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Abstract
BACKGROUND: Extubation failure is associated with increased duration of mechanical ventilation, length of hospital stay, and mortality. An elevated dead-space-to-tidal-volume ratio (VD/VT) has been proposed as a predictor of successful extubation in children. We hypothesized that a higher VD/VT value would be associated with extubation failure and higher postextubation respiratory support.
METHODS: This was a prospective, observational, cohort study. All subjects were < 18 y old and were extubated in the pediatric multidisciplinary ICU or the cardiac ICU at an academic medical center from June 2016 through March 2017. Using arterial blood gas analysis and mainstream volumetric capnography, daily VD/VT measurements were obtained on intubated subjects using an automated algorithm. Respiratory support upon extubation was based on the clinical team’s judgment and defined as low (ie, room air or nasal cannula) or high (ie, high-flow nasal cannula, CPAP, or bi-level positive airway pressure). Subjects were monitored for 48 h after extubation for escalation in respiratory support and need for re-intubation.
RESULTS: Of 189 subjects included in the analysis, 166 were successfully extubated and 23 (12%) required re-intubation. There was no significant difference in final VD/VT between those who extubated successfully and those who failed extubation, with a median VD/VT of 0.28 (interquartile range [IQR] 0.20–0.37) vs 0.29 (IQR 0.21–0.33), respectively (P = .87). Those who received a high level of support upon extubation had a higher VD/VT than those who received a low level of support, with a median of 0.32 (IQR 0.23–0.39) vs 0.25 (IQR 0.16–0.30), respectively (P < .001). This association remained significant when controlling for age, duration of intubation, and cyanotic congenital heart disease (odds ratio 1.63, 95% CI 1.18–2.24).
CONCLUSIONS: There was no significant relationship between VD/VT and extubation success, although VD/VT was associated with the level of respiratory support provided following extubation. Further studies should investigate whether the use of VD/VT can help reduce extubation failure rates with varying levels of postextubation respiratory support.
- dead space
- respiratory failure
- extubation readiness
- mechanical ventilation
- critical care
- pediatric
- gas exchange
Footnotes
- Correspondence: Jonathan A Gehlbach MD, The Children’s Hospital of Illinois at OSF St. Francis Medical Center, 530 NE Glen Oak Ave, Peoria, IL 61637. E-mail: jgehlb2{at}uic.edu
Dr Gehlbach presented a version of this paper at the American Thoracic Society International Conference, held May 21, 2017, in Washington, DC.
Dr Cheifetz has disclosed relationships with Philips Respironics and Up-to-Date. Mr Miller has disclosed a relationship with Ventec Life Systems. Drs Gehlbach and Hornik have disclosed no conflicts of interest.
Supplementary material related to this paper is available at http://www.rcjournal.com.
- Copyright © 2020 by Daedalus Enterprises
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