The value of cough peak flow measurements in the assessment of extubation or decannulation readiness.
Insufficient cough strength has a major role in extubation and decannulation outcomes. Cough capacity can be easily evaluated by measuring flows during coughing. Values vary depending on whether cough flows are measured through the mouth or through a tracheostomy or endotracheal tube. It is important to standardize these measurements and start using them routinely in the extubation and decannulation processes. Values of cough peak flow >160 L/min measured at the mouth or a value of cough PEF >60 L/min measured at the endotracheal tube suggest successful decannulation or extubation.
Department of Pulmonology, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, Portugal; Linde Healthcare, Pullach, Germany. Electronic address: jcwinck@mail.telepac.pt.
J C
JC
Winck
Ottawa Hospital Rehabilitation Centre, Canada.
C
C
LeBlanc
REMEO(®) Centre el Pilar, Linde Group, Argentina.
J L
JL
Soto
REMEO(®) Centre el Pilar, Linde Group, Argentina.
F
F
Plano
D060666:Airway Extubation; D003371:Cough; D020878:Device Removal; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests / Q000295:instrumentation
Cough strength; Decannulation; Extubation; Neuromuscular