A retrospective analysis of the duration of mechanical ventilation in Scandinavian paediatric heart centres

• DOI: 10.1111/apa.16244
• Publication Date: 2022-01-04T12:48:56Z
• Authors: Tapio Koski; Heli Salmi; Juho Keski‐Nisula; Anders Bille; Einar Björnsson; Casper Jessen; Ronnie Forstholm; Mitja Lääperi; Paula Rautiainen
• Keywords: extubation; SURGERY; OPERATING-ROOM; INFANTS; mechanical ventilation; FAST-TRACKING; Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; FAILURE; Humans; Child; Gynaecology and paediatrics; Retrospective Studies; Infant, Newborn; Infant; Original Articles & Brief Reports; EARLY EXTUBATION; Cardiac surgery; Length of Stay; Respiration, Artificial; 3. Good health; Airway Extubation; congenital cardiovascular malformations; paediatric intensive care

AbstractAimEarly extubation after cardiac surgery shortens paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) length of stay (LOS) and decreases complications from mechanical ventilation (MV). We explored the duration of MV in Scandinavian paediatric heart centres.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the MV duration and PICU LOS of 696 children operated for atrial septal defect (ASD), ventricular septal defect (VSD), tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) or total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC) in four Scandinavian centres in 2015–2016. Neonates (n = 90) were included regardless of heart surgery type.ResultsPatients with ASD were extubated at a median of 3.25 h (interquartile range [IQR] 2.00–4.83), followed by patients with TCPC (median 5.00 h, IQR 2.60–16.83), VSD (median 7.00 h, IQR 3.69–22.25) and TOF (median 18.08 h, IQR 6.00–41.38). Neonates were not extubated early (median 94.42 h, IQR 45.03–138.14). Although MV durations were reflected in PICU LOS, this was not as apparent among those extubated within 12 h. The Swedish centres had shortest MV durations and PICU LOS. Extubation failed in 24/696 (3.4%) of patients.ConclusionScandinavian paediatric heart centres differed in the duration of postoperative MV. Deferring extubation up to 12 h postoperatively did not markedly prolong PICU LOS.