RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE:: Describe risk factors associated with successful and early extubation in the pediatric cardiac intensive care unit. DESIGN:: Retrospective chart review. SETTING:: University hospital, cardiac intensive care unit. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:: Review of 212 consecutive surgical admissions from January 2003 to January 2004, excluding deaths. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative variables were studied. Successful extubation was defined as no reintubation at any time during the cardiac intensive care unit course and early extubation was defined as mechanical ventilation 24 hrs after surgery. A history of prematurity (odds ratio [OR], 5.84, 2.29-14.9; p < .001), base excess (OR, 1.47, 1.27-1.70; p < .001), cardiopulmonary bypass time (OR, 1.01, 1.01 to -1.2; p < .05), and the need for surgical reintervention (OR, 18.29, 2.78 to -120.07; p < .05) were associated with intubation for >24 hrs. CONCLUSION:: Extubation without the need for reintubation can be achieved in nearly all children following cardiothoracic surgery. The majority of successful extubations can be achieved within 24 hrs of surgery.