RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Prediction of extubation failure in preterm infants JF Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition JO Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health SP F32 OP F35 DO 10.1136/fn.86.1.F32 VO 86 IS 1 A1 G Dimitriou A1 A Greenough A1 A Endo A1 S Cherian A1 G F Rafferty YR 2002 UL http://fn.bmj.com/content/86/1/F32.abstract AB Objective: To identify whether the results of assessment of respiratory muscle strength or respiratory load were better predictors of extubation failure in preterm infants than readily available clinical data. Patients: Thirty six infants, median gestational age 31 (range 25–36) weeks and postnatal age 3 (1–14) days; 13 were < 30 weeks of gestational age. Methods: Respiratory muscle strength was assessed by measurement of maximum inspiratory pressure generated during airway occlusion, and inspiratory load was assessed by measurement of compliance of the respiratory system. Results: Overall, seven infants failed extubation—that is, they required reintubation within 48 hours. These infants were older (p < 0.01), had a lower gestational age (p < 0.01), and generated lower maximum inspiratory pressure (p < 0.05) than the rest of the cohort. Similar results were found in the infants < 30 weeks of gestational age. Overall and in those < 30 weeks of gestational age, gestational age and postnatal age had the largest areas under the receiver operator characteristic curves. Conclusion: In very premature infants, low gestational age and older postnatal age are better predictors of extubation failure than assessment of respiratory muscle strength or respiratory load.