title: Tracheal extubation and reintubation of the critically ill--challenges coming and going.
abstract: Tracheal reintubation is a common event in critical care. Elmer and colleagues provide the first comparison of complication rates of initial and subsequent reintubation(s) during the same hospitalization. Their work shows an increased risk of complications associated with reintubation, in particular hypoxemia and hypotension, reminding us to be cautious with patients having minimal reserve and potentially altered airway anatomy. See related research by Elmer et al., http://ccforum.com/content/19/1/12.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, University of Toronto and University Health Network, (Toronto General site), 200 Elizabeth St, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada. Matteo.Parotto@uhn.ca.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Parotto
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, University of Toronto and University Health Network, (Toronto General site), 200 Elizabeth St, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada. richard.cooper@uhn.on.ca.
authors.forename: Richard M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: D016638:Critical Illness; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male