The lived experience of survivors of prolonged mechanical ventilation: A Phenomenological Study

BACKGROUND: Successful liberation from prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) is a challenging phenomenon. Whereas many physiological factors have been linked to successful PMV liberation, the psychosocial components are not well delineated. OBJECTIVES: This article serves to describe the experience of patients who survived PMV and to identify salient factors that contributed to successful liberation. METHODS: A phenomenological approach was used to explore the lived experience of seven PMV survivors. RESULTS: Six mutually exclusive themes emerged from the participants' descriptions to create a structural description of the lived experience. CONCLUSIONS: Survivors credited their own self-determination and the expertise and care of health care professionals with their ability to be successfully liberated from prolonged mechanical ventilation. Although surviving PMV was described as frightening and traumatic, comfort and resolve were derived from family members, religion, prayer, and angelic encounters. These findings are useful in providing direction for critical care clinical practice and future research.