Postextubation fluid balance is associated with extubation failure: a cohort study.

Objective: To assess whether there is an association between 48-hour postextubation fluid balance and extubation failure.

Methods: This was a prospective cohort study that included patients admitted to the intensive care unit of a tertiary hospital in southern Brazil from March 2019 to December 2019. Patients who required mechanical ventilation for at least 24 hours and who were extubated during the study period were included. The primary outcome was extubation failure, considered as the need for reintubation in the first 72 hours after extubation. The secondary outcome was a combined outcome with extubation failure or the need for therapeutic noninvasive ventilation.

Results: A total of 101 patients were included. Extubation failure was observed in 29 (28.7%) patients. In univariate analysis, patients with a negative 48-hour postextubation fluid balance higher than one liter had a lower rate of extubation failure (12.0%) than patients with a negative 48-hour postextubation fluid balance lower than 1L (34.2%; p = 0.033). Mechanical ventilation duration and negative 48-hour postextubation fluid balance lower than one liter were associated with extubation failure when corrected for Simplified Acute Physiology Score 3 in multivariate analysis. When we evaluated the combined outcome, only negative 48-hour postextubation lower than 1L maintained an association when corrected for for Simplified Acute Physiology Score 3 and mechanical ventilation duration.

Conclusion: The 48-hour postextubation fluid balance is associated with extubation failure. Further studies are necessary to assess whether avoiding positive fluid balance in this period might improve weaning outcomes.