Extubation failure in pediatric intensive care: a multiple-center study of risk factors and outcomes.

Objective: To determine a contemporary failed extubation rate, risk factors, and consequences of extubation failure in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs). Three hypotheses were investigated: a) Extubation failure is in part disease specific; b) preexisting respiratory conditions predispose to extubation failure; and c) admission acuity scoring does not affect extubation failure.

Design: Twelve-month prospective, observational, clinical study.