The Mechanical Ventilation-Respiratory Distress Observation Scale

Dyspnoea is one of the most distressing sources of discomfort that intensive care unit patients experience. It is also very difficult to assess in intubated patients. A study published in the October issue of the European Respiratory Journal suggests that the Mechanical Ventilation-Respiratory Distress Observation Scale could be of major clinical relevance, and would make the evaluation of breathing comfort possible in critically ill, noncommunicative patients. Read the study in full here or visit erj.ersjournals.com to access other articles in the issue.