Table 3. Comparison among ICUs serving different age groups, in terms of ventilator weaning and extubation practices, in Brazil.
| Practice | NICU | PICU | NPICU |
|---|---|---|---|
| (n = 75) | (n = 52) | (n = 22) | |
| Use of a weaning protocol, % | |||
| Yes | 52.8aA | 65.4aA | 57.1aA |
| No | 47.2aA | 34.6bA | 42.9aA |
| Weaning protocol employed, % | |||
| Standardized gradual withdrawal from ventilatory support | 60.5aA | 29.4abB | 50.0aAB |
| SBT with or without daily interruption of sedation | 29.0bA | 53.0aA | 41.7aA |
| Other | 10.5bA | 17.6bA | 8.3aA |
| Non-protocolized weaning strategies, % | |||
| Gradual withdrawal from ventilatory support based on clinical judgment | 67.6aA | 16.7bB | 77.8aA |
| SBT after parameter reduction | 26.5bB | 83.3aA | 22.2bB |
| Other | 5.9b | --- | --- |
| Ventilation modes during SBT, % | |||
| CPAP | 27.8bA | 6.7bB | --- |
| PSV+PEEP | 66.7aA | 86.7aA | 83.3aA |
| T-piece | 5.5bA | 6.7bA | 16.7bA |
| Weaning and extubation readiness criteria, % | |||
| Clinical criteria | 4.1bA | 13.7bA | 4.5bA |
| Clinical and biochemical criteria | 73.6aA | 58.9aA | 81.8aA |
| Clinical criteria, biochemical criteria, and predictive indices | 22.3bA | 27.4bA | 13.7bA |
| Clinical criteria and predictive indices | --- | --- | --- |
| Time frame considered for extubation failure, % | |||
| 24 h | 27.8aA | 23.1bA | 31.8abA |
| 48 h | 36.1aB | 59.6aA | 50.0aAB |
| 72 h | 12.5bA | 5.8bA | 9.1bA |
| Undefined | 23.6aA | 11.5bA | 9.1bA |
| Use of a weaning protocol after extubation failure on the first attempt, % | |||
| Yes | 26.4bA | 26.9bA | 36.4abA |
| No | 65.3ª A | 65.4aA | 59.1aA |
| In some cases | 8.3bA | 7.7bA | 4.5bA |
| Time on MV recorded, % | |||
| Yes | 94.4ª A | 96.2ª A | 95.5ª A |
| No | 5.6bA | 3.8bA | 4.5bA |
| Weaning time recorded, % | |||
| Yes | 25.0bA | 32.7bA | 22.7bA |
| No | 75.0aA | 67.3aA | 77.3aA |
| Causes of extubation failure recorded, % | |||
| Yes | 56.9aA | 65.4aA | 59.1aA |
| No | 43.1aA | 34.6bA | 40.9aA |
NICU: neonatal ICU; PICU: pediatric ICU; NPICU: (mixed) neonatal/pediatric ICU; SBT: spontaneous breathing trial; CPAP: continuous positive airway pressure; PSV: pressure-support ventilation; PEEP: positive end-expiratory pressure; and MV: mechanical ventilation. Proportions followed by the same superscript letters (in lower case for columns and in upper case for rows) did not differ statistically from each other in the multiple comparison tests, p < 0.05 being considered significant.