Abstract:Objective To explore the clinical application value of cuff leak test (CLT)in extubation of mechanical ventilation of congenital heart disease(CHD) children during early postoperative period with mechanical ventilation. Methods A total of 74 CHD children in whom mechanical ventilation successfully was removed after repair surgery in Tangshan Maternity and Child Health Hospital from June 2015 to March 2016 were selected and divided into group A (≥ 24 months) and group B (<24 months) according to children′s age. CLT immediately after operation and before extubation and the occurrence of upper airway obstruction (UAO) after extubation were observed in two groups. Results None of the children developed UAO, and CLT was negative for children more than 24 months of age. There were significant differences in the qualitative and quantitative results of CLT before extubation and returning to the ward between two groups (all P<0.05), indicating that CLT results were related to age. In group B, there was no significant difference in ventilator-carried time between children with positive result and children with negative result of quantitative and qualitative CLT (P>0.05). Conclusion CLT result is related to age, the different CLT results had no significant influence on the ventilator-carried time in children less than 24 months of age, so it was not a necessary condition for extubation and it has little value in guiding extubation for children with mild disease.