Noninvasive Ventilation After Extubation in Pediatric Patients: Determinants of Response and Key Topics

Despite being frequently used in many pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) for some years, published data regarding noninvasive ventilation (NIV) use after extubation in children are scarce. Many studies have analyzed NIV episodes in patients with no previous invasive ventilation together with other episodes in children who received NIV after extubation [1, 2]. Moreover, some authors used continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or two levels of pressure (bi-level positive airway pressure, or BLPAP) indistinctly [3, 4]. Because of this, no A or B recommendations can be provided for this technique.