Sensitivity and specificity of the Yang Tobin Index to predict extubation success in critical patients

Background: The Yang Tobin Index (Y/T) is a simple and objective measure to predict successful extubation. There areno Colombian studies supporting the use of Y/T as a predictor of successful ventilator weaning.Objective: To estimate the sensitivity and specificity of Y/T as predictor of weaning and to evaluate the association withclinical and socio-demographic characteristics in adult patients at the intensive care unit.Methods: Retrospective study. We analyzed a database of 332 records of patients under mechanical ventilation (MV) formore than 48 hours, from January 2006 to December 2007, with spontaneous breathing trial and measurement of Y/T beforeextubation.Results: The sensitivity of Y/T was 98.6%, specificity 9.6%, positive predictive value 85.4%, negative predictive value55.5%. The cumulative incidence of successful extubation was 84%. The greater incidence of unsuccessful extubation wasassociated with COPD (46.2%). The MV time period showed a direct proportional relationship with failed extubation(p=0.186).Conclusions: The Y/T index is not a good predictor of success of extubation in the study population. No association wasfound between clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of the population, with respect to the sensitivity and specificityof the Y/T as a predictor of success.