Unplanned Extubations in Pediatric Critical Care: A Case-Control Study

Authors

Krista Wollny, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada; Faculty of Nursing, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada; Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Alberta Children’s Hospital, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
Cameron B. Williams, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada; Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada
Raghad Al-Abdwani, Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Seeb, Oman
Carol Cartelle, Critical Care Program, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
Jason Macartney, Critical Care Program, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
Helena Frndova, Critical Care Program, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
Norbert Chin, Critical Care Program, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
Christopher Parshuram, Critical Care Program, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, CanadaFollow

Abstract

Objectives: To quantify associations between the risk of unplanned extubation and patient-, environment-, and care-related factors in pediatric critical care; and to compare outcomes between children who did and did not experience an unplanned extubation. Methods: Retrospective case-control analysis including patients <18 years who experienced an unplanned extubation during ICU admission (2004-2014). Cases were matched by age, duration of mechanical ventilation, and date to control-patients (4:1) who were intubated but did not experience an unplanned extubation. Conditional logistic regression was used to evaluate associations between unplanned extubations and the abstracted characteristics. Results: We identified 1601 eligible controls matched to 458 case-patients. When adjusted for confounders, eight variables were associated with unplanned extubation: three patient-related factors (previous ICU admission, previous intubation, and the volume of secretions); one environment-related factor (patient room set-up); and four care-related factors (intubation route, and the use of sedation, muscle relaxation and restraints). Patients who had an unplanned extubation had longer length of stay, but lower rate of mortality. Conclusions: This is the largest case-control study identifying variables associated with unplanned extubation in pediatric critical care. Several are potentially modifiable and may provide opportunities to improve quality of care in controlled ICU environments.

Recommended Citation

Wollny, Krista; Williams, Cameron B.; Al-Abdwani, Raghad; Cartelle, Carol; Macartney, Jason; Frndova, Helena; Chin, Norbert; and Parshuram, Christopher (2025) "Unplanned Extubations in Pediatric Critical Care: A Case-Control Study," Journal of Pediatric Intensive Care: Vol. 14: Iss. 5, Article 7.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.53391/2146-4618.1060
Available at: https://jpic.researchcommons.org/journal/vol14/iss5/7