Effect of spontaneous breathing trial on extubation in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease under mechanical ventilation

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate how spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) affects successful extubation and prognosis in acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) patients under mechanical ventilation. METHODS: AECOPD patients under invasive mechanical ventilation were recruited into the study and divided into the SBT and non-SBT groups. SBT patients received SBT for 60 min before extubation, while non-SBT patients that met weaning criteria were immediately extubated without SBT. RESULTS: A total of 64 patients were enrolled in analysis, including 32 in SBT group and 32 in non-SBT group. Patients in the two groups had similar baseline demographics and clinical characteristics (all parameters: p = > 0.05). Four (12.5%) patients in the SBT group and 5 (15.6%) in the non-SBT group were reintubated in 48 h of extubation (p = 0.821). During the 28-day follow-up after extubation, 3 patients died, 1 (3.1%) in the SBT group and 2 (6.3%) in the non-SBT group (p = 0.554). CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that SBT did not affect extubation success, in-hospital mortality, and 28-day survival in AECOPD patients under mechanical ventilation.