Continuous positive airway pressure to prevent reintubation in patients recovering from cardiac surgery

BACKGROUND Pulmonary complications, including atelectasis and reintubation, are common after cardiac surgery and are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Postoperative continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) may reduce these risks, but its effectiveness remains uncertain. OBJECTIVES To assess whether CPAP reduces the need for reintubation in hypoxaemic patients after cardiac surgery, and to evaluate its effect on other postoperative pulmonary complications. DESIGN Multicentre, open-label, randomised clinical trial. The study was prematurely terminated due to funding constraints, leading to an underpowered sample. SETTING Ten university-affiliated hospitals across Italy. PATIENTS Adults undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass who developed a PaO2/FiO2 ratio 200 or less within 1 h of extubation. Exclusion criteria included severe COPD, previous mechanical ventilation and lack of consent. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The primary endpoint was reintubation within 28 days of surgery. Secondary endpoints included atelectasis, pneumonia, sepsis, mortality and oxygenation. RESULTS The incidence of reintubation was 10.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 6.52 to 15.15) in the control group and 8.3% (95% CI, 4.51 to 12.16) in the treatment group (P = 0.3908). In contrast, the occurrence of atelectasis was significantly higher in the control group at 24.1% (95% CI, 18.20 to 30.07) compared with 14.2% (95% CI, 9.38 to 19.05) in the treatment group (P = 0.0110). At 48 h, the incidence of reintubation was significantly lower in the CPAP group 2.94% (95% CI, 0.60 to 5.28) compared with the control group, 7.39% (95% CI, 3.76 to 11.02), P = 0.0425. No significant differences in pneumonia, sepsis or mortality were observed. CPAP significantly improved oxygenation (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION CPAP did not significantly reduce 28-day reintubation rates compared with oxygen therapy via Venturi mask. However, CPAP was associated with a significant reduction in atelectasis and early reintubation at 48 h. Further research is warranted to confirm these findings and compare CPAP with other noninvasive support strategies. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01726140.