Background: Self-extubation is a common complication in intubated patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) and is associated with a high rate of reintubation. This study aimed to identify predictors of reintubation following self-extubation (SE) and assess the prognosis of these patients.

Methods: Data were extracted from the French ICU database, OutcomeRea™. The primary objective was to identify factors associated with reintubation within 48 h after self-extubation. Secondary objectives included evaluating the association between reintubation and mortality, ICU length of stay, and nosocomial pneumonia.

Results: Between November 1996 and May 2022, 12,917 patients were intubated in the ICU. Among them, 701 patients experienced SE without therapeutic limitations at the time, and 276 (39.4%) required reintubation. In adjusted analyses, the following factors were independently associated with reintubation: a higher non-neurological SOFA score on the day before SE (OR 1.16 [1.01; 1.34]; p = 0.03), duration of invasive mechanical ventilation > 7 days before SE (OR 1.79 [1.04; 3.26]; p = 0.04), enteral nutrition on the day of SE (OR 2.59 [1.75; 3.84]; p < 0.01) and the use of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) within 24 h after SE (OR 0.28 [0.16; 0.5];p < 0.01). Reintubation within 48 h after SE was independently associated with increased 28-day mortality (HR = 3.03 [1.79; 5.12]; p < 0.01) and 90-day mortality (HR = 2.86 [1.86; 4.4]; p < 0.01), a higher risk of nosocomial pneumonia (sdHR, 18.28 [7.70; 43.42]; p < 0.01), and a 13-day increase in ICU length of stay (p < 0.01).

Conclusion: Enteral nutrition on the day of SE, prolonged mechanical ventilation prior to SE, higher non-neurological SOFA scores, and use of NIV after SE were independently associated with the need for reintubation. Reintubation was also associated with increased mortality, a higher risk of nosocomial pneumonia, and prolonged ICU stay.