83-year-old cancer patient returns home after 166 days and finally comes off ventilator

After 166 days in hospital, an 83-year-old woman with a rare cancer has come off a ventilator and returned home. At first, she needed help even to turn in bed. By the end of her rehabilitation, she could walk with a frame.

The woman, identified by her surname Hsu, entered Lo-Sheng Hospital in Taiwan for surgery to remove a malignant tumor of the duodenal ampulla. She later suffered repeated aspiration pneumonia, respiratory failure, reintubation and a tracheostomy, leaving her dependent on a ventilator for an extended period.

Doctors said patients undergoing major digestive surgery can face difficulty eating, abdominal bloating, vomiting and poor nutrient absorption. Sustained malnutrition can hinder wound healing and physical recovery, while weakening the breathing muscles and making it harder to leave a ventilator.

During her respiratory care, chest physicians, respiratory therapists, nurses and nutritionists adjusted treatment according to her infections, sputum levels and physical strength. They combined nutritional support with breathing training and physical activity. Her progress moved from passive repositioning to sitting up, spending time at the bedside and gradually increasing her mobility.

The hospital said the patient ultimately completed the transition from intensive care to respiratory-care services and rehabilitation. After nearly six months of treatment, she was able to breathe without the ventilator and return home safely.