Extubation failure in operating room: Review of management in 50 patients at a single center

Aim: Postoperative extubation failure is a serious complication of general anesthesia. Prolonged mechanical ventilation is associated with increased morbidity and late mortality. There are numerous factors affecting postoperative extubation failure. In our study, we aimed to evaluate these factors. Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted on 50 patients who could not be extubated postoperatively between January 2016 and January 2019 in Medipol University Medical Faculty Hospital.  Results: The mean age was 61.2 (6.4) (50-77) years. 29 (58%) patients were male and 21 (42%) were female. The mean Body Mass Index was 29.3 (3.6) (12-36) kilogram/square meters (kg/m2). Mean duration of surgery was 240 (27.6) minutes. 39 (78%) patients had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 13 (26%) had congestive heart failure. Perioperative oxygen saturation was ≤95% in 44 (88%) patients and >95% in 6 (12%) patients.  Conclusions: Chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, congestive heart failure and low perioperative oxygen saturation are commonly seen in patients who could not be weaned from mechanical ventilation postoperatively. We advise watching out for patients with these risk factors.