Heart failure and problems weaning off ventilator in icu

[Surpriseloopy]

Hi all, my brother has been in icu for 3 months. Been through so much after massive heart attack. He has heart failure diagnosis. He was making good progress weaning off tracheotomy, up to 7 hr breathing by himself. Suddenly he can’t even cope for 2/3 minutes! Had angiogram and had 2 new stents. Tried weaning again but he still is unable to do it. Why all of a sudden can’t he wean off the ventilator? I’m perplexed, drs giving no answers. What if he just won’t be able to come off it? Is his heart not strong enough?

[Hidden]

Hello

I do not have the answer for you but hope as others see your post they may have but after reading your post I had to let you know that you are welcome and please when you need to talk come and talk with us as even if we do not always have an answer just getting out what you are going through can help so much

I am so sorry to hear about your Brother and it must be a worry but they are very experienced in what they do and easy for me to say but try and have faith in knowing they will be doing everything they can to get your Brother well again

One thing that I would say and they will be the best to give you an exact answer is ask them

Be polite of course as we are but let them know you need to know the answer and what is happening

Don't allow them to brush you of or ignore you he is your Brother and you have a right to ask and be answered

I hope you will and I hope you will let us know the answers they give you

If you have time keep us updated how your Brother is doing as well as how you are to x

[Hidden]

I suggest you talk to the BHF Heart Helpline nurse who may be able to help. It's certainly worth a try.

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

[Coywolf]

My experience has been that recovery from heart issues is not straight forward. I had a mitral valve replacement (open heart surgery) but then 3 weeks later had a cardiac tampenade was severe so I had open heart surgery again to clear the clots and tube inserted in my heart. Since then I would say my recovery has been one step forward, two steps backwards. 8 months later I am almost back to how I was after first op. You just can't rush things! If your brother needed more stents he will need time to adjust to that. Doctors would not keep him in IC U or tracheomety if he didn't need it. For 3 months after second op I was on oxygen most of the time (and in hospital) but now my breathing is good.

I wish your brother all the best, but these are major events, he will need to be patient and take time to heal. It's great you are there for him. Heart consultants I found very willing to talk, maybe make an appointment to see them and allay your fears