Extubation Failure and Major Adverse Events Secondary to Extubation Failure Following Neonatal Cardiac Surgery

Comparing neonatal outcomes of positive- versus negative-pressure extubation: A randomized trial

BackgroundNeonatal respiratory distress is a major issue for many infants. When non-invasive ventilation fails, endotracheal intubation is often used to secure the airway. However, extubation moving from mechanical ventilation to spontaneous breathing also has its challenges and risks.ObjectiveThis randomized controlled trial aimed to compare neonatal outcomes between positive- and negative-pressure extubation methods in a cohort of neonates ready for extubation.MethodsThis randomized controlled trial was conducted at Ayatollah Taleghani Hospital in Ilam, Iran, from May 2021 to March 2023; the study enrolled 101 neonates, who were divided into three groups: positive pressure, negative pressure, and self-extubation. Neonates with congenital respiratory defects, meconium aspiration, and bacterial pneumonia were excluded from the study. The primary outcomes assessed included the duration of intubation, need for oxygen post-extubation, and length of hospitalization. Statistical analysis was performed using the independent-samples Kruskal-Wallis test, with a significance level set at p < 0.05.ResultsNo statistically significant differences were found in the duration of intubation (p = 0.436), need for oxygen after extubation (p = 0.785), and length of hospitalization (p = 0.357) among the groups. There was a significant difference in the duration of intubation, need for oxygen after extubation, and length of hospital stay based on gestational age at birth (p = 0.000). However, there was no significant correlation between age at birth and re-intubation (p = 0.297).ConclusionThere are no significant differences in key outcomes like intubation duration, post-extubation oxygen needs, and hospitalization length, suggesting that the choice of extubation method may not greatly affect these factors.

Postextubation Noninvasive Respiratory Support in Children

Infants and children frequently require mechanical ventilation. Daily extubation readiness testing is currently recommended to minimize time on mechanical ventilation, which is associated with the development of morbidities. Re-intubation rates vary between patient populations and have been associated with significant adverse patient outcomes, including increased length of stay and mortality. Noninvasive respiratory support (NRS) is often used to help decrease the risk of re-intubation. NRS encompasses high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC), CPAP, noninvasive ventilation, and negative-pressure ventilation. This article will cover risk factors for re-intubation, assessing extubation readiness, rationale for NRS use, delivery systems for NRS, evidence for various NRS modalities, how to choose NRS modalities, practical considerations, and future research opportunities.

Extubation Failure in Neonates Following Congenital Cardiac Surgery: Multicenter Retrospective Cohort, 2017-2020

OBJECTIVES

Extubation failure (EF) in neonates recovering from congenital cardiac surgery is associated with morbidity and mortality. Adding continuous physiologic monitoring data and risk analytics algorithms to clinical factors has the potential to assist clinicians in identifying those neonates at high risk for EF. We aimed to evaluate the association of two physiologic risk analytics algorithms evaluating the probability of inadequate delivery of oxygen index (IDo2) and inadequate ventilation of carbon dioxide index (IVco2) with EF in neonates receiving mechanical ventilation (MV) after cardiac surgery. A secondary aim was to evaluate the clinical factors associated with EF.

DESIGN

Multicenter retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Eight international pediatric cardiac ICUs.

PATIENTS

Neonates (age < 1 mo at the time of surgery) receiving MV for longer than 48 hours following cardiac surgery between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2020.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Data from 736 neonates were analyzed with 102 (13.9%) having EF (defined as reintubation within 48 hr of extubation). In multivariable analysis (odds ratio [OR] and 95% CI), preoperative respiratory support (OR, 1.72 [95% CI, 1.11-2.67]) was associated with greater odds of EF. In all, 611 neonates had pre-extubation IDo2 data and 478 neonates had both pre-extubation IDo2 and IVco2 data. In multivariable analysis of patients with both pre-extubation IDo2 and IVco2 data, single ventricle anatomy (OR, 2.50 [95% CI, 1.27-4.92]) and high IDo2 (≥ 25) or high IVco2 (≥ 50) in the 2 hours preceding extubation (OR, 1.77 [95% CI, 1.01-3.12]) were associated with greater odds of EF.

CONCLUSIONS

In this 2017-2020 cohort, EF is high in post-cardiac surgery neonates receiving at least 48 hours of MV. The IDo2 and IVco2 algorithms may be useful in assessing risk of EF in such neonates.

Prospective Evaluation of Extubation Failure in Neonates and Infants After Cardiac Surgery

Background: Extubation failure and its associated complications are not uncommon after pediatric cardiac surgery, especially in neonates and young infants. We aimed to identify the frequency, etiologies, and clinical characteristics associated with extubation failure after cardiac surgery in neonates and young infants. Methods: We conducted a single center prospective observational study of patients ≤180 days undergoing cardiac surgery between June 2022 and May 2023 with at least one extubation attempt. Patients who failed extubation, defined as reintubation within 72 h of first extubation attempt, were compared with patients extubated successfully using χ2, Fisher exact, or Wilcoxon rank-sum tests as appropriate. Results: We prospectively enrolled 132 patients who met inclusion criteria, of which 11 (8.3%) failed extubation. Median time to reintubation was 25.5 h (range 0.4-55.8). Extubation failures occurring within 12 h (n = 4) were attributed to upper airway obstruction or apnea, whereas extubation failures occurring between 12 and 72 h (n = 7) were more likely to be due to intrinsic lung disease or cardiac dysfunction. Underlying genetic anomalies, greater weight relative to baseline at extubation, or receiving positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) > 5 cmH2O at extubation were significantly associated with extubation failure. Conclusions: In this study of neonates and young infants recovering from cardiac surgery, etiologies of early versus later extubation failure involved different pathophysiology. We also identified weight relative to baseline and PEEP at extubation as possible modifiable targets for future investigations of extubation failure in this patient population.

Extubation Failure in the PICU: A Virtual Pediatric Systems Database Study, 2017-2021

OBJECTIVES

Extubation failure (EF) in PICU patients is reintubation within 48, 72, or 96 hours of planned extubation (EF48, EF72, and EF96, respectively). Standardized sedation protocols, extubation readiness testing, and noninvasive respiratory support are used to improve efficient liberation from mechanical ventilation (MV). We therefore aimed to review EF rates, time to failure, and the use of noninvasive respiratory support after extubation, 2017-2021.

DESIGN

Retrospective analysis of patients admitted to PICUs contributing to the Virtual Pediatric Systems (VPS, LLC) database, 2017-2021.

SETTING

One hundred thirty-six participating PICUs.

PATIENTS

All patients admitted to participating PICUs between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2021, who had MV and met inclusion criteria for planned extubation.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

There were 111,229 planned extubations with 5,143 reintubations within 48 hours. The EF48, EF72, and EF96 rates were 4.6%, 5.3%, and 5.8%, respectively. Higher rates of EF were associated with age younger than 6 months, underlying genetic conditions, medical comorbidities, or cardiac surgery. Failed extubation was also associated with higher Pediatric Risk of Mortality III scores, longer duration of MV, and longer PICU and hospital lengths of stay. From 2017 to 2021, there was an increase in the use of high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy after extubation from 16.6% to 20.2%.

CONCLUSIONS

In the VPS 2017-2021 dataset, we have found that the overall EF rates (EF48-EF96) have improved over this 5-year period. We are not able to assess the clinical benefit of this change, but it is evident that over the same period, there has been a concomitant increase in the use of postextubation noninvasive respiratory support. Further work is needed to look at the interaction of these effects in contemporary PICU practice.

Pre-Extubation Ultrasound Measurement of In Situ Cuffed Endotracheal Tube Laryngeal Air Column Width Difference: Single-Center Pilot Study of Relationship With Post-Extubation Stridor in Subjects Younger Than 5 Years Old

OBJECTIVES

Post-extubation stridor (PES) is difficult to predict before extubation. We therefore evaluated the potential diagnostic performance of pre-extubation laryngeal air column width difference (LACWD) measurement, as assessed by intensivist-performed point-of-care laryngeal ultrasound, in relation to clinically important PES.

DESIGN

Prospective observational cohort study.

SETTING

Single quaternary care PICU (July 19, 2021, to October 31, 2022).

PATIENTS

Included subjects were younger than 5 years old, intubated with a cuffed endotracheal tube, requiring invasive mechanical ventilation for greater than 24 hours, and nearing extubation. Subjects at high risk for supraglottic airway obstruction were excluded.

INTERVENTIONS

Laryngeal ultrasound with measurement of laryngeal air column width with the endotracheal tube cuff inflated and deflated. Clinically important PES was defined as a high-pitched inspiratory respiratory noise suspected to be from a subglottic focus necessitating received medical intervention or reintubation.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Among 53 enrolled subjects, 18 of 53 (34%) experienced PES and three of 53 (6%) were reintubated because of severe subglottic upper airway obstruction. Median LACWD was significantly lower in the stridor group compared with the nonstridor group (∆ 0.41 mm; 95% CI, 0.37-0.48; p < 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for LACWD as a diagnosis of PES was 0.94 (95% CI, 0.89-1.00; p < 0.001). The LACWD cutoff for PES was less than or equal to 0.47 mm, which yielded a diagnostic sensitivity of 91.4% and specificity of 88.9%. In this population, the pre-to-post-test change in probability of PES for LACWD less than or equal to 0.47 mm is 0.34 to 0.81.

CONCLUSIONS

Pre-extubation LACWD is a novel, noninvasive assessment that can be performed and interpreted by the intensivist at the bedside. There is, however, diagnostic uncertainty in the use of this measurement for identifying those at-risk of PES and larger validation studies are needed.

Failed Extubation in Neonates After Cardiac Surgery: A Single-Center, Retrospective Study

OBJECTIVES

To describe factors associated with failed extubation (FE) in neonates following cardiovascular surgery, and the relationship with clinical outcomes.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Twenty-bed pediatric cardiac ICU (PCICU) in an academic tertiary care children's hospital.

PATIENTS

Neonates admitted to the PCICU following cardiac surgery between July 2015 and June 2018.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Patients who experienced FE were compared with patients who were successfully extubated. Variables associated with FE ( p < 0.05) from univariate analysis were considered for inclusion in multivariable logistic regression. Univariate associations of FE with clinical outcomes were also examined. Of 240 patients, 40 (17%) experienced FE. Univariate analyses revealed associations of FE with upper airway (UA) abnormality (25% vs 8%, p = 0.003) and delayed sternal closure (50% vs 24%, p = 0.001). There were weaker associations of FE with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (25% vs 13%, p = 0.04), postoperative ventilation greater than 7 days (33% vs 15%, p = 0.01), Society of Thoracic Surgeons-European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (STAT) category 5 operations (38% vs 21%, p = 0.02), and respiratory rate during spontaneous breathing trial (median 42 vs 37 breaths/min, p = 0.01). In multivariable analysis, UA abnormalities (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 3.5; 95% CI, 1.4-9.0), postoperative ventilation greater than 7 days (AOR 2.3; 95% CI, 1.0-5.2), and STAT category 5 operations (AOR 2.4; 95% CI, 1.1-5.2) were independently associated with FE. FE was also associated with unplanned reoperation/reintervention during hospital course (38% vs 22%, p = 0.04), longer hospitalization (median 29 vs 16.5 d, p < 0.0001), and in-hospital mortality (13% vs 3%, p = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

FE in neonates occurs relatively commonly following cardiac surgery and is associated with adverse clinical outcomes. Additional data are needed to further optimize periextubation decision-making in patients with multiple clinical factors associated with FE.

Prediction and prognosis of reintubation after surgery for Stanford type A aortic dissection

Background

Reintubation is a serious adverse respiratory event after Stanford type A aortic dissection surgery (AADS), however, published studies focused on reintubation after AADS are very limited worldwide. The objectives of the current study were to establish an early risk prediction model for reintubation after AADS and to clarify its relationship with short-term and long-term prognosis.

Methods

Patients undergoing AADS between 2016–2019 in a single institution were identified and divided into two groups based on whether reintubation was performed. Independent predictors were identified by univariable and multivariable analysis and a clinical prediction model was then established. Internal validation was performed using bootstrap method with 1,000 replications. The relationship between reintubation and clinical outcomes was determined by univariable and propensity score matching analysis.

Results

Reintubation were performed in 72 of the 492 included patients (14.6%). Three preoperative and one intraoperative predictors for reintubation were identified by multivariable analysis, including older age, smoking history, renal insufficiency and transfusion of intraoperative red blood cells. The model established using the above four predictors showed moderate discrimination (AUC = 0.753, 95% CI, [0.695–0.811]), good calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow χ² value = 3.282, P = 0.915) and clinical utility. Risk stratification was performed and three risk intervals were identified. Reintubation was closely associated with poorer in-hospital outcomes, however, no statistically significant association between reintubation and long-term outcomes has been observed in patients who were discharged successfully after surgery.

Conclusions

The requirement of reintubation after AADS is prevalent, closely related to adverse in-hospital outcomes, but there is no statistically significant association between reintubation and long-term outcomes. Predictors were identified and a risk model predicting reintubation was established, which may have clinical utility in early individualized risk assessment and targeted intervention.

Associations With Extubation Failure and Predictive Value of Risk Analytics Algorithms With Extubation Readiness Tests Following Congenital Cardiac Surgery

OBJECTIVES

Extubation failure is associated with morbidity and mortality in children following cardiac surgery. Current extubation readiness tests (ERT) do not consider the nonrespiratory support provided by mechanical ventilation (MV) for children with congenital heart disease. We aimed to identify factors associated with extubation failure in children following cardiac surgery and assess the performance of two risk analytics algorithms for patients undergoing an ERT.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

CICU at a tertiary-care children's hospital.

PATIENTS

Children receiving MV greater than 48 hours following cardiac surgery between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2019.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Six hundred fifty encounters were analyzed with 49 occurrences (8%) of reintubation. Extubation failure occurred most frequently within 6 hours of extubation. On multivariable analysis, younger age (per each 3-mo decrease: odds ratio [OR], 1.06; 95% CI, 1.001-1.12), male sex (OR, 2.02; 95% CI, 1.03-3.97), Society of Thoracic Surgery-European Association for Cardiothoracic Surgery category 5 procedure (p equals to 0.005), and preoperative respiratory support (OR, 2.08; 95% CI, 1.09-3.95) were independently associated with unplanned reintubation. Our institutional ERT had low sensitivity to identify patients at risk for reintubation (23.8%; 95% CI, 9.7-47.6%). The addition of the inadequate delivery of oxygen (IDO2) index to the ERT increased the sensitivity by 19.0% (95% CI, -2.5 to 40.7%; p = 0.05), but the sensitivity remained low and the accuracy of the test dropped by 8.9% (95% CI, 4.7-13.1%; p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative respiratory support, younger age, and more complex operations are associated with postoperative extubation failure. IDO2 and IVCO2 provide unique cardiorespiratory monitoring parameters during ERTs but require further investigation before being used in clinical evaluation for extubation failure.