Definitions of extubation success in very premature infants: A systematic review

Abstract

Objective Studies of extubation in preterm infants often define extubation success as a lack of reintubation within a specified time window. However, the duration of observation that defines extubation success in preterm infants has not been validated. The purpose of this study was to systematically review published definitions of extubation success in very preterm infants and to analyse the effect of the definition of extubation success on the reported rates of reintubation. Design Studies including very preterm infants published between 1 January 2002 and 30 June 2012 that reported reintubation as an outcome were reviewed for definitions of extubation success. Stepwise multivariable linear..