Use of a Physiotherapy Assessment to Predict Extubation Failure in Mechanically Ventilated Patients: the EPIC Assessment

"Weaning from mechanical ventilation is a crucial step in the intensive care unit. Several factors complicate weaning and increase the risk of failure. To predict the success of extubation, the spontaneous ventilation test (T-Tube) remains essential. Despite this, the failure rate is around 10-20%. Failed extubation is not without consequences, since it increases the risk of pneumopathy and mortality. It therefore seems essential to identify potential extubation failures using effective predictive criteria. Several of these predictive criteria have been studied separately in the literature, but are still not widely used in practice. Many studies have sought to identify these predictive criteria, without actually linking them. However, when combined in a single assessment prior to extubation, they could represent a reliable prediction and decision-making aid. In the intensive care unit at Hôpital Bichat Claude Bernard, a team of physiotherapists dedicated solely to this unit carries out a routine EPIC Assessment, combining several criteria, some of which have individually demonstrated their reliability in predicting extubation outcome. Physiotherapists are health professionals working as part of the intensive care team, and are well versed in issues relating to bronchial congestion, respiratory function and muscle strength, whether for breathing or locomotion. Similarly, their involvement in issues relating to swallowing disorders acquired in intensive care gives them an overall view of the patient's ability to protect his or her airway post-extubation. The EPIC Assessment has been designed by them to address these issues. With the help of this assessment, and by following the cut-offs of the various criteria, they link the different criteria making up the EPIC Assessment and communicate a ""favorable"" or ""unfavorable"" opinion for extubation. Our hypothesis is that the EPIC Assessment is, in addition to its interpretation by physiotherapists, a reliable tool for predicting the outcome of extubation."