Objective: The aim of the present study was to explore the etiology and risk factors of extubation failure (ExF) in low birth weight (LBW) infants undergoing congenital heart surgery.
Design: Retrospective, comparative study.
Setting: A Cantonese cardiac center in China.
Participants: The cases of all LBW infants undergoing congenital heart surgery admitted to the authors' neonatal intensive care unit from January 2010 to September 2018 were reviewed retrospectively. ExF was defined as reintubation within 72 hours after extubation.
Interventions: None.
Measurements and main results: Demographic, preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative data were collected. The exclusion criteria were surgical ligation of patent ductus arteriosus and no extubation attempt. Risk factors for ExF were analyzed with univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Ninety-nine infants met the inclusion criteria; the study comprised 66 males and 33 females, including 60 premature infants. ExF occurred in 16 of 99 infants for various kinds of reasons. Infants with ExF had longer postoperative intensive care unit length of stay (LOS) (p < 0.001) and total hospital LOS (p = 0.022). The multivariate logistic regression analysis identified preoperative mechanical ventilation (odds ratio 9.3; 95% confidence interval 1.11-79.52; p = 0.040) and prolonged mechanical ventilation before the first attempted extubation (odds ratio 6.48; 95% confidence interval 1.20-35.17; p = 0.030) as risk factors for ExF.
Conclusions: The prevalence of ExF is very high in LBW infants undergoing congenital cardiac surgery. ExF in LBW infants is associated with an increase in hospital LOS. Presumed reasons for failed extubation are diverse. Preoperative mechanical ventilation and prolonged mechanical ventilation before the first attempted extubation were independent risk factors for ExF.
Keywords: congenital heart disease; extubation failure; low birth weight; neonatal cardiac surgery; risk factor.
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