Let air out of the bowel to allow more air in the lungs: surgical treatment of weaning failure

A 79-year-old man was electively admitted for a Whipple's procedure for a pancreatic cancer. Following surgery, he was extubated, but subsequently developed a hospital-acquired pneumonia with multiple organ failure requiring admission to the intensive care unit for organ support. After a protracted period of failed weaning from mechanical ventilation, he was transferred to a regional weaning centre 7 months after the initial operation. Since the...