Background: This study aims to investigate the effects of the use of the Rapid Shallow Breathing Index on extubation success and time to extubation in patients undergoing elective isolated coronary artery bypass grafting.

Methods: This prospective, randomized-controlled study included a total of 72 patients (55 males, 19 females; mean age 60.3±9.3 years; range 45 to 76 years) who underwent isolated coronary artery bypass grafting between February 2016 and November 2016. The patients were divided into two groups as the RSBI group (n=36) and the control group (n=36). The control group was extubated by conventional criteria that were routinely applied in our clinic, while the RSBI group was extubated, when the index scores became below 77 breaths per min/L, following ensuring hemodynamic stability and weaning procedure from mechanical ventilation.

Results: The mean time to wean from mechanical ventilation was 5.8±1.0 hours in the RSBI group and 8.1±2.0 hours in the control group (p=0.03). Extubation protocol performed through the use of the index was found to provide 26% earlier extubation compared to the conventional extubation criteria. There was no significant difference in the postoperative follow-up parameters or clinical conditions.

Conclusion: Our study results show that a practical tool such as the Rapid Shallow Breathing Index can be reliably used for making a decision in favor of extubation in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. A shortened time to extubation by the use of this index may provide substantial benefits in terms of prevention of infections, mechanical ventilation-induced lung injuries, and potential pulmonary complications.

Keywords : Coronary artery bypass grafting; extubation; pulmonary complications; Rapid Shallow Breathing Index