Determinants of time to decannulation and predictors of early weaning from tracheostomy: a multicenter, retrospective Italian cohort study
Authors' conclusion
Specific procedures were associated with reduced time to decannulation, however weaning rarely failed likely because of late weaning initiation.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with endotracheal intubation, percutaneous or surgical tracheostomy and at least one decannulation trial, 2017–2023, five Italian academic hospitalsfinal analysis
- Participants
- 191 patients
- Exposure
- Early vs average vs late decannulation
- Outcome
- Predictors of faster decannulation
Methodological detailsobservational, multicentre
- Observational
- Multicentre
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Time to decannulation and its predictors
Odds ratio (95% CI)P value
Reduction of cannula caliberpredicted earlier decannulation
4.224(1.037–17.207)
P = 0.044Swallowing assessmentpredicted slower decannulation
0.161(0.037–0.694)
P = 0.014- Faster weaning with bronchoscopy
- Log-rank P = 0.044
- Longer weaning when swallowing efficiency assessed
- Log-rank P = 0.001
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Secondary outcomes
Decannulation success/failure
- Successful decannulation
- 183 (95.8%)
- Failed decannulation
- 8 (4.2%)
- Lower bronchial secretion burden in successes
- P = 0.012
- Trend to less tracheal stenosis in successes
- P = 0.072
- Baseline characteristics and instrumental procedures did not differ between failures and successes
Accuracy of QsQ criteria for decannulation failure
- Sufficient data for QsQ score calculation limited to some major and minor criteria
Original publication
Determinants of time to decannulation and predictors of early weaning from tracheostomy: a multicenter, retrospective Italian cohort study. Ann Intensive Care. Published 17 March 2026. doi:10.
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