Is Positive Pressure Extubation a Safe Procedure?

Complication

airway extubation, positive-pressure respiration, suction, ventilator weaning

Laboratory studies suggest extubation with positive pressure because it reduces the volume of secretions filtered into the distal airway. The aim of this non inferiority study is to evaluate the safety of the extubation technique under positive pressure with respect to the traditional technique (with suction and without positive pressure in the airways).

The extubation procedure consists of the removal of the endotracheal tube when it is no longer required. The literature reports two methods of extubation: the named traditional method (with suction and without positive pressure in the airways) and the positive pressure method. Laboratory studies suggest extubation at positive pressure because it reduces the volume of secretions filtered into the distal airway. Prior to apply it into clinical practice the investigators of this study consider is a priority to guarantee the safety of the positive pressure extubation method in terms of presence of complications. The aim of this non-inferiority study is to compare the incidence of complications between both extubation techniques in adult patients with invasive mechanical ventilation. The hypothesis of this study is that applying positive pressure during cuff deflation and extubation is not inferior to the traditional method in the incidence of complications.

Argentina