Patients with obesity are at high-risk of extubation failure. Discrepancies were found in the results of recent randomized controlled trials (RCTs) regarding the roles of noninvasive ventilation (NIV), high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) and conventional oxygen therapy (COT) to prevent extubation failure in critically ill patients with obesity. In this systematic review and network meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Cochrane Center Register of Controlled Trials and Web of Science from 1 January 1998 to 1 July 2024 for RCTs evaluating noninvasive respiratory support therapies (NIV, HFNC, COT, NIV + HFNC) after extubation in critically ill adults with obesity. Primary outcome was reintubation at day 7. Secondary outcome was 28-day mortality. We generated pooled risk ratios (RR) and numbers needed to treat (NNT). We rated risk of bias using the Cochrane risk-of-bias 2.0 tool. The study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD 42022308995). In seven RCTs including 1933 patients, NIV + HFNC (RR 0.36 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.16–0.82], NNT = 10 [95% CI 7–33]) and NIV (RR 0.45 [95% CI 0.23–0.88], NNT = 11 [95% CI 8–50]) but not HFNC (RR 0.79 [95% CI 0.40–1.59]) reduced reintubation at day 7, compared to COT. Compared to HFNC, NIV + HFNC (RR 0.46 [95% CI 0.23–0.90], NNT = 14 [95% CI 10–77]) but not NIV (RR 0.57 [95% CI 0.32–1.02]) reduced reintubation at day 7. Compared to HFNC, both NIV (RR 0.31 [95% CI 0.13–0.74], NNT = 15 [95% CI 12–40]) and NIV + HFNC (RR 0.30 [95% CI 0.10–0.89], NNT = 15 [95% CI 11–90]) reduced 28-day mortality. The results suggest that compared to COT and HFNC, NIV alone or with HFNC reduces reintubation in critically ill patients with obesity after extubation. Compared to HFNC, NIV alone or with HFNC reduces mortality. The number needed to treat with NIV or NIV + HFNC to avoid one death was 15. These findings support the application of NIV to mitigate extubation failure in critically ill adults with obesity. None.

Summary: Introduction: Extubation of the trachea in the operating theatre may increase the time spent there. Conversely, tracheal extubation in the post‐anaesthesia care unit may prolong the duration of anaesthesia and increase the incidence of complications. Our primary objective was to quantify the additional occupancy time associated with tracheal extubation in the operating theatre compared with the post‐anaesthesia care unit. Secondary objectives were to assess the incidence of complications after tracheal extubation, including the need for ventilatory support. Methods: This was a prospective dual‐centre observational cohort study of patients whose tracheas were intubated for surgery in the operating theatre of two university hospitals. The primary endpoint was operating theatre occupancy time between the end of surgical procedure and discharge from the operating theatre. Results: In total, 756 patients were included, and 494 (65.3%) tracheal extubations occurred in the operating theatre. Room occupancy time was increased by 7 min (95%CI 5–8 min, p = 0.001) when tracheal extubation was performed in the operating theatre compared with the post‐anaesthesia care unit. After adjustment by matched or weighted propensity score, this time increased to 8 min (95%CI 6–10 min, p = 0.001) and 8 min (95%CI 6–9 min, p = 0.001), respectively. Desaturation after tracheal extubation (20.9% vs. 36.3%, p < 0.001) and arterial hypotension (0.6% vs. 3.1%, p = 0.019) were less frequent when tracheal extubation took place in the operating theatre. Discussion: Tracheal extubation in the operating theatre is associated with an increase in theatre occupancy of < 8 min and a lower incidence of postoperative respiratory and cardiovascular complications.

Tracheal intubation is a frequent and high-risk procedure in the intensive care unit (ICU). Unlike elective intubation in the operating room, ICU intubation is often performed under emergent conditions in physiologically unstable patients, leading to increased technical difficulty and higher complication rates. Among these, hypoxemia is particularly frequent and represents a major determinant of morbidity and mortality. Optimizing preoxygenation is therefore a cornerstone of safe airway management in critically ill patients. The aim of this review is to explore the advantages and limitations of each preoxygenation strategy and to provide clinicians with clear, practical guidance to optimize airway management in the ICU. Preoxygenation aims to increase oxygen reserves in order to prolong the duration of safe apnea. Conventional methods include high-flow oxygen delivery through a tightly fitted face mask, though efficacy depends on minimizing leaks. More advanced strategies include non-invasive ventilation (NIV), which improves both alveolar oxygen fraction and lung volume, and high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC), which additionally allows apneic oxygenation during intubation. Randomized controlled trials, including the recent PREOXY study, demonstrate the superiority of NIV over facemask preoxygenation in reducing peri-intubation desaturation, particularly in hypoxemic patients. HFNC is valuable when NIV is contraindicated, while combined approaches (NIV plus HFNC) may further enhance efficacy. Beyond technique, structured protocols and team organization are crucial to reduce complications. In conclusion, preoxygenation is an essential, patient-specific intervention that mitigates the risks of ICU intubation. Familiarity with available methods enables clinicians to tailor strategies, optimize oxygenation, and improve patient safety during this high-risk procedure.