Failed noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation is associated with an increased risk of intubation-related complications

Annals of Intensive Care

Table 1 Patient demographics

Characteristics	Primary intubation ( n = 110)	Failed NIPPV ( n = 125)	p value
Mean age, years	58.1 (IQR 50 to 67)	61.2 (IQR 54 to 73)	0.13
Gender
Male	57% (63)	61% (76)	0.60
DACs
Total DACs (median)	2 (IQR 1 to 3)	2 (IQR 1 to 3)	0.83
None	21.3% (23)	24% (30)	0.64
Cervical immobilization	3.6% (4)	4.8% (6)	0.75
Blood in airway	22.7% (25)	5.6% (7)	<0.001
Vomit in airway	4.6% (5)	4.8% (6)	1.00
Facial/neck trauma	0.9% (1)	0.8% (1)	1.00
Obesity	27.3% (30)	37.6% (47)	0.10
Short neck	20.0 % (22)	37.6% (47)	0.004
Large tongue	13.6% (15)	20.0% (25)	0.23
Airway edema	13.6% (15)	4.0% (5)	0.01
Small mandible	13.6% (15)	18.4% (23)	0.38
Hypoxemia	39.1% (43)	20.8% (26)	0.003
Hemodynamic instability	24.6% (27)	20% (25)	0.43
Limited mouth opening	8.2% (9)	12% (15)	0.39
Secretions	9.1% (10)	12.8% (16)	0.41
Illness severity
Mean (median, IQR)
APACHE II	19.4 (18, IQR 14 to 24)	15.2 (14, IQR 11 to 18)	<0.001
Mortality mean/median	35.9% (29.1%)	24.3% (19%)	<0.001
SAPS II	46.9 (46.5, IQR 37 to 57)	40.1 (38, IQR 31 to 49)
Mortality mean/median	41.6% (38%)	29.4% (21%)	<0.001
APACHE IV	85 (85.5, IQR 64 to 102)	73 (69, IQR 57 to 90)
Mortality mean/median	37.4% (36.5%)	24.6% (20%)
Hypoxemic respiratory failure	45.5% (50)	64%(80)	0.006
Pneumonia or ARDS	31% (34)	49% (61)	0.008

NIPPV, noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation; IQR, interquartile range; DACs, difficult airway characteristics; SAPS, simplified acute physiology score; APACHE, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation; ARDS, acute respiratory distress syndrome.