CRITICAL CARE: ORIGINAL RESEARCH| VOLUME 160, ISSUE 1, P148-156, JULY 01, 2021

The Effect of Reconnection to Mechanical Ventilation for 1 Hour After Spontaneous Breathing Trial on Reintubation Among Patients Ventilated for More Than 12 Hours: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Michelli M. Dadam, Anderson R.R. Gonçalves, Gilvania L. Mortari, et al

Chest 2021; 160: 148-156

Background

The resting of the respiratory musculature after undergoing the spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) to prevent extubation failures in critically ill patients needs to be studied further.

Research Question

Is the reconnection to mechanical ventilation (MV) for 1 h after a successful SBT able to reduce the risk of reintubation?

Study Design and Methods

Randomized clinical trial conducted in four ICUs between August 2018 and July 2019. Candidates for tracheal extubation who met all screening criteria for weaning were included. After achieving success in the SBT using a T-tube, the patients were randomized to the following groups: direct extubation (DE) or extubation after reconnection to MV for 1 h (R1h). The primary outcome was reintubation within 48 h.

Results

Among the 336 patients studied (women, 41.1%; median age, 59 years [interquartile range, 45-70 years]), 12.9% (22/171) in the R1h group required reintubation within 48 h vs 18.2% (30/165) in the DE group (risk difference, 5.3 [95% CI, –2.49 to 13.12]; P = .18). No differences were found in mortality, length of ICU or hospital stay, causes of reintubation, or signs of extubation failure. A prespecified exploratory analysis showed that among the 233 patients (69.3%) who were ventilated for more than 72 h, the incidence of reintubation was 12.7% (15/118) in the R1h group compared with 22.6% (26/115) observed in the DE group (P = .04).

Interpretation

Reconnection to MV after a successful SBT, compared with DE, did not result in a statistically significant reduction in the risk of reintubation in mechanically ventilated patients. Subgroup exploratory findings suggest that the strategy may benefit patients who were ventilated for more than 72 h, which should be confirmed in further studies.

Trial Registry

Brazilian Clinical Trials Registry; No.: RBR-3x8nxn; URL: www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br