Noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation for extubation failure after cardiac surgery: Pilot safety evaluation.
OBJECTIVE
Extubation failure is a serious complication after cardiac surgery. The role of noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation for acute respiratory failure in patients undergoing cardiac surgery is unknown. This study aimed to assess the safety of implementing noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation in this setting and its impact on lung function and operative outcomes.


METHODS
In a 6-month pilot prospective survey, the study population comprised 43 patients (32 were male with a mean age of 65.73 +/- 9 years; 3 heart transplantations, 18 coronary artery bypass grafts, 5 aortic dissections, and 17 valvular procedures; 34 active smokers, 25 with medically treated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 21 emergency/urgency procedures) who required noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation for acute respiratory failure after initial weaning from a respirator. The cause of acute respiratory failure (classified as post-cardiopulmonary bypass lung injury in 48.8% [21 patients], cardiogenic edema in 30.2% [13 patients], and pneumonia in 21% [9 patients]), length of noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation support, respiratory ratios (arterial oxygen tension/fraction of inspired oxygen assessed immediately before noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation, and every 6 hours after institution of pressure ventilation), and need for reintubation along with a set of predefined safety parameters were recorded.


RESULTS
The mean length of noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation support was 33.8 +/- 24.04 hours. Plotting respiratory ratios with length of noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation supports a significant improvement was already evident within the first 6-hour frame (133.6 +/- 39.5 vs 205 +/- 65.7; P < .001) for all causes. Noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation prevented intubation in 74.4% of the patients, with satisfactory recovery for post-cardiopulmonary bypass lung injury and cardiogenic dysfunction (90.5% and 69.2%, respectively) and poor results (55% reintubated) in those treated for pneumonia. Noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation safety approached 97.7%.


CONCLUSIONS
In appropriate candidates, noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation exerts favorable effects on lung function, preventing reintubation. The cost-effectiveness of its systematic use in this setting should be assessed.
De Santo
Luca S
LS
University of Foggia School of Medicine, Foggia, Italy.
Bancone
Ciro
C
Santarpino
Giuseppe
G
Romano
Gianpaolo
G
Della Corte
Alessandro
A
Vicchio
Mariano
M
De Pietro
Antonio
A
Galdieri
Nicola
N
Cotrufo
Maurizio
M
D000368:Aged; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000628:therapy*; D019233:Retreatment