This document discusses guidelines for extubating patients from mechanical ventilation. It notes that extubation success is important to reduce re-intubation rates. A patient must pass a spontaneous breathing trial and meet general criteria like stable lung disease, low oxygen and pressure support needs, and hemodynamic stability to be assessed for extubation. Factors that can be optimized before extubation include respiratory muscle power, decreasing respiratory work, optimizing ventilator drive, and increasing oxygenation. Predictors of weaning failure include advanced age, prolonged ventilation, COPD, increased minute ventilation, and positive fluid balance.