In infants and children mechanically ventilated, successful extubation was achieved equally effectively after a first breathing trial performed with pressure support of 10 cmH2O or a T-piece.

In a population which had passed SBT, the ability of the traditional weaning indices to discriminate between children successfully extubated and children re-intubated is very poor.

One in every 3 patients admitted to the PICUs requires ventilatory support. The ARF was the most common reason for MV, and survival of unselected infants and children receiving MV for more than 12 h was 85%.

In children with ARDS, H1N1 as an etiologic agent confers high mortality, and the presence of CCCs in such patients increases the risk of death.

A daily evaluation to check readiness for weaning combined with a spontaneous breathing test reduced the mechanical ventilation duration for children on mechanical ventilation for >24 hrs, without increasing the extubation failure rate or the need for noninvasive ventilation.