Success and failure of extubation in premature newborns up to 32 weeks of gestational age

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The benefits of mechanical ventilation in preterm infants are complemented by successful extraction. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate ventilatory and gasometric parameters before extubation and to identify possible factors that may contribute to the endotracheal extubation decision in preterm infants up to 32 weeks. METHODS: This is a prospective observational study. The study sample was selected in a non-probabilistic way. Preterm infants with a gestational age of up to 32 weeks and with invasive mechanical ventilation for at least 24 hours were included. Exclusion criteria were newborns with malformations, heart disease, and those transferred to other hospitals before the first elective extubation. Weaning and extubation followed the protocol of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) (presence of regular spontaneous breathing with a cough reflex, FiO2 <40% to maintain 90% saturation; inspiratory pressure between 15-18 cmH2O; RR = 15 to 20 ipm; pH> 7.25 mmHg and PaCO2 <50 mmHg). The newborn was followed up to 7 days after extubation. RESULTS: 20 preterm newborns were included, in 75% of the cases intubation was due to neonatal respiratory distress syndrome. Of the total sample, 40% were unsuccessful. In the logistic regression, it was observed that the inspired oxygen fraction (p = 0.03) and the mean airway pressure (p = 0.03) showed significance as a predictor of extubation. The time of use of invasive mechanical ventilation was not statistically significant (p = 0.06) for the evaluated result. CONCLUSION: In this study, ventilatory and blood gas parameters did not influence the success or failure outcome. However, these data associated with the patient's condition can help guide and schedule a safer extubation.