Factors Associated With Successful Extubation Readiness Testing in Children With Congenital Heart Disease.

Background: In children with congenital heart disease, extubation readiness testing (ERT) is performed to evaluate the potential for liberation from mechanical ventilation. There is a paucity of data that suggests what mechanical ventilation parameters are associated with successful ERT. We hypothesized that ERT success would be associated with certain mechanical ventilator parameters.

Association Between Pressure Support During Extubation Readiness Testing and Time to First Extubation in Children With Congenital Heart Disease.

Background: Extubation readiness testing (ERT) is often performed in children with congenital heart disease prior to liberation from mechanical ventilation. The ideal ERT method in this population is unknown. We recently changed our ERT method from variable (10, 8, or 6 cm HO, depending on endotracheal tube size) to fixed (5 cm HO) pressure support (PS).