ABSTRACT
Introduction: In the intensive care unit (ICU), approximately 30% of all patients require mechanical ventilation. Reintubation isa high-risk procedure in critically ill patients. Anticipating a difficult airway and identifying high-risk patients can be life-saving.10–20% of critically ill patients who are extubated will be reintubated within 72 h which leads to long-term ventilation-relatedcomplications such as ventilator-associated pneumonia and ventilator-associated lung injury, which greatly affect the length ofstay and mortality in the ICU.Aim: The aim is to study the causes, risk factors, and outcomes associated with reintubation.Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, clinical data of patients who were reintubated were collected and the factorsassociated with reintubation were analyzed.Results: A total of 532 patients were intubated in the ICU, of which 25 cases (9.2%) required reintubation, 19 patients haddiabetes, 17 of them had hypertension, and 14 had coronary artery disease. Majority of the patients improved after intubationand the mean ventilator stay after reintubation is 3.4 days. Among patients who were reintubated 9 patients were dischargedafter recovery, 4 patients were discharged against medical advice, 5 were discharged on request, and 7 patient died.Conclusion: Reintubation is associated with more procedural complications such as hypoxia and hypotension and prolongedICU stay, and the ICU team must be prepared for such complications. Laryngeal edema was also an observed complicationin a few patients.