Spontaneous awakening trial (SAT) and spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) protocols for mechanically ventilated patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) have been shown to reduce the duration of intubation and decrease mortality rates [1]. Accordingly, SAT/SBT should be implemented to evaluate patients who are intubated and receiving mechanical ventilation upon ICU admission prior to extubation [2]. However, 10–25 % of patients who clear the SAT/SBT undergo reintubation, which is related to a high mortality rate [2,3].
