However, this does not appear to provide a solid explanation for the lack of physiotherapy-led presentations

at national conferences identified in recent years. It Wnt inhibitor review also fails to explain the imbalance between representation of physiotherapists and other health professionals in this arena. Physiotherapy organisations, academic institutions, and therapists could develop strategies to increase the engagement of physiotherapists in cardiology research. Some simple strategies could include the implementation of a mentoring system designed to link physiotherapists with established research backgrounds and clinicians working in the management or prevention of cardiac disease. Greater mentorship of postgraduate physiotherapy research on cardiac topics is also needed in physiotherapy schools. The establishment of more frequent communication between clinical and research physiotherapists, via bodies such as Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy Australia, CSANZ, and ACRA may also inspire clinicians to consider research in this area. Funding and academic opportunities in the area of cardiovascular disease management are ABT-888 molecular weight extensive. Exploration of these opportunities by physiotherapists would be fruitful for individual physiotherapists, the profession and, ultimately and most importantly, for patients. Research opportunities are widely available and physiotherapists

are ideally positioned to take a leadership role in the future evolution of cardiac management. In summary,

cardiac disease is a leading international health problem. Despite physiotherapists being ideally trained with relevant clinical experience there appears to be a general lack of engagement with cardiology research. The problem manifests across a range of domains including professional membership, active participation in national conferences, and publication of research in the area of cardiovascular disease. The expertise and capacity of physiotherapists coupled with extensive career opportunities in the area of cardiology research presents a range of opportunities for physiotherapists to explore. “
“Mechanical ventilation temporarily replaces or supports spontaneous breathing in critically ill patients in intensive care units. Weaning is the withdrawal of mechanical ventilation below to re-establish spontaneous breathing. Patients are considered to have successfully weaned from ventilatory support when they can breathe on their own for at least 48 hours (Sprague and Hopkins, 2003). Weaning typically comprises 40–50% of the total duration of mechanical ventilation, with almost 70% of patients in intensive care weaning without difficulty on the first attempt (Boles et al 2007). Other patients have a more difficult or prolonged period of weaning, which is associated with a poorer prognosis (Vallverdu et al 1998, Esteban et al 1999).