Characteristics associated with unplanned extubation in an intensive care unit Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

Unplanned extubation is premature removal of endotracheal tube, is an adverse event; which can either, be accidental during a nursing procedure or self deliberate by the patient. The AACN Synergy Model for Patient Care was used as conceptual model for this study. A retrospective descriptive design revealed that over a period of two years, 327 patients admitted to the intensive care unit require intubation of which 40.4% were self-deliberate extubation and 59.4% accidental extubation. Of the accidental extubated patients, 29.8% had physical restrains, 57.6% received sedation, 43.9% had analgesic infusion and 38.9% were on neuromuscular blockade. A means Glasco Coma Scale was 9.4 and 56% of the patients were reported as being. Most patients (89.9%) required re-intubation. The findings also revealed that 49.1% of the nurses who cared for the patients when the extubation occured had one patient at the time. Also, 84.2% of nurses had 0-6 years of nursing experience and 74% of nurses had less than five years of ICU experience.