonly used initially, followed by SIMV and PSV. We identified a higher FiO2 at PMV diagnosis as risk factors for weaning failure, while lower airway diseases were easier to wean.

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** COVID-19 (MESH:D000086382), cardiovascular diseases (MESH:D002318), weaning failure (MESH:D051437), CHEST (MESH:D013898), CNS diseases (MESH:D002493), cough (MESH:D003371), critically ill (MESH:D016638), respiratory infectious diseases (MESH:D012141), CL (MESH:D002971), died (MESH:D003643), respiratory diseases (MESH:D012140), pain (MESH:D010146), increased (MESH:D000067251), neuromuscular diseases (MESH:D009468), PMV (MESH:D008133), congenital metabolic disorders (MESH:D008659), congenital diseases (MESH:D030342), VAP (MESH:D053717), nervous system and neuromuscular diseases (MESH:D009422), respiratory (MESH:D012131), pneumonia (MESH:D011014), dysfunction (MESH:D006331), airway diseases (MESH:D029424), paralysis (MESH:D010243)
- **Chemicals:** epinephrine (MESH:D004837), FiO2 (-), oxygen (MESH:D010100), dobutamine (MESH:D004280), dopamine (MESH:D004298), norepinephrine (MESH:D009638)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Full text

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## Figures

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## References

26 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12963309/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12963309