Clinical Outcomes and Cost of Ventilator Weaning and Endotracheal Extubation Guided by An Established Ventilator Weaning Protocol in Patients Undergoing Elective Cardiac Surgery

Objective: To compare successful early extubation rates, complications, and cost before and after the use of anestablished ventilator weaning protocol in patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery.Materials and Methods: Subjects were adult patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery who were clinically stablewithin 2 hours after surgery. The control group underwent conventional ventilator weaning at the discretion of theirattending staff. The intervention group underwent protocol-guided ventilator weaning. The primary outcome wasa successful early extubation (within 6 hours after surgery). Secondary outcomes were complications from weaningto 24 hours after surgery, and the relevant cost related to respiratory and cardiovascular care within 24 hours afteradmission to the postoperative intensive care unit.Results: The primary outcome occurred in 37 out of 65 patients (56.9%) in the intervention group and in 5 out of65 patients (7.7%) in the control group (adjusted odds ratio 20.6; 95% confidence interval 6.7–62.9, p<0.001). Thecomplication rates were not statistically different between the intervention and control groups (26.2% vs. 20.0%,p=0.41). The relevant cost, approximated by the service charges, related to respiratory and cardiovascular care wassignificantly less in the intervention group than in the control group (median 2,491 vs. 2,711 Thai baht, p<0.001).Conclusion: The use of the established ventilator weaning protocol after elective cardiac surgery was associated witha higher rate of successful early extubation and lower cost related to respiratory and cardiovascular care comparedto the conventional practices of ventilator weaning and extubation. The rates of overall complications were notsignificantly different.

666 EARLY EXTUBATION AFTER ESOPHAGECTOMY IS SAFE. A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS

Esophagectomy has high morbidity and mortality, mainly due to pulmonary complications. Consequently, ventilatory support is a cornerstone in postoperative management. However, there is still no consensus on the timing for extubation. There is a fear that untimely extubation would lead to a high risk for an urgent reintubation. On the other hand, there is a risk for pulmonary damage in prolonged intubation. Thus, the present study aimed to compare early and late extubation after esophagectomy. Methods A systematic review was carried out on PubMed, Lilacs, Cochrane Library Central, and Embase, comparing early and late extubation after esophagectomy. The primary outcome was reintubation. Secondary outcomes included mortality; complications; pulmonary complications; pneumonia; anastomotic fistula; length of hospital stay; and ICU length of stay. The inclusion criteria were: a) clinical trials and cohort studies; b) adult patients (&gt; 18 years); and c) patients with esophageal cancer undergoing esophagectomy. The results were summarized by risk difference and mean difference. 95% confidence interval and random model were applied. Results Four articles were selected, comprising 490 patients. Early extubation did not increase the risk for reintubation, with a risk difference of 0.01 (95%CI -0.03; 0.04). Also, there was no difference for mortality −0.01 (95%CI -0.04; 0.03); complications −0.09 (95%CI -0.22; 0.05); pulmonary complications −0.05 (95%CI -0.13; 0.03); pneumonia −0.06 (95% CI-0.18; 0.05); anastomotic fistula −0.01 (95% CI -0.09; 0.08). In addition, there was no significant mean difference for: length of hospital stay −0.10 (95%CI -0.38; 0.1); and ICU length of stay 0.00 (95%CI -0.22; 0.22). Conclusion Early extubation after esophagectomy does not increase the risk for reintubation, mortality, complications, and lenght of stay.

Effect of High-Flow Nasal Oxygen on Respiratory Parameters and Pulmonary Complications After Early Extubation Following Pediatric Heart Surgery

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) after early extubation on children undergoing cardiac surgery. Methods: This randomized controlled clinical trial was performed among 92 children aged 1 to 24 months undergoing cardiac surgery from March 5 to August 30, 2020, in a pediatric post-cardiac surgery intensive care unit (ICU). The patients were randomized to receive either HFNC or conventional oxygen therapy after extubation. Arterial blood samples were collected after anesthesia induction, after the end of the surgery, at the time of entering the ICU while they were intubated, 6 hours after entering the ICU, before removing the endotracheal tube, immediately after extubation, as well as 1, 6, 12, 24, and 36 hours after extubation. The patients were compared regarding PaCO2, PaO2/FiO2 ratios, respiratory failure, need for reintubation, development of atelectasis, pneumothorax, pleural effusion, and length of ICU stay. Results: The patients were similar regarding demographic characteristics, the duration of surgery, and mechanical ventilation (P > 0.05). On the first and second days after the surgery, the mean modified radiologic atelectasis score (m-RAS) was lower in the HFNC group compared to the conventional oxygen therapy group (P < 0.05). The frequency of respiratory failure did not differ in the groups before and after the surgery (P > 0.05). PaCO2 was lower in the HFNC group than in the control group after extubation (P < 0.001). PaO2/FIO2 ratio was significantly higher in the HFNC group one hour after extubation and afterward in comparison to the control group (P < 0.001). The need for re-intubation (P < 0.013) and the length of ICU stay (P < 0.001) were significantly lower in the HFNC group compared to the control group. Conclusions: It was found that HFNC could improve the respiratory parameters and reduce postoperative pulmonary complications in infants following a congenital heart surgery.