Effect of Oral Caffeine on Weaning from Mechanical Ventilation in Intubated ICU Patients

Seyedpouzhia Shojaei; Alireza Ebrahimi; Mir Mohammad Miri; Mehran Kouchek; Sara Salarian; Mohammad Sistanizad; Behnam Arabzadeh; Nazanin Hajizadeh; Padideh Ansar

Effect of Oral Caffeine on Weaning from Mechanical Ventilation in Intubated ICU Patients

Tanaffos. 2023 Feb;22(2):230-235.

Authors

Seyedpouzhia Shojaei¹, Alireza Ebrahimi¹, Mir Mohammad Miri¹, Mehran Kouchek¹, Sara Salarian¹, Mohammad Sistanizad², Behnam Arabzadeh¹, Nazanin Hajizadeh³, Padideh Ansar⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Anesthesiology And Critical Care, Critical Care Quality Improvement Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
² Department of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
³ Preventative Gynecology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
⁴ Department of Anesthesiology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

PMID: 38628882
PMCID: PMC11016928

Abstract

Background: The role of caffeine as a brain stimulant in improving the respiratory characteristics of patients under mechanical ventilation is unclear. This study aimed at determining the effect of oral caffeine in helping to release (Liberation) from the ventilator in intubated patients under mechanical ventilation admitted to the intensive care unit.

Materials and methods: General ICU patients with more than 48 hours of dependency on a ventilator were randomly divided into two groups. The intervention group received 200mg caffeine tablets twice a day through a gastric tube, while the control group received a placebo of the same amount. Every day, patients were assessed for the likelihood of being disconnected from the device. If their clinical condition was deemed suitable, the device mode was switched to spontaneous, and their Rapid Shallow Breathing Index (RSBI) was calculated. Based on this information, a decision was made regarding whether to proceed with weaning.

Results: Caffeine use in ICU patients significantly reduced the airway resistance index of patients (P <0.05). However, although this drug reduced the length of hospital stay in the ICU and the duration of intubation of patients, these changes were not statistically significant (P> 0.05).

Conclusion: Caffeine may improve respiratory status and reduce the duration of intubation and hospitalization in the ICU.

Keywords: Caffeine; ICU; Mechanical ventilator; Respiratory system; intubation.