Successful extubation after weaning failure by noninvasive ventilation in patients with neuromuscular disease: Case series

Objective To report successful cases of extubation from invasive mechanical ventilation at our institution using pulmonary rehabilitation consisting of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) in neuromuscular patients with experience of reintubation. Methods Patients who experienced extubation failure via the conventional weaning strategy but afterwards had extubation success via NIV were studied retrospectively. Continuous end-tidal CO₂ (ETCO₂) and pulse oxyhemoglobin saturation (SpO₂) monitoring were performed. Extubation success was defined as a state not requiring invasive mechanical ventilation via endotracheal tube or tracheotomy during a period of at least 5 days. Results A total of 18 patients with ventilatory failure who initially experienced extubation failure were finally placed under part-time NIV after extubation. No patient had any serious or long-term adverse effect from NIV, and all patients left the hospital alive. Conclusion NIV may promote successful weaning in neuromuscular patients with experience of reintubation.