Predictors of prolonged ventilator weaning and mortality in critically ill patients with COVID-19 / Preditores de desmame ventilatório prolongado e mortalidade em pacientes críticos com COVID-19

ABSTRACT Objective: To identify factors associated with prolonged weaning and mortality in critically ill COVID-19 patients admitted to ICUs and under invasive mechanical ventilation. Methods: Between March of 2020 and July of 2021, we retrospectively recorded clinical and ventilatory characteristics of critically ill COVID-19 patients from the day of intubation to the outcome. We classified the patients regarding the weaning period in accordance with established criteria. A logistic regression analysis was performed to identify variables associated with prolonged weaning and mortality. Results: The study involved 303 patients, 100 of whom (33.0%) had a prolonged weaning period. Most of the patients were male (69.6%), 136 (44.8%) had more than 50% of pulmonary involvement on chest CT, and 93 (30.6%) had severe ARDS. Within the prolonged weaning group, 62% died within 60 days. Multivariate analysis revealed that lung involvement greater than 50% on CT and delay from intubation to the first separation attempt from mechanical ventilation were significantly associated with prolonged weaning, whereas age and prolonged weaning were significantly associated with mortality. Conclusions: Prolonged weaning can be used as a milestone in predicting mortality in critically ill COVID-19 patients. Lung involvement greater than 50% on CT and delay from intubation to the first separation attempt from mechanical ventilation were identified as significant predictors of prolonged weaning. These results might provide valuable information for healthcare professionals when making clinical decisions regarding the management of critically ill COVID-19 patients who are on mechanical ventilation.

RESUMO Objetivo: Identificar fatores associados ao desmame prolongado e à mortalidade em pacientes críticos com COVID-19 admitidos em UTI e sob ventilação mecânica invasiva. Métodos: Entre março de 2020 e julho de 2021, registramos retrospectivamente as características clínicas e ventilatórias de pacientes críticos com COVID-19 desde o dia da intubação até o desfecho. Os pacientes foram classificados quanto ao período de desmame de acordo com critérios estabelecidos. Foi realizada análise de regressão logística para identificar variáveis associadas ao desmame prolongado e à mortalidade. Resultados: O estudo incluiu 303 pacientes, 100 dos quais (33,0%) apresentaram período de desmame prolongado. A maioria dos pacientes era do sexo masculino (69,6%), 136 (44,8%) apresentaram mais de 50% de acometimento pulmonar na TC de tórax, e 93 (30,6%) apresentaram SDRA grave. No grupo desmame prolongado, 62% foram a óbito em 60 dias. A análise multivariada revelou que o acometimento pulmonar maior que 50% na TC e a demora na primeira tentativa de retirada da ventilação mecânica após a intubação apresentaram associação significativa com o desmame prolongado, enquanto a idade e o desmame prolongado apresentaram associação significativa com a mortalidade. Conclusões: O desmame prolongado pode ser utilizado como marco na predição de mortalidade em pacientes críticos com COVID-19. O acometimento pulmonar maior que 50% na TC e a demora na primeira tentativa de retirada da ventilação mecânica após a intubação foram identificados como preditores significativos de desmame prolongado. Esses resultados podem fornecer informações valiosas para os profissionais de saúde na tomada de decisões clínicas sobre o manejo de pacientes críticos com COVID-19 e em ventilação mecânica.

Late recognition and illness severity are determinants of early death in severe septic patients

OBJECTIVE: To identify the independent variables associated with death within 4 days after the first sepsis-induced organ dysfunction. METHODS: In this prospective observational study, severe sepsis and septic shock patients were classified into 3 groups: Group 1, survivors; Group 2, late non-survivors; and Group 3, early non-survivors. Early death was defined as death occurring within 4 days after the first sepsis-induced organ dysfunction. Demographic, clinical and laboratory data were collected and submitted to univariate and multinomial analyses. RESULTS: The study included 414 patients: 218 (52.7%) in Group 1, 165 (39.8%) in Group 2, and 31 (7.5%) in Group 3. A multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that age, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment score after the first 24 hours, nosocomial infection, hepatic dysfunction, and the time elapsed between the onset of organ dysfunction and the sepsis diagnosis were associated with early mortality. In contrast, Black race and a source of infection other than the urinary tract were associated with late death. Among the non-survivors, early death was associated with Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, chronic renal failure, hepatic dysfunction Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment score after 24 hours, and the duration of organ dysfunction. CONCLUSION: Factors related to patients' intrinsic characteristics and disease severity as well as the promptness of sepsis recognition are associated with early death among severe septic patients. .

Avaliação de teste de tubo T como estratégia inicial de suspensão da ventilação mecânica / Evaluation of T tube trial as a strategy of weaning from mechanical ventilation

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A retirada precoce da ventilação mecânica (VM) é importante para reduzir a morbimortalidade de pacientes internados em Unidades de Terapia Intensiva. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a utilização do teste de Tubo T (TT) como método de retirada de VM. MÉTODO: Foram incluídos neste estudo os pacientes admitidos na UTI que apresentavam os seguintes critérios: VM > 24 horas, ausência de doença neuromuscular, relação PaO2/FiO2 > 200, estabilidade hemodinâmica, reversão da causa da intubação traqueal e drive respiratório adequado. Todos foram submetidos ao teste de tubo T. Considerou-se falha a ocorrência de FR > 30 irpm, hipoxemia, taquicardia, disritmias cardíacas, hipertensão ou hipotensão arterial. Após 2 horas de teste TT sem critérios de falha, os pacientes foram extubados. Considerou-se como sucesso na retirada da VM a manutenção por 48 horas de autonomia ventilatória. RESULTADOS: Foram incluídos 49 pacientes com idade média de 51,8 ± 21,7 anos. As incidências de SDRA e choque séptico foram 26,5 por cento e 32,7 por cento e o tempo médio de VM foi 11,9 ± 13 dias. A retirada da VM ocorreu em 79,2 por cento, re-intubação em 31,6 por cento, com tempo médio 13 ± 8,7 horas, sendo 75 por cento devido à falência respiratória. Não houve correlação entre extubação e níveis de hemoglobina, PaO2/FiO2, idade, sexo, SDRA ou choque séptico prévios. O sucesso da retirada da VM (48 horas de autonomia) não se correlacionou com nenhuma das variáveis descritas. Os resultados foram considerados significativos se p < 0,05. CONCLUSÕES: O tubo T mostrou ser método adequado para a retirada da VM na maioria dos pacientes. Entretanto, a taxa de re-intubação foi elevada, podendo ser conseqüência do longo tempo do TT, da ventilação mecânica prévia ou da falha dos critérios de indicação de extubação traqueal.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Weaning from mechanical ventilation (MV) is an important strategy to reduce morbidity and mortality in critical care patients. In this setting, this study aimed at evaluation of T-tube trial (TT) in weaning from MV. METHODS: Patient admitted in the ICU were included if they present the following inclusion criteria: MV > 24 hours, no neuromuscular disorders, PaO2/FiO2 ratio >200, hemodynamic stability, reversion of the cause of respiratory failure, adequate respiratory drive. All were submitted to TT. Failure was defined by the presence of one of these symptoms: RR > 30 ipm, hypoxemia, tachycardia, arrhythmia, hypertension or hypotension. After two hours of TT, patients without failure criteria were extubated. After 48 hours of adequate spontaneous respiration the patient was considered successful weaned. Results were considered significant if p < 0.05. RESULTS: Forty-nine patients were included with a mean age 51.8 ± 21.7 years. The incidence of ARDS and septic shock were 26.5 percent and 32.7 percent and mean duration of MV was 11.9 ± 13 days. Discontinuation of MV occurred in 79.2 percent, reintubation in 31.6 percent, in a mean time of 13 ± 8.7 hours and in 75 percent of the cases it was due to respiratory failure. There was no correlation between success in TT and hemoglobin levels, PaO2/FiO2 ratio, age, gender, prior ARDS or septic shock. Weaning success was not correlated with none of the above variables. CONCLUSIONS: TT was adequated for weaning from mechanical ventilation in the majority of the cases. However, reintubation rate was high. Possible causes are the long period of TT, prior mechanical ventilation or the failure in the criteria used to indicate extubation.

Treatment of nosocomial pneumoniae: an experience with meropenem

This study aimed at evaluating the efficacy and safety of meropenem as first choice treatment for nosocomial pneumonia (NP) in intensive care units (ICU) in Hospital das Clínicas (HC) - University of Säo Paulo; a hospital with high incidence of antimicrobial resistence. Prospective, open, and non-comparative trial with meropenem were done in patients with ventilator-assiciated or aspiration NP in 2 ICUs at HC - University od Säo Paulo. Etiologic investigation was done through bronchoalveolar lavage and blood cultures prior to study entry. Twenty-five (25) critically ill patients with NP were enrolled (mean age 40 years). Ventilator-acquired pneumonia was responsible for 76 percent of cases and aspiration NP for 24 percent. Specific etiologic agents were identified and considered to be clinically and temporally responsible for NP in 11 (44 percent) patients. A.baumanii was responsible for 6 cases (55 percent), P.aeruginosa for 3 (27 percent), and S.aureus for 2 (18 percent). At completion of treatment, 19 patients (76 percent) showed either cure (48 percent) or improvement (28 percent) after use of meropenem therapy. Mortality was 12 percent at the end therapy (8 perecent after excluding 1 non-evaluable patient). After 4 to 6 weeks of follow-up, 12 (48 percent) patients has improved or been totally cured, and overall mortality was 24 percent. Clinical complications were observed in 11 patients (44 percent), with none of them definitely related to the study drug. Meropenem as monotherapy was effective and well-tolerated in most NP patients in our ICU. The low mortality rate in this study might have been due to first choice use of this drug. Controlled, drug comparative clinical trials are needed to support this preliminary observation.