Supplement Table S1. Neurologicalstate of patients and their weaning outcome.

Patient* / Pathology / GCS(E,M,V) / CT/ MRI finding / WEANING
0=failure; 1=weaning
1 / Brain stem infarction / 9
(E3,M5,V1t) / AtheroscleroticchangeinbilateraldistalVAsandlowdensitychange
intheleftpons / 1
2 / Brain stem infarction / 7
(E2,M4,V1t) / Left pons showed bright intensity on diffusion imaging indicating a more recent infarct / 1
3 / Brain stem infarction / 3
(E1,M1,V1t) / InfarctinVBregion. / 0
4 / Brain stem infarction / 9
(E3,M5,V1t) / Right pons showed bright intensity on diffusion imaging indicating a more recent infarct / 1
5 / Brain stem infarction / 9
(E3,M5,V1t) / Moderatestenosisin therightdistal VA. / 1
6 / Brain stem infarction / 9
(E3,M5,V1t) / Left pons showed bright intensity on diffusion imaging indicating a more recent infarct / 1
7 / Brain stem infarction / 5
(E2,M2,V1t) / Anill-definedsmalllow density lesioninright pons,indicatingischemic insult. / 1
8 / Brain stem infarction / 5
(E2,M2,V1t) / Occlusionofdistal segmentofintracranialVA / 1
9 / Brain stem infarction / 5
(E2,M2,V1t) / An ill-definedsmalllow density lesioninright pons,indicating
ischemic insult. / 0
10 / Brain stem infarction / 3
(E1,M1,V1t) / Leftparamedialpons,indicating acute infarct.Multiple stenosis involving the left VA / 0
11 / Brain stem infarction / 3
(E1,M1,V1t) / Anill-definedsmalllow density lesioninright pons,indicating
ischemic insult. / 1
12 / CNS tumor / 3
(E1,M1,V1t) / Pontineglioma. / 0
13 / Brain stem infarction / 4
(E2,M1,V1t) / Occlusionofdistal segmentofintracranialVA / 1
14 / Brain stem infarction / 7
(E3,M3,V1t) / Moderate stenosis in the right distal VA. / 1
15 / Brain stem infarction / 3
(E1,M1,V1t) / Infarctinthe VBregion. / 1
16 / Brain stem infarction / 8
(E3,M4,V1t) / Atherosclerotic change in bilateral distal VAs,and lowdensity change in the right pons / 1
17 / Brain stem infarction / 3
(E1,M1,V1t) / InfarctinVBregion. / 0
18 / Brain stem infarction / 6
(E2,M3,V1t) / Occlusionofdistal segmentofintracranialVA / 1
19 / Brain stem infarction / 3
(E1,M1,V1t) / Right paramedial ponsindicating acute infarct. / 1
20 / Brain stem infarction / 5
(E2,M2,V1t) / Anill-definedsmalllow density lesioninright pons,indicating
ischemic insult. / 1
21 / CNS tumor / 3
(E1,M1,V1t) / Pontineglioma. / 0
22 / Brain stem infarction / 4
(E2,M1,V1t) / Lowattenuationlesioninleftaspect of ponsandleft cerebellar hemisphere / 0
23 / Brain stem infarction / 3
(E1,M1,V1t) / Leftparamedialpons,indicating acute infarct. / 0
24 / Brain stem infarction / 3
(E1,M1,V1t) / Multiplestenosis involving the left VA / 0
25 / Brain stem infarction / 9
(E4,M4,V1t) / Left pons showed bright intensity on diffusion imaging indicating a more recent infarct / 1
26 / traumatic ICH / 9
(E3,M5,V1t) / A small hemorrhagic lesion in the dorsolateral aspect of the midbrain / 0
27 / Brain stem infarction / 3
(E1,M1,V1t) / Tentonium and the lack of other lesions from diffuse axonal injury / 0
28 / Brain stem infarction / 3
(E1,M1,V1t) / Infarctin VBregion. / 1
29 / Brain stem infarction / 9
(E4,M4,V1t) / Arteriosclerosiswithcalcified plaqueofthe intracranial ICAsand VAs. / 0
30 / Brain stem infarction / 3
(E1,M1,V1t) / An ill-defined small low density lesion in rightpons, indicating ischemic insults. / 0
31 / Brain stem infarction / 9
(E4,M4,V1t) / Right pons showed bright intensity on diffusion imaging indicating a more recent infarct / 0
32 / CNS tumor / 9
(E3,M5,V1t) / Pontineglioma. / 0
33 / CNS tumor / 3
(E1,M1,V1t) / Pontineglioma. / 0
34 / CNS tumor / 5
(E2,M2,V1t) / Pontineglioma. / 0
35 / Brain stem infarction / 9
(E4,M4,V1t) / Arteriosclerosiswithcalcified plaqueofthe intracranial ICAsand VAs. / 0
36 / Brain stem infarction / 5
(E2,M2,V1t) / Lowattenuationlesioninrightaspect of ponsandright cerebellar hemisphere / 0
37 / Brain stem infarction / 9
(E4,M4,V1t) / Moderate stenosis in the left distal VA. / 1
38 / Brain stem infarction / 9
(E4,M4,V1t) / Moderate stenosis in the right distal VA. / 1
39 / traumatic ICH / 3
(E1,M1,V1t) / A linear area of abnormality in the midbrain typical in location for diffuse axonal injury of the brain stem. / 0
40 / Brain stem infarction / 3
(E1,M1,V1t) / Occlusionof distal segmentofintracranial VAs / 0
41 / Brain stem infarction / 9
(E3,M5,V1t) / Arteriosclerosiswithcalcified plaqueofthe intracranial ICAsand VAs. / 1
42 / Brain stem infarction / 9
(E3,M5,V1t) / Arteriosclerosiswithcalcified plaqueofthe intracranial ICAsand VAs. / 0

GCS = modified Glasgow coma score

E = eye response, M = motor response, V = verbal response, t = intubated (tracheostomy)

VA = vertebral artery

VB = vertebrobasilar

ICA = internal carotid artery

ICH = intracranial hemorrhage

* Patients 1 to 18 clustered as group 1; patients 19 to 42 clustered as group II.

1