In mechanical ventilation, what does 'weaning' involve?

Weaning in mechanical ventilation refers to the process of gradually reducing ventilatory support to allow the patient to regain the ability to breathe independently. This approach is based on the understanding that a sudden discontinuation of mechanical support can lead to respiratory distress and failure, making a gradual reduction essential for patient safety and comfort.

The weaning process typically involves assessing the patient’s readiness to breathe without assistance, which may include evaluating parameters such as respiratory effort, blood gas values, and overall clinical stability. By slowly decreasing the level of support, healthcare providers can monitor the patient's response and make necessary adjustments, ensuring that the patient can tolerate the transition back to spontaneous breathing effectively.

The other choices do not accurately reflect the weaning process. Immediate discontinuation can lead to complications, increasing sedation counteracts the patient’s ability to breathe independently, and switching from invasive to non-invasive ventilation is a different approach to managing respiratory support rather than a component of weaning.