Noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation for postextubation respiratory distress: a randomized controlled trial. (Caring for the Critically Ill Patient)

Positive-pressure ventilation (PPV) applied through a face mask does not appear to benefit critically ill patients who develop respiratory failure after they are taken off a ventilator. This was the conclusion of a study of 81 patients who were treated with PPV or oxygen therapy after they developed respiratory failure within two days after they were taken off a ventilator.
Context Noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation (NPPV) has been demonstrated to be effective in preventing the need for endotracheal intubation in some patients who present with acute respiratory failure. It is also used for patients who develop acute respiratory distress after extubation, but there are no randomized controlled trials that address its effectiveness in this population. Objective To determine the effectiveness of NPPV compared with standard medical therapy in preventing the need for endotracheal reintubation in high-risk patients who develop respiratory distress during the first 48 hours after extubation. Design Randomized, controlled, unblinded study with concealed allocation conducted between August 1,1996 and October 31, 1999. Setting An intensive care unit (ICU) in an academic, tertiary care hospital in Ontario. Patients Eighty-one patients with a history of cardiac or respiratory disease or who initially required ventilatory support for more than 2 days and who developed respiratory distress within 48 hours of extubation. Interventions Patients were randomly assigned to receive standard medical therapy alone (supplemental oxygen to maintain oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry [greater than or equal to]95%; n=42) or NPPV by face mask plus standard medical therapy (n=39). Main Outcome Measures Rates of reintubation, duration of mechanical ventilation, lengths of ICU and hospital stay, and hospital mortality. Results Comparing the NPPV group with the standard-therapy group, there was no difference in the rate of reintubation (72% vs 69%; relative risk, 1.04; 95% confidence interval, 0.78-1.38) or hospital mortality (31% for both groups; relative risk, 0.99; 95% confidence interval, 0.52-1.91). Similarly, no difference was found in duration of mechanical ventilation or length of ICU or hospital stay. Conclusions The addition of NPPV to standard medical therapy does not improve outcome in heterogeneous groups of patients who develop respiratory distress during the first 48 hours after extubation.