Unplanned Intraoperative Extubations in Pediatric Neurosurgery: Analysis of Case Series to Increase Patient Safety

Abstract

Objective: Unplanned intraoperative extubations (UIEs), rare but high-risk events. Unintentional extubations are used as quality improvement metrics in neonatal and pediatric intensive care units, but intraoperative events have received scant attention in the literature. Complexity of patient positioning and proximity of the operative field to anesthesia make neurosurgical procedures unique. UIEs prolong operative time, increase risk of adverse outcomes, including cardiopulmonary collapse, and potentially require additional procedures. Investigating each event is critical to prevention. We aimed to analyze occurrences of UIEs in the pediatric population.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed UIE cases (12/2014-4/2017) in pediatric neurosurgical patients at a metropolitan pediatric Level I trauma center. Data were collected on patient demographics, procedure, operating room events before the event, and patient outcomes.

Results: Over 27 months, 5 UIEs in pediatric neurosurgical cases occurred, with an event rate of <0.3%. Two occurred in patients <1 year old. Two UIEs occurred in patients undergoing surgery for epilepsy. Root cause analysis identified varied etiologies of UIE: 2 were attributed to endotracheal tube securement, 2 were attributed to lighter anesthesia planes in epilepsy cases with limb movement, and 1 occurred while supinating a prone patient. Postoperative outcomes for these patients were no different from routine cases.

Conclusions: Findings suggest an inverse correlation between patient age and UIE, with patient manipulation and anesthesia depth as risk factors. Meticulous attention to securing the endotracheal tube and streamlined communication between the surgical and anesthesia teams are critical for the goal of zero UIE occurrences.

Keywords: Anesthesiology; Neurosurgery; Never event; Patient safety; Pediatric; Unplanned intraoperative extubation.