Tracheal extubation with suction vs. positive pressure during emergence from general anaesthesia in adults: A randomised controlled trial.

Background: After general anaesthesia (GA) in adults, the optimal tracheal extubation technique (positive pressure or suctioning) remains debated. The primary endpoint of this study was to assess the effects of these techniques on onset time of desaturation (SpO<92%).

Methods: Sixty-nine patients with a body mass index<30 scheduled for elective orthopaedic surgery were allocated to positive pressure (PP) or suctioning (SUC) group.