A prospective trial of elective extubation in brain injured patients meeting extubation criteria for ventilatory support: a feasibility study
2008

Feasibility Study of Early vs Delayed Extubation in Brain Injured Patients

Sample size: 16 publication Evidence: low

Author Information

Author(s): Manno Edward M, Rabinstein Alejandro A, Wijdicks Eelco FM, Brown Allen W, Freeman William D, Lee Vivien H, Weigand Stephen D, Keegan Mark T, Brown Daniel R, Whalen Francis X, Roy Tuhin K, Hubmayr Rolf D

Primary Institution: Mayo Clinic College of Medicine

Hypothesis

Is early extubation safe and feasible for brain injured patients who meet extubation criteria?

Conclusion

Recruitment and randomisation of severely brain injured patients appears to be safe and feasible.

Supporting Evidence

  • Sixteen patients were randomised between August 2004 and May 2006.
  • Five women and eleven men with an age range from 30 to 93 years were enrolled.
  • The average delay in extubation for the delayed extubation group was 3.6 days.

Takeaway

This study looked at whether patients with brain injuries could safely be taken off ventilators earlier than usual. It found that doing so seems safe.

Methodology

A single-blinded block randomised controlled trial with 16 patients randomised to early or delayed extubation.

Potential Biases

Potential selection bias due to strict inclusion criteria.

Limitations

The small sample size limits the ability to make definitive conclusions.

Participant Demographics

Five female and eleven male patients aged 30 to 93 years with various neurological injuries.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/cc7112

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