Ventilator

[LaBelleSauvage123]

What happens if someone is on a ventilator and every time the drs try to remove it, their blood pressure shoots up and they have to be sedated again?

They wait and try again.

But what's to stop it keep happening?

The patient's health status will change, or the medication will change, so that eventually they respond better, or worse.

I'm sorry that you are worrying about someone, and hope you are ok.

Thanks - it's my dad. He is a very anxious man anyway and I'm not at all surprised his BP is shooting up.Im just not sure that he'll get less anxious.

Ime they try sedation holds to test the reaction before removing the ventilator. I was told it could take several attempts over several days. Sorry you are going through this.

Yes sedation holds are being done. It's pretty traumatic for all of us but mostly for him. It's reassuring to know that several attempts over several days isnt unusual though.

As others have said though it’s not unusual to take a few goes (and not every sedation hold is done with the expectation of extubating someone). There are plenty of things that can be tweaked to try & improve the chance of success, but often it’s just a matter of time.

I’m so sorry you’re going through this. It took just over 3 weeks to extubate my dad. There were many many sedation holds, none of which he remembers now. Sending love x

Tbf it's often worse for relatives. Generally patients don't remember very much, just snippets if that (we have a post ICU clinic with a psychologist and experienced nurse on hand who discuss any issues patients are experiencing after discharge).
They'll keep on trying as per pp have said, maybe get some medication on board in preparation (we use clonidine sometimes). Often it just means the patient isn't quite ready, sometimes we just ride it through (as long as the patient is safe). A rise in BP and HR is to be expected, it's natural as the sedation wears off..often once the tube is out it settles very quickly.

Thanks for the replies. They took dad off the ventilator after 7 days but unfortunately he developed pneumonia which he is still fighting. He seems to be making a slow recovery though he’s confused and agitated at times.

@LaBelleSauvage123

I'm glad your Dad seems to be getting better (if slowly). Until your thread I had forgotten how long it took to get my godson off the ventilator.

please give your Dad an extra hard hug from me!