Clinical outcomes of failed extubation in a postoperative intensive care unit

The causes and consequences of failed extubation in postoperative intensive care unit (ICU) patients were prospectively collected by clinical observation study in the surgical ICU Siriraj Hospital from 1st October 2000 to 31st March 2001. The failure rate was 1.7 per cent (9/477). Patients underwent the following types of surgery: abdominal surgery 66.67 per cent, orthopedic 22.22 per cent, and head-neck surgery 11.11 per cent. Reasons for reintubation were respiratory failure 55.56 per cent (5/9), inadequate cough reflex 22.22 per cent (2/9), congestive heart failure 11.11 per cent (1/9), and acute myocardial infarction 11.11 per cent (1/9). The consequences of failed extubation were worse outcomes:- the average length of stay in these patients increased from 3.67 days to 9.3 days. The mortality rate was 33.33 per cent. Tracheostomy was required in 55.56 per cent. From these observations we conclude that extubation should be performed at the appropriate time for each patient. This will differ according to the patient and his/her circumstances.