High-flow oxygen therapy in comparison with low-level pressure support ventilation for spontaneous breathing trials: A two-center, non-inferiority, randomized controlled study

Background Low-level pressure support ventilation (PSV) is the usual first spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) method. High-flow oxygen therapy (HFOT) via a dedicated connector through an endotracheal tube might be a credible alternative during SBT. This study aimed to compare the rate of SBT success between HFOT and low-level PSV.Methods We conducted a two-centre, open-label, non-inferiority randomised controlled trial. Adults mechanically ventilated patients for at least 24 hours and ready to wean were randomised to 30-minute SBTs with HFOT or low-level PSV. The primary outcome was SBT success rate (non-inferior margin of 10%). Extubation rate within 48 hours following successful SBT, reintubation rate within 48 hours after extubation, and hospital mortality were the exploratory outcomes.Results Among 162 enrolled patients, 81 received HFOT and 81 received low-level PSV. SBT succeeded in 77/81 patients (95.1%) in each arm (absolute difference 0.0%; 95% confidence interval [CI] −7.2 to 7.2; p = 1.000). No significant differences between HFOT and low-level PSV in extubation rates following successful SBT (88.3% vs 80.5%, respectively; p = 0.183) or reintubation rates within 48 hours after extubation (8.8% vs 17.7%, respectively; p = 0.140). Hospital mortality was lower with HFOT than with low-level PSV (11.1% vs 24.7%, respectively; difference −13.6%; 95% CI −25.2 to −2.0; p = 0.024).Conclusion Among mechanically ventilated patients meeting weaning criteria, HFOT demonstrated non-inferiority to low-level PSV for SBT success rates. Extubation and 48-hour reintubation rates were similar.Clinical Trial Registration Thai Clinical Trials Registry; registration number: TCTR20190703002; URL: www.thaiclinicaltrials.org