Wesley's Story of Vent Liberation after Severe Pneumonia
The respiratory team at Kindred Hospital used a multi-step therapy process to help Wesley achieve the hard task of weaning off the ventilator. At the time of discharge to an acute inpatient rehabilitation facility, he was off the vent and able to walk 200 feet with a walker.
A Patient Success Story from Kindred Hospital Indianapolis North
Wesley was living his best life with his wife and their dog, Lucy. He became ill with viral pneumonitis superimposed on bacterial pneumonia. Wesley suffered from a severe worsening of his chronic respiratory failure, Atrial fibrillation or AFib (abnormal heart rhythm), heart failure, hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, and anemia.
Wesley arrived at Kindred Hospital Indianapolis North on a ventilator with an endotracheal tube. Respiratory therapists trached him at the bedside and began the hard task of weaning him off the vent. Vent weaning had been unsuccessful a couple of times prior at a skilled nursing facility. The Kindred team weaned him from the vent using Airvo – a type of nasal oxygen therapy – and then weaned him off Airvo to a tracheostomy collar. He worked hard at weaning off the ventilator with the respiratory therapy department and developed a special bond with a few team members – Nikki, Pat, Cindy, Candace, and Tammy. Wound care was also very involved in his treatment and success, as were the rehabilitation, nutrition, pharmacy, and nursing teams.
Wesley left Kindred Indianapolis North off of a ventilator and able to walk 200 feet with a walker. He has been discharged to acute inpatient rehabilitation. The Kindred team is proud of him..
“I feel well and lucky – now I am able to move forward.”
Learn more about: Respiratory Care
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