OBJECTIVES: 

To describe factors associated with failed extubation (FE) in neonates following cardiovascular surgery, and the relationship with clinical outcomes.

DESIGN: 

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING: 

Twenty-bed pediatric cardiac ICU (PCICU) in an academic tertiary care children’s hospital.

PATIENTS: 

Neonates admitted to the PCICU following cardiac surgery between July 2015 and June 2018.

INTERVENTIONS: 

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: 

Patients who experienced FE were compared with patients who were successfully extubated. Variables associated with FE (p < 0.05) from univariate analysis were considered for inclusion in multivariable logistic regression. Univariate associations of FE with clinical outcomes were also examined. Of 240 patients, 40 (17%) experienced FE. Univariate analyses revealed associations of FE with upper airway (UA) abnormality (25% vs 8%, p = 0.003) and delayed sternal closure (50% vs 24%, p = 0.001). There were weaker associations of FE with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (25% vs 13%, p = 0.04), postoperative ventilation greater than 7 days (33% vs 15%, p = 0.01), Society of Thoracic Surgeons-European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (STAT) category 5 operations (38% vs 21%, p = 0.02), and respiratory rate during spontaneous breathing trial (median 42 vs 37 breaths/min, p = 0.01). In multivariable analysis, UA abnormalities (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 3.5; 95% CI, 1.4–9.0), postoperative ventilation greater than 7 days (AOR 2.3; 95% CI, 1.0–5.2), and STAT category 5 operations (AOR 2.4; 95% CI, 1.1–5.2) were independently associated with FE. FE was also associated with unplanned reoperation/reintervention during hospital course (38% vs 22%, p = 0.04), longer hospitalization (median 29 vs 16.5 d, p < 0.0001), and in-hospital mortality (13% vs 3%, p = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS: 

FE in neonates occurs relatively commonly following cardiac surgery and is associated with adverse clinical outcomes. Additional data are needed to further optimize periextubation decision-making in patients with multiple clinical factors associated with FE.