A trial of spontaneous breathing to determine the readiness for extubation in very low birth weight infants: a prospective evaluation

Abstract

Extubation failure in premature infants is common. A spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) was prospectively evaluated to determine timing of extubation. Compared with historical controls, infants were extubated at significantly higher ventilator rates and airway pressures using the SBT. No differences in rates of bronchopulmonary dysplasia or duration of ventilation were seen.