Faculty Collaboration Database

Effect of mechanical ventilator weaning protocols on respiratory outcomes in infants and children: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA 2002 Nov 27;288(20):2561-8

Date

11/28/2002

Pubmed ID

12444863

DOI

10.1001/jama.288.20.2561

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0037184417 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   343 Citations

Abstract

CONTEXT: Ventilator management protocols shorten the time required to wean adult patients from mechanical ventilation. The efficacy of such weaning protocols among children has not been studied.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether weaning protocols are superior to standard care (no defined protocol) for infants and children with acute illnesses requiring mechanical ventilator support and whether a volume support weaning protocol using continuous automated adjustment of pressure support by the ventilator (ie, VSV) is superior to manual adjustment of pressure support by clinicians (ie, PSV).

DESIGN AND SETTING: Randomized controlled trial conducted in the pediatric intensive care units of 10 children's hospitals across North America from November 1999 through April 2001.

PATIENTS: One hundred eighty-two spontaneously breathing children (<18 years old) who had been receiving ventilator support for more than 24 hours and who failed a test for extubation readiness on minimal pressure support.

INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomized to a PSV protocol (n = 62), VSV protocol (n = 60), or no protocol (n = 60).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Duration of weaning time (from randomization to successful extubation); extubation failure (any invasive or noninvasive ventilator support within 48 hours of extubation).

RESULTS: Extubation failure rates were not significantly different for PSV (15%), VSV (24%), and no protocol (17%) (P =.44). Among weaning successes, median duration of weaning was not significantly different for PSV (1.6 days), VSV (1.8 days), and no protocol (2.0 days) (P =.75). Male children more frequently failed extubation (odds ratio, 7.86; 95% confidence interval, 2.36-26.2; P<.001). Increased sedative use in the first 24 hours of weaning predicted extubation failure (P =.04) and, among extubation successes, duration of weaning (P<.001).

CONCLUSIONS: In contrast with adult patients, the majority of children are weaned from mechanical ventilator support in 2 days or less. Weaning protocols did not significantly shorten this brief duration of weaning.

Author List

Randolph AG, Wypij D, Venkataraman ST, Hanson JH, Gedeit RG, Meert KL, Luckett PM, Forbes P, Lilley M, Thompson J, Cheifetz IM, Hibberd P, Wetzel R, Cox PN, Arnold JH, Pediatric Acute Lung Injury and Sepsis Investigators (PALISI) Network

Author

Rainer G. Gedeit MD Associate Chief Medical Officer in the Children's Administration department at Children's Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adolescent
Automation
Child
Child, Preschool
Clinical Protocols
Female
Humans
Hypnotics and Sedatives
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Intensive Care Units, Pediatric
Male
Respiration, Artificial
Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn
Treatment Outcome
Ventilator Weaning
Ventilators, Mechanical