Open AccessUse of Dexamethasone to Prevent Extubation Failure in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
Author(s) -
Haroldo Teófilo de Carvalho,
José Roberto Fioretto,
Rossano César Bonatto,
Cristiane Franco Ribeiro,
Joelma Gonçalves Martin,
Mário Ferreira Carpi
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of pediatric intensive care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2146-4618
pISSN - 2146-4626
DOI - 10.1055/s-0040-1719044
Subject(s) - medicine , dexamethasone , intensive care unit , randomized controlled trial , anesthesia , pediatric intensive care unit , intensive care medicine , intensive care , surgery
Extubation failure is a common event in intensive care units. Corticosteroids are effective in preventing failure in adults, but no consensus has been reached on this matter in pediatrics. We assessed the efficacy of intravenous dexamethasone in mechanically ventilated children and adolescents for more than 48 hours, with at least one risk factor for failure. Extubations were scheduled 24 hours in advance when possible, and patients were randomly assigned into two groups: one group received a loading dose followed by up to four doses of dexamethasone, and the other group received no corticosteroids. Need for reintubation and length of stay in the pediatric intensive care unit were similar in both groups, and frequency of reintubation was 12.9%.