Protocolized Postextubation Respiratory Support to Prevent Reintubation: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Respiratory support (noninvasive ventilation or high-flow nasal cannula) applied at the time extubation has been reported to reduce reintubation rates, but concerns regarding effectiveness have limited uptake into practice. The aim of the research is to determine if providing postextubation respiratory support to all patients undergoing extubation in a medical ICU would decrease the incidence of reintubation. The results of the study conclude that among a broad population of critically ill adults undergoing extubation from invasive mechanical ventilation at an academic medical center, protocolized postextubation respiratory support, primarily characterized by an increase in the use of high-flow nasal cannula, did not prevent reintubation compared with usual care.