Safety and feasibility of immediate tracheal extubation of small pediatric patients after living donor liver transplantation

Background: Immediate extubation is integral constituent of enhance recovery protocols. Purpose of this study was to examine success rates and safety of protocolized immediate extubation in pediatric living donor liver transplant recipients and to find out factors associated with non-immediate extubation in operation room.

Methods: We performed retrospective analysis for data of small (≤20 kg) pediatric patients transplanted between 2017 and 2019 (protocolized duration) and compared with data of transplants done between 2014 and 2016 (non-protocolized duration). Further, we compared data during each time duration between immediate extubation and non-immediate extubation group to find risk factors in that particular duration.

Results: Immediate extubation rates were significantly higher during protocolized duration compared with non-protocolized duration (85.52% vs. 48.29%, p < .001). Reintubation rates decreased during protocolized duration (10.9% vs. 4.6%). Hospital stays (20.47 ± 7.06 vs. 27.8 ± 6.2 days, p < .001) and mortality (13.2% vs. 28%, p = .04) were significantly decreased in protocolized duration. Higher age (OR: 2.85, 95% CI 1.22-6.67, p = .02), weight > 10 (OR: 4.37, 95% CI 1.16-16.46, p = .029) and high vasopressor support (OR: 32, 95% CI 6.4-160.13, p < .001) found as significant predictors of non-immediate extubation however only high vasopressor support found to be independent predictor during protocolized duration.

Conclusions: Outcomes in pediatric transplants can be optimized by immediate extubation in majority of cases when protocolized as part of policy.