Prevention of accidental extubation in burn patients.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the rate of accidental extubation in the burn patient population and to propose solutions. We found that the extubation rate was higher in burn patients (27%) than in the general surgical intensive care patient population (6%). Extubations occurred most frequently (66%) in conjunction with painful or invasive procedures. Methods of endotracheal tube stabilization are reviewed. Two techniques for stabilization in the patient with a burned face are presented.