Clinical prediction of weaning and extubation in Australian and New Zealand intensive care units

Abstract

Our objective was to describe, in Australian and New Zealand adult intensive care units, the relative frequency in which various clinical criteria were used to predict weaning and extubation, and the weaning methods employed. Participant intensivists at 55 intensive care units completed a self-administered questionnaire, using visual analogue scales (0=not at all predictive, 10=perfectly predictive, not used=null score) to record the perceived utility of 30 potential predictors. Survey response rate was 71% (164/230). Those variables thought most predictive of weaning readiness were respiratory rate (median score 8.0, interquartile range 7.0 to 8.6) effective cough (7.3, 5.9 to 8.2) and pres..