HFNC vs NIPPV Following Extubation

This study has the goal to determine the best method of respiratory support following extubation after cardiac surgery (CS). After cardiac surgery for Congenital Heart Disease (CHD), patients remain intubated until the cardiac team determines it is safe for the patient to undergo a trial of extubation. Two common methods of respiratory support following extubation are High Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC) and Non Invasive Positive Pressure Ventilation (NIPPV). There is currently a gap in data comparing High Flow Nasal Cannula and Non-Invasive Positive Pressure Ventilation in infants (age 0-1) in regard to extubation failure and overall outcomes.

This study will monitor the health outcomes of 200 infants (0 - 1 year) with CHD following cardiac surgery in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA). This will be done by assigning the respiratory support method each child will receive following extubation after cardiac surgery. Health outcomes will be monitored until discharge or until the second instance of extubation failure.

Both study arms are standard-of-care respiratory support methods in the CHOA CICU. The investigators aim to determine which of these two methods has fewer risk factors when used with infants.