Involuntary cough strength and extubation outcomes for patients in an ICU.
BACKGROUND
Removing the artificial airway is the last step in the mechanical ventilation withdrawal process. In order to assess cough effectiveness, a critical component of this process, we evaluated the involuntary cough peak flow (CPFi) to predict the extubation outcome for patients weaned from mechanical ventilation in ICUs.


METHODS
One hundred fifty patients were weaned from ventilators, passed a spontaneous breathing trial (SBT), and were judged by their physician to be ready for extubation in the Tri-Service General Hospital ICUs from February 2003 to July 2003. CPFi was induced by 2 mL of normal saline solution at the end of inspiration and measured using a hand-held respiratory mechanics monitor. All patients were then extubated.


RESULTS
Of 150 enrolled patients for this study, 118 (78.7%) had successful extubation and 32 (21.3%) failed. In the univariate analysis, there were higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II scores (16.0 vs 18.5, P = .018), less negative maximum inspiratory pressure (-45.0 vs -39.0, P = .010), lower cough peak flows (CPFs) (74.0 vs 42.0 L/min, P < .001), longer postextubation hospital stays (15.0 vs 31.5 days, P < .001), and longer postextubation ICU stays (1.0 vs 9.5 days, P < .001) in the extubation failures compared with the extubation successes. In the multivariate analysis, we found that a higher APACHE II score and a lower CPF were related to increasing risk of extubation failure (odds ratio [OR] = 1.13; 95% CI, 1.03-1.25; and OR = 0.95; 95% CI, 0.93-0.98, respectively). The receiver operator characteristic curve cutoff point for CPF was 58.5 L/min, with a sensitivity of 78.8% and specificity of 78.1%.


CONCLUSIONS
CPFi as an indication of cough reflex has the potential to predict successful extubation in patients who pass an SBT.
Su
Wen-Lin
WL
Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, No 161, Sec. 6, Mincyuan E Rd, Neihu District, Taipei City 114, Taiwan, ROC. chinpyng@ndmctsgh.edu.tw
Chen
Yeong-Hwang
YH
Chen
Chien-Wen
CW
Yang
Shih-Hsing
SH
Su
Chien-Ling
CL
Perng
Wann-Cherng
WC
Wu
Chin-Pyng
CP
Chen
Jenn-Han
JH
D018806:APACHE; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000075202:Contraindications; D003371:Cough / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012372:ROC Curve; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015300:Ventilator Weaning / Q000379:methods*