In critical care medicine the invasive life saving techniques are often employed and when all goes well such interventions will be withdrawn to all for normal physiology to resume. Identifying this point for safe withdrawal for the resumption of normal respiratory function is of utmost importance.
5. Introduction
• Extubation failure can lead to:
– cyanosis, hypertension
– hypoxia, negative‐pressure pulmonary edema
– tachycardia, acute bronchospasm,
– agitation, and, cardiopulmonary arrest.
• Reintubated patients have a significantly
increased risk of
– prolonged hospitalization or intensive care unit
(ICU) stay,
– ventilator‐acquired pneumonia,
– and morbidity and mortality.
8. Plan extubation
• Potential Difficult Extubation
– History of difficult intubation
– OSA
– Maxillofacial trauma
– Generalized edema
– Paradoxical vocal cord motion (preexisting)
– Post‐procedural complications: –
• Thyroid surgery (~4% risk of RLN injury, late hypocalcaemia)
• Diagnostic laryngoscopy +/‐ biopsy (laryngospasm, edema)
• Uvulopalatoplasty (edema)
• Carotid endarterectomy (hematoma, nerve palsies)
• ENT surgeries (hematoma, jaw wires)
• Cervical decompression (edema)
9. Plan Extubation
• Low‐risk extubation is a routine or
uncomplicated extubation. The airway was
normal/uncomplicated at induction and remains
unchanged at the end of surgery, and no general
risk factors are present.
• ‘At‐risk’ extubations are associated with
potential complications. Airway risk factors are
present.
18. Perform extubation
• Awake or Deep
• Give 100% oxygen
• Suction as appropriate under direct vision
• Insert bite block
• Position patient
• Assess neuromuscular blockade and reverse as
appropriate
• Ensure regular breathing and adequate
spontaneous ventilation
22. EXTUBATION PROTOCOL‐ low risk awake
• Deliver 100% oxygen through the breathing system
• Remove oropharyngeal secretions using a suction
device, ideally under direct vision
• Insert a bite block to prevent occlusion of the tube
• Position the patient appropriately
• Antagonize residual neuromuscular blockade
• Establish regular breathing and an adequate
spontaneous minute ventilation
24. EXTUBATION PROTOCOL‐ low risk deep
• Ensure that there is no further surgical stimulation
• Balance adequate analgesia against inhibition of
respiratory drive
• Deliver 100% oxygen through the breathing system
• Ensure adequate depth of anaesthesia with volatile
agent or TIVA as appropriate
• Position the patient appropriately
• Remove oropharyngeal secretions using a suction
device, ideally under direct vision
25. EXTUBATION PROTOCOL‐ low risk deep
• Deflate the tracheal tube cuff. Airway responses such as
cough, gag or a change in breathing pattern indicate an
inadequate depth and the need to deepen anaesthesia
• Apply positive pressure via the breathing circuit and
remove the tracheal tube
• Reconfirm airway patency and adequacy of breathing
• Maintain airway patency with simple airway maneuvers
or oro‐/nasopharyngeal airway until the patient is fully
awake
• Continue delivering oxygen by mask until recovery is
complete
• Anaesthetic supervision is needed until the patient is
awake and maintaining their own airway
32. Awake Extubation ‐ cons
• Tracheal irritation ; Coughing/ bucking was the most
common problem (6‐96%).
• Multiple techniques to minimize cough reflex have
been studied (no touch technique)
• Cough though physiologic can cause
– oxygen desaturation, laryngeal edema (Koka et al., 1977)
– increased abdominal pressure (Irwin, 2006)
– potential bronchospasm (Westhorpe et al 2005)
– hypertension, tachycardia, arrhythmias, increased
intracranial pressure (Blaise et al., 1990)
34. Awake Extubation ‐ cons
• Jaw clenching during emergence, can;
–lead to avulsion of teeth thus
–increasing the risk of aspiration and
–development of negative pulmonary
pressure edema following extubation (Liu
and Yih, 1999)