Research
Research at RML
RML is committed to advancing medicine through clinical research.
In the summer of 2003, RML had the highest number of ventilated West Nile Virus patients at one time in the world and studied them as a group.

Clinical research is imperative to uncovering the root causes of conditions, determining alternative treatments, and improving patient outcomes. We take our responsibility in this area very seriously. Our dedicated researchers and health care providers are working hard to investigate new and innovative ways to wean patients from ventilators, identify the most effective treatment methods for patients with multiple and complex medical conditions, and capitalize on the latest technology to ease pain.

Contributing to industry-wide research

In conjunction with several long-term acute care hospitals across the country, RML was a primary contributor to a study entitled, Post-ICU Mechanical Ventilation at Long-Term Hospitals: A Multicenter Outcomes Study, sponsored by the National Association of Long-Term Hospitals. The research examined ventilator-dependent patients over a period of one year. Areas of study included: demographics, severity of illness, diagnoses leading to ventilator dependence, comorbitities, outcomes of weaning attempts, time to wean, length of stay, functional status, disposition, survival and quality of life data, and cost of care. To review the abstracts related to this study, visit http://www.barlowhospital.org/ventilatoroutcomes/.

Advancing ventilator weaning treatment

RML physicians and clinical researchers are currently involved in several studies that may change the way patients are weaned from ventilators. These projects, some of which have already indicated significant preliminary results, explore quality of life issues, long-term outcomes, and patient anxiety levels as factors in successful weaning.

Prolonged ventilator weaning

Weaning from Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation, Amal Jubran, MD, principal investigator. Funded by the National Institute of Health (National Institute of Nursing Research)

  • Does Respiratory Function Change in Patients Being Weaned from Long-Term Mechanical Ventilation?
  • Can We Predict Weaning in Patients Receiving Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation?
  • Does the Method of Weaning Influence Time Spent by Respiratory Therapists at a Patient's Bedside?
  • Mortality in Patients Admitted to a Specialized Facility for Weaning from Mechanical Ventilation

Quality of life

Long-Term Outcome and Functional Status of Patients Weaned from Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation

  • Effect of Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation on Quality of Life
  • Handgrip Strength and Maximum Inspiratory Pressure in Patients Weaning from Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation
  • Determinants of Long-Term Survival in Patients Weaned from Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation
  • Is Quality of Life Worse After Weaning

Psycho-social aspects of weaning

Anxiety Levels in Patients Weaned from Mechanical Ventilation

  • Do Patients Weaned from Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation Show Early Signs of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?

Other weaning studies

Can Mechanically Ventilated Patients Feel Secretions in Their Airway?
A Cohort of Ventilated Patients with West Nile Virus Infection

For more information about RML's ventilator weaning research activities, visit pubmed.gov or contact Lisa Mikolajewski at LMikolajewski@rmlspecialtyhospital.org.