RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Extubation Readiness Practices and Barriers to Extubation in Pediatric Subjects JF Respiratory Care FD American Association for Respiratory Care SP 582 OP 590 DO 10.4187/respcare.08332 VO 66 IS 4 A1 Johnny M Krasinkiewicz A1 Matthew L Friedman A1 James E Slaven A1 Riad Lutfi A1 Samer Abu-Sultaneh A1 Alvaro J Tori YR 2021 UL http://rc.rcjournal.com/content/66/4/582.abstract AB BACKGROUND: Invasive mechanical ventilation is a lifesaving intervention that is associated with short- and long-term morbidities. Extubation readiness protocols aim to decrease extubation failure rates and simultaneously shorten the duration of invasive ventilation. This study sought to analyze extubation readiness practices at one institution and identify barriers to extubation in pediatric patients who have passed an extubation readiness test (ERT).METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review of all pediatric subjects admitted between April 2017 and March 2018, and who were on mechanical ventilation. Exclusion criteria were cardiac ICU admission, tracheostomy, chronic ventilator support, limited resuscitation status, and death before extubation attempt. Data with regard to the method of ERT and reasons for delaying extubation were collected.RESULTS: There were 427 subjects included in the analysis with 69% having had an ERT before extubation. Of those, 39% were extubated per our daily spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) protocol, and the daily SBT failed in 30% but they had passed a subsequent pressure support and CPAP trial on the same day. The most common reasons for failing the daily SBT were a lack of spontaneous breathing (30% [75/252]), being intubated < 24 h (24% [60/252]), breathing frequency outside the target range (22% [55/252]), and not meeting tidal volume goal (14% [34/252]). The most common documented reasons for delaying extubation despite passing daily SBT were planned procedure (29% [26/90]), neurologic status (23% [21/90]), and no leak around the endotracheal tube (18% [16/90]). The median time between passing ERT and extubation was 7 h (interquartile range, 5–10).CONCLUSIONS: In our institution, there was variation in extubation readiness practices that could lead to a significant delay in liberation from invasive ventilation. Adjustment of our daily SBT to tolerate a higher work of breathing, such as higher breathing frequencies and lower tidal volumes, and incorporating sedation scoring into the protocol could be made without significantly affecting extubation failure rates.