Extubation from ambient or expiratory positive airway pressure in adults

S. F. Quan, R. T. Falltrick, R. M. Schlobohm

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    27 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    End-expiratory pressure is often used to improve arterial oxygenation and prevent atelectasis in intubated spontaneously breathing patients. To compare the effect of extubation from low levels of expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP) to extubation from ambient airway pressure, functional residual capacity (FRC) and arterial blood oxygen tension (Pa(O2)) were measured in 12 spontaneously breathing patients during three conditions in the peri-extubation period: 1) intubated at 5 cm H2O EPAP (EPAP 5); 2) intubated at ambient airway pressure (EPAP 0); and 3) within one hour after extubation. During EPAP 5, mean ± SE values for FRC (1864 ± 230 ml) and Pa(O2) (114 ± 8 torr) were the same as those obtained after extubation (FRC = 1794 ± 159 ml, Pa(O2) = 117 ± 5 torr). However, both FRC (1600 ± 186 ml) and Pa(02) (106 ± 8 torr) were lower during EPAP 0 than after extubation or EPAP 5 (P < 0.01-0.05). The magnitude of increase in FRC and Pa(O2) on extubation from EPAP 0 varied inversely with the patient's lung thorax compliance (r = -0.84, P < 0.005). It was concluded that a period of EPAP 0 is not necessary in the weaning period, and that it may be deleterious in patients with compromised lung thorax mechanics.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Pages (from-to)53-56
    Number of pages4
    JournalAnesthesiology
    Volume55
    Issue number1
    DOIs
    StatePublished - 1981

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

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