Noninvasive mechanical ventilation assistance in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a systematic review

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Respiratory failure is the most common cause of death in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and morbidity is related to poor quality of life (QOL). Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) may be associated with prolonged survival and QOL in patients with ALS. OBJECTIVES: To assess whether NIV is effective and safe for patients with ALS in terms of survival and QOL, alerting the health system. DESIGN AND SETTING: Systematic review was conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses reporting standards using population, intervention, comparison, and outcome strategies. METHODS: The Cochrane Library, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, LILACS, EMBASE, and CRD databases were searched based on the eligibility criteria for all types of studies on NIV use in patients with ALS published up to January 2022. Data were extracted from the included studies, and the findings were presented using a narrative synthesis. RESULTS: Of the 120 papers identified, only 14 were related to systematic reviews. After thorough reading, only one meta-analysis was considered eligible. In the second stage, 248 studies were included; however, only one systematic review was included. The results demonstrated that NIV provided relief from the symptoms of chronic hypoventilation, increased survival, and improved QOL compared to standard care. These results varied according to clinical phenotype. CONCLUSIONS: NIV in patients with ALS improves the outcome and can delay the indication for tracheostomy, reducing expenditure on hospitalization and occupancy of intensive care unit beds. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO database: CRD42021279910 — https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=279910.

Risk factors of mortality among COVID-19 patients receiving non-invasive ventilation at Addis Ababa governmental COVID-19 treatment centers

Introduction: during the global COVID-19 pandemic, non-invasive ventilation has become a widely utilized method for treating patients experiencing acute respiratory failure. Noninvasive pressure ventilation is frequently employed as a standard approach for managing acute respiratory failure resulting from COVID-19 pneumonia, as opposed to invasive ventilation methods. However, there is a lack of research on its effectiveness. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the risk of mortality among COVID-19 patients receiving non-invasive ventilation. Methods: a multi-centric retrospective cross sectional study was conducted on the records of 402 patients at the Eka Kotebe COVID-19 Center, St. Peter COVID-19 Care Center, and Millennium COVID-19 Treatment Center. The systematic random selection technique was employed in order to select the study unit, and data was extracted from patient charts using a pretested method and validated before being entered into Epi-data Manager 4.6 versions. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariable analyses were performed using binary logistic regression in SPSS 25. In the multivariate logistic regression, a predictor variable was considered to have a significant connection if its p-value was less than 0.05 at a 95% confidence level. Results: four hundred and two patient records were reviewed during the study period and showed the mean patient´s age was 62.6 years, with male predominance. It revealed that 11.7% [CI: 8.7-15.2] of COVID-19 patients who received non-invasive positive pressure ventilation died, as being critical for COVID-19 patients was a main cause of noninvasive initiation. Patients over the age of 60 were more likely to die among those who received noninvasive ventilation for COVID-19 [AOR = 5.4 95% CI 1.32, 23.1]. Conversely, patients without diabetes were less likely to die [AOR = 0.23 95% CI 0.11, 0.48]. Moreover, patients with a tidal volume greater than 500 ml were more likely to pass away [AOR =2.2 95% CI 1.11,4.43], as were those who were on non-invasive ventilation (NIV) for more than 8 days [AOR = 0.24 95% CI.08, 0.81]. Conclusion: the significance of patients who were given non-invasive ventilators ended up dying. Age, diabetes, and high tidal volumes are linked to a higher risk of death. Non-invasive ventilation for over eight days showed a protective effect. Removing factors that caused NIV and ventilated COVID-19 patients' deaths may reduce mortality.

Lung transplantation after paraquat poisoning in an adolescent: one case report and literature review / 器官移植

Objective To summarize the effect of the timing of lung transplantation and related treatment measures on clinical prognosis of patients with paraquat poisoning. Methods Clinical data of a patient with paraquat poisoning undergoing bilateral lung transplantation were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical manifestations, auxiliary examination, diagnosis and treatment of this patient were summarized and analyzed. Results A 17-year-old adolescent was admitted to hospital due to nausea, vomiting, cough and systemic fatigue after oral intake of 20-30 mL of 25% paraquat. After symptomatic support treatment, the oxygen saturation was not improved, and pulmonary fibrosis continued to progress. Therefore, sequential bilateral lung transplantation was performed under extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). After postoperative rehabilitation and active prevention and treatment for postoperative complications, the patient was discharged at postoperative 50 d. Conclusions The timing of lung transplantation after paraquat poisoning may be selected when the liver and kidney function start to recover. Active and targeted prevention of potential pathogen infection in perioperative period and early rehabilitation training contribute to improving clinical prognosis of lung transplant recipients.

Split cricoideo anterior posterior: una novedosa técnica para evitar la traqueotomía en parálisis cordal bilateral en pacientes pediátricos / Posterior anterior cricoid split: a cutting-edge technique to avoid tracheostomy in bilateral cordal paralysis in pediatric patients

Introducción: La parálisis cordal bilateral en aducción es la segunda causa de estridor congénito y genera una grave obstrucción de la vía aérea, debutando con estridor. La traqueotomía ha sido durante mucho tiempo el gold estándar para el tratamiento de esta afección, no exenta de complicaciones. Existen procedimientos que intentan evitar la traqueotomía, como el split cricoideo anterior posterior endoscópico (SCAPE). Objetivo: Presentar experiencia con SCAPE en pacientes pediátricos como tratamiento alternativo de parálisis cordal bilateral en aducción. Material y Método: Análisis retrospectivo de los resultados quirúrgicos obtenidos en pacientes con parálisis cordal bilateral en aducción tratados con SCAPE entre enero de 2016 y diciembre de 2019 en el Hospital Guillermo Grant Benavente de Concepción, Chile. Resultados: Siete pacientes se sometieron a SCAPE. Todos los pacientes presentaban insuficiencia respiratoria severa, cinco requirieron asistencia ventilatoria mecánica. Seis pacientes tenían el diagnóstico de parálisis cordal bilateral (PCB) congénita y uno PCB secundaria a tumor de tronco cerebral. Cuatro pacientes presentaron comorbilidad de la vía aérea: dos pacientes presentaron estenosis subglótica grado I y dos pacientes presentaron laringomalacia que requirió manejo quirúrgico. Los días promedio de intubación fueron once días. Ningún paciente requirió soporte ventilatorio postoperatorio, sólo un paciente recibió oxigenoterapia nocturna debido a hipoventilación secundaria a lesión de tronco. Ningún paciente ha presentado descompensación respiratoria grave. Un 40% ha recuperado movilidad cordal bilateral. Conclusión: Split cricoideo anteroposterior endoscópico es una alternativa eficaz para tratar el PCB en pacientes pediátricos. Nuestro estudio evidencia que es una alternativa a la traqueotomía, con excelentes resultados y menor morbimortalidad.

Introduction: Bilateral vocal fold paralysis in adduction is the second cause of congenital stridor and generates a serious obstruction of the airway. Tracheostomy has long been the gold standard for the treatment of this condition, but it has inherent complications. There are procedures that try to avoid tracheotomy, such as the endoscopic anterior posterior cricoid split (EAPCS). Aim: Present our experience with EAPCS in pediatric patients as a treatment for bilateral vocal fold paralysis in adduction. Material and Method: Retrospective analysis of the surgical results obtained in patients with bilateral vocal cord paralysis in adduction treated with EAPCS between January 2016 and December 2019 at Guillermo Grant Benavente Hospital in Concepción, Chile. Results: Seven patients underwent EAPCS. All patients had severe respiratory failure, five required mechanical ventilation assistance. Six patients were diagnosed with congenital bilateral cord palsy (BCP) and one BCP secondary to a brainstem tumor. Four patients had airway comorbidity: two patients had grade I subglottic stenosis and two patients had laryngomalacia that required surgical management. The average days of intubation were eleven days. No patient required post op invasive/non-invasive ventilation, only one patient received nocturnal oxygen therapy due to hypoventilation secondary to trunk injury. None of the patients has presented severe respiratory decompensation. Forty percent have recovered bilateral chordal mobility. Conclusion: SCAPE is a cutting-edge and effective alternative to treat PCB in pediatric patients. Our study shows that it is an alternative to tracheotomy, with excellent results and lower morbidity and mortality.

Effectiveness and safety of tocilizumab for COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Tocilizumab is an anti-human interleukin 6 receptor monoclonal antibody that has been used to treat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, there is no consensus on its efficacy for the treatment of COVID-19. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of tocilizumab for treating COVID-19. DESIGN AND SETTING: Systematic Review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo (SP), Brazil. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE via PubMed, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and IBECS for RCTs published up to March 2021. Two authors selected studies and assessed the risk of bias and the certainty of the evidence following Cochrane Recommendations. RESULTS: Eight RCTs with 6,139 participants were included. We were not able to find differences between using tocilizumab compared to standard care on mortality in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 (risk ratio (RR) 0.97, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.84 to 1.13; 8 trials; 5,950 participants; low-certainty evidence). However, hospitalized patients under tocilizumab plus standard care treatment seemed to present a significantly lower risk of needing mechanical ventilation (risk ratio = 0.78; 95% CI 0.64−0.94 moderate-certainty of evidence). CONCLUSIONS: To date, the best evidence available shows no difference between using tocilizumab plus standard care compared to standard care alone for reducing mortality in patients with COVID-19. However, as a finding with a practical implication, the use of tocilizumab in association to standard care probably reduces the risk of progressing to mechanical ventilation in those patients. REGISTRATION: osf.io/qe4fs.

Clinical implications of Golgi protein 73 and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and their related factors in children with bronchopneumonia

Abstract Objective: To investigate the clinical implications of Golgi glycoprotein 73 (GP73) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in children with bronchopneumonia (BP). Methods: Seventy-two children with BP (observation group) and 81 healthy children (control group) consecutively brought to the present study's hospital between June 2019 and October 2020 were enrolled. GP73 and G-CSF levels were determined to analyze their diagnostic value for pediatric BP. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) was also measured. The clinical implications of GP73 and G-CSF in pediatric BP complicated with respiratory failure and their connections with the inflammatory response were discussed. Results: GP73 and G-CSF levels were remarkably higher in the observation group (p< 0.05). The sensitivity and specificity of combined detection (GP73+G-CSF) in predicting pediatric BP were 72.22% and 86.42%, respectively (p < 0.001 ). GP73 and G-CSF, which are closely related to X-ray classification and complications in the observation group, decreased after treatment and were positively correlated with hs-CRP (p < 0.05), especially in children complicated with respiratory failure. Regression analysis identified the independence of the course of the disease, hs-CRP, X-ray classification, GP73, and G-CSF as influencing factors of respiratory failure in children with BP (p < 0.05). Conclusion: GP73 and G-CSF, with elevated levels in children with BP, are strongly linked to disease progression and are independent influencing factors of respiratory failure, which may be the key to diagnosing and treating pediatric BP in the future.

The early use of iNO in extremely premature neonates with refractory hypoxic respiratory failure / 中国新生儿科杂志

Objective:To study the early use of inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) as a rescue therapy in extremely premature infants (EPIs) with refractory hypoxic respiratory failure (HRF).Methods:Between January 2021 and December 2021, EPIs with refractory HRF receiving iNO within the first week of life in our NICU were enrolled. Their clinical characteristics and outcomes were retrospectively analyzed.Results:A total of 11 EPIs were included with 5 males and 6 females. The median gestational age (GA) was 24(22.6, 25.2) weeks. The median birth weight (BW) was 580(490, 770) g. The most common primary diagnoses were moderate/severe respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) (5/11) and early-onset sepsis (3/11). The median age starting iNO therapy was 6.5(4.5, 34.0)h and the median duration of iNO was 24(12, 36)h. The median iNO starting dose was 5(5, 8) ppm and the therapeutic range was 5-20 ppm. Therapeutic efficacy was defined as ≥30% FiO 2 reduction after 6 h of iNO treatment. The treatment was effective in 8 cases. The oxygenation index (OI) decreased more than 10% from baseline 1 h after initiation in 9 patients and in all 11 patients after 12 h of iNO. The reduction of OI was more prominent in EPIs with a higher OI at baseline. Of the 11 patients, 8 survived, 1 died and 2 abandoned further treatments. Conclusions:As an early rescue therapy for EPIs with refractory HRF, iNO can improve oxygenation without obvious short-term adverse effects.

Analysis of clinical characteristics and risk factors of severe adenovirus pneumonia in children / 中国小儿急救医学

Objective:To understand the epidemiology, clinical characteristics and associated risk factors of severe adenovirus(ADV)pneumonia in children, providing the basis for targeted prevention and treatment.Methods:Clinical features of children with ADV pneumonia at Children′s Hospital of Soochow University from January 2011 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed.According to the severity of the disease, cases were divided into severe ADV pneumonia group and common ADV pneumonia group.The epidemiological and clinical characteristics of two groups were compared, and risk factors for the occurrence of severe ADV pneumonia were analyzed.Results:A total of 1 158 patients with ADV pneumonia were enrolled, including severe ADV pneumonia 104 cases(8.98%) and ordinary ADV pneumonia 1 054 cases(91.02%).The median age of severe ADV pneumonia group was 1.17 (0.83, 2.73) years, which was significantly younger than that of common ADV pneumonia group 3.16 (1.50, 4.50) years( P<0.05), and 77.89% (81/104) of them were younger than 3 years old.The occurrence of severe ADV pneumonia was predominant in winter and spring, accounting for 71.15% (74/104).Cough was present in 89.42% (93/104) and fever in 99.01% (103/104) of the severe ADV pneumonia group.Compared with the common ADV pneumonia group, the severe ADV pneumonia group had a significantly longer febrile time[10(6, 14)d vs. 5(4, 7)d, P<0.05], significantly higher incidence of shortness of breath, wheezing, convulsions/coma[100% vs. 2.09%, 45.19% vs. 13.57%, 10.57% vs. 1.99%, P<0.05], and significantly higher incidences of emphysema, pleural effusion, bronchial signs, pulmonary solids, and atelectasis [21.15% vs. 2.09%, 5.77% vs. 0.19%, 4.81% vs. 0, 3.85% vs. 0.09%, P<0.05].Multivariable Logistic regression showed that age younger than 1.71 years old, wheezing, and the presence of underlying diseases (moderate to severe anaemia, congenital heart disease, neurological disease) were risk factors for the development of severe ADV pneumonia ( P<0.05).Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the sensitivity and specificity of age<1.71 years old(20 months old) for predicting the occurrence of severe ADV pneumonia were 65.4% and 71.5%, respectively. Conclusion:The age of most severe ADV pneumonia is less 3 years in Suzhou.It usually occurres in winter and spring, with fever, cough, shortness of breath, and wheezing as the main symptoms.Pulmonary manifestations such as pleural effusion, emphysema, pulmonary consolidation, and atelectasis may occur.The underlying disease, wheezing, and age of onset less than 1.71 years (20 months) old are independent risk factors for severe ADV pneumonia.

Comparison of SpO 2/FiO 2 and ROX index for predicting failure of high-flow nasal cannula therapy in children with acute respiratory failure after congenital heart surgery / 中国小儿急救医学

Objective:To compare the predictive ability of SpO 2/FiO 2(S/F) and ROX index on the failure of high-flow nasal cannula(HFNC)therapy in children with acute respiratory failure after congenital heart disease surgery, and to identify the best cut-off point. Methods:Through a case-control study, the clinical data of 371 children with acute respiratory failure after congenital heart surgery treated with HFNC admitted to Guangzhou Women and Children′s Medical Center from January 2018 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed.The primary outcome was the need for re-intubation within 48 h after extubation of invasive ventilation.The ability of S/F and ROX index to predict HFNC failure was compared, and the optimal cut-off point was determined based on the area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic curve.Results:A total of 371 children were included, of whom 27 (7.3%) eventually required mechanical ventilation within 48 h. The S/F prediction accuracy was highest after 6 h of HFNC treatment(AUC=0.712, 95% CI 0.599-0.825, P=0.001), and the best cut-off point for S/F was 178 mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa)(sensitivity 74.9%, specificity 69.6%). Whereas the prediction accuracy of the ROX index was highest after 12 hours of HFNC treatment, the AUC was 0.737(95% CI 0.623-0.851, P=0.002), and the best cut-off point of the ROX index was 5.865(sensitivity 72.4% specificity 66.7%). The difference in AUC between S/F after 6 h of HFNC treatment and ROX after 12 h was not statistically significant ( P=0.444), with higher sensitivity and specificity, and earlier prediction time(6 hours) in the former. Conclusion:Children with acute respiratory failure after congenital heart surgery have a strong predictive ability of S/F after 6 h of HFNC treatment, and the risk of HFNC treatment failure is higher in children with S/F <178 mmHg.

High-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy versus non-invasive ventilation for chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases with acute-moderate hypercapnic respiratory failure: a randomized controlled trial of non-inferiority / 中华急诊医学杂志

Objective:To compare the efficacy of high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy (HFNC) and non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in the treatment of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) with moderate typeⅡ respiratory failure, to clarify the feasibility of HFNC in the treatment of AECOPD, and to explore the influencing factors of HFNC failure.Methods:This study was a randomized controlled trial of non-inferiority. Patients with AECOPD with moderate type Ⅱ respiratory failure [arterial blood gas pH 7.25-7.35, partial pressure of arterial blood carbon dioxide (PaCO 2)> 50 mmHg] admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) from January 2018 to December 2021 were randomly assigned to the HFNC group and NIV group to receive respiratory support. The primary endpoint was the treatment failure rate. The secondary endpoints were blood gas analysis and vital signs at 1 h, 12 h, and 48 h, total duration of respiratory support, 28-day mortality, comfort score, ICU length of stay, and total length of stay. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the failure factors of HFNC treatment. Results:Totally 228 patients were randomly divided into two groups, 108 patients in the HFNC group and 110 patients in the NIV group. The treatment failure rate was 29.6% in the HFNC group and 25.5% in the NIV group. The risk difference of failure rate between the two groups was 4.18% (95% CI: -8.27%~16.48%, P=0.490), which was lower than the non-inferiority value of 9%. The most common causes of failure in the HFNC group were carbon dioxide retention and aggravation of respiratory distress, and the most common causes of failure in the NIV group were treatment intolerance and aggravation of respiratory distress. Treatment intolerance in the HFNC group was significantly lower than that in the NIV group (-29.02%, 95% CI -49.52%~-7.49%; P=0.004). After 1 h of treatment, the pH in both groups increased significantly, PaCO 2 decreased significantly and the oxygenation index increased significantly compared with baseline (all P < 0.05). PaCO 2 in both groups decreased gradually at 1 h, 12 h and 48 h after treatment, and the pH gradually increased. The average number of daily airway care interventions and the incidence of nasal and facial lesions in the HFNC group were significantly lower than those in the NIV group ( P < 0.05), while the comfort score in the HFNC group was significantly higher than that in the NIV group ( P=0.021). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the total duration of respiratory support, dyspnea score, ICU length of stay, total length of stay and 28-day mortality (all P > 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ score (≥15), family NIV, history of cerebrovascular accident, PaCO 2 (≥60 mmHg) and respiratory rate (≥32 times/min) at 1 h were independent predictors of HFNC failure. Conclusions:HFNC is not inferior to NIV in the treatment of AECOPD complicated with moderate type Ⅱ respiratory failure. HFNC is an ideal choice of respiratory support for patients with NIV intolerance, but clinical application should pay attention to the influencing factors of its treatment failure.

Application of continuous renal replacement therapy combined with extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal in children with acute respiratory failure / 中华急诊医学杂志

Objective:To explore the role of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) combined with extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal (ECCO 2R) in the treatment of children with respiratory failure. Methods:The clinical data of 12 children with respiratory failure who were treated with CRRT+ECCO 2R in PICU of Jinan Children's Hospital from July 2020 to August 2022 were collected and analyzed retrospectively. The outcomes and the external pipeline usage of the patients were observed, and the blood gas analysis and ventilator parameters before 1 h and after 1, 6, 12 and 24 h of the treatment were compared by one-way ANOVA with LSD post hoc correction. Results:Six patients successfully withdrew from CRRT+ECCO 2R and mechanical ventilation, three patients were transferred to ECMO treatment. Three cases died after voluntary withdrawal of treatment, and two cases died due to treatment failure. The mortality rate was 41.7%. After continuous treatment of CRRT+ECCO 2R for 15 to 112 h, two cases experienced extracorporeal circuit obstruction. After 1 h of treatment, PaCO 2 decreased from (64.67±24.4) mmHg to (49.42±15.54) mmHg, pH increased from (7.28±0.20) to (7.38±0.11), FiO 2 decreased from (0.85±0.13) to (0.78±0.15), PC decreased from (19.42±4.34) cmH 2O to (17.75±4.00) cmH 2O. After 24 h of treatment, PaCO 2 decreased to (39.2±5.55) mmHg, pH increased to (7.41±0.04), FiO 2 decreased to (0.46±0.11), and PC decreased to (13.8±3.36) cmH 2O, and the differences were statistically significant compared with before treatment ( P < 0.05). Conclusions:The combination of CRRT and ECCO 2R therapy can safely substitute for partial lung ventilation/perfusion function, and play a role in protecting right heart function and improving lung-kidney interaction. It can be considered as an option for extracorporeal respiratory, circulatory, and renal support, and consequently has broad prospects.

Analysis of factors leading to tracheostomy in patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation in emergency intensive care unit / 中华急诊医学杂志

Objective:To analyze the risk factors which may lead to tracheostomy in patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) in emergency intensive care unit (EICU).Methods:A case-control study was adopted to retrospectively analyze the clinical data of patients hospitalized in EICU receiving IMV from August 2016 to August 2019. The clinical data of patients were extracted through the electronic medical record system of the hospital information database. Patients were divided into the tracheostomy group and successful extubation group according to whether they received tracheostomy during hospitalization. The different clinical characteristics of the two groups were compared, and logistic regression was used to analyze the independent risk factors of tracheostomy.Results:A total of 109 patients were included in this study, among which, 53 patients underwent tracheotomy and 56 patients were successfully extubated. Logistic regression showed that GCS score ≤ 8 ( OR=5.10, 95% CI: 1.68-15.42, P < 0.01), cervical spinal cord injury ( OR=10.32, 95% CI: 2.74-38.82, P < 0.01), and sepsis ( OR=3.45, 95% CI: 1.39-8.54, P<0.01) were independent risk factors of tracheostomy for patients receiving IMV in EICU. Conclusions:If patients receiving IMV have GCS score ≤ 8, cervical spinal cord injury, or sepsis, they should be given more attention, because they may need early tracheostomy to save lives and improve the prognosis.

Neonate-onset ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency / 中国当代儿科杂志

The male neonate in this case study was admitted to the hospital at 15 hours of age due to respiratory distress for 15 hours and poor response for 3 hours after resuscitation from asphyxia. The neonate was highly unresponsive, with central respiratory failure and seizures. Serum ammonia was elevated (>1 000 μmol/L). Blood tandem mass spectrometry revealed a significant decrease in citrulline. Rapid familial whole genome sequencing revealed OTC gene mutations inherited from the mother. Continuous hemodialysis filtration and other treatments were given. Neurological assessment was performed by cranial magnetic resonance imaging and electroencephalogram. The neonate was diagnosed with ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency combined with brain injury. He died at 6 days of age after withdrawing care. This article focuses on the differential diagnosis of neonatal hyperammonemia and introduces the multidisciplinary management of inborn error of metabolism.

Análisis de la experiencia del uso de cánula nasal de alto flujo como terapéutica en neumonía por SARS-CoV-2 / Analysis of the experience of the use of high-flow nasal cannula as therapeutics in SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia

RESUMEN Introducción: Durante la pandemia por SARS-CoV-2, la cánula nasal de alto flujo (CNAF) se usó como soporte en espera de Unidad de terapia intensiva (UTI) o como alternativa a la ventilación invasiva. Objetivos: Primario: Determinar si la cánula nasal de alto flujo evita la intubación oro traqueal. Secundarios: Analizar predictores de éxito al inicio de la cánula nasal de alto flujo y análisis descriptivo de la muestra. Materiales y métodos: Estudio observacional descriptivo retrospectivo. Se incluyeron pacientes mayores de 16 años positivos para SARS-CoV-2, atendidos en guardia y unidad de terapia intensiva, que utilizaron cánula nasal de alto flujo entre octubre de 2020 y marzo 2021. Se recolectaron datos en planillas individuales, analizadas por un profesional externo. Resultados: Se incluyeron en el trabajo 72 pacientes (de 16 a 88 años), 20 mujeres y 52 hombres. El 50 % de la muestra evitó la intubación orotraqueal. El IROX inicio grupo "éxito" vs. grupo "fracaso", p = 0,006. Comparación Irox 12 h grupo "éxito" vs. grupo "fracaso" p < 0,001. Comparación "tiempo desde ingreso a inicio de cánula nasal de alto flujo" grupo "éxito" vs. grupo "fracaso", p = 0,133. Comparación "Delta IROX" grupo "éxito" vs grupo "fracaso" p = 0,092. Conclusión: Se evitó la intubación orotraqueal en el 50 % de los casos. El IROX de inicio y el IROX a las 12 h del uso de cánula nasal de alto flujo fue estadísticamente significativo, lo que es un buen predictor del éxito en esta población. La fecha de inicio de síntomas y el uso de cánula nasal de alto flujo y el delta del IROX durante las pri meras 12 h no fue estadísticamente significativo para el éxito de la terapia. Estos datos son una herramienta útil con el objeto de generar protocolos de selección de pacientes para esta patología.

ABSTRACT Introduction: During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) was used as support while waiting for the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) or as an alternative to invasive ventilation. The objective of this work is the description and analysis of the use of CNAF in our population. Objectives: Primary: Determine if HFNC prevents orotracheal intubation. Secondary: Analyze predictors of success at the start of CNAF and a descriptive analysis of the sample Materials and method: Retrospective descriptive observational study. Patients over 16 years of age positive for SARS-CoV-2, treated in Guard and ICU were included. who used CNAF between October 2020 and March 2021 Data was collected in individual forms, analyzed by an external professional. Results: The study included 72 patients (16 to 88 years old), 20 women and 52 men; 50 % of the sample avoided orotracheal intubation. Start IROX, group "success" vs. group "failure" p = 0.006. Comparison Irox.12 h group "success" vs. group "failure" p < 0.001. Comparison "Time from admission to start of CNAF" group "success" vs. group "failure" p = 0.133. Comparison "Delta IROX" group "success" vs. group "failure" p = 0.092. Conclusion: HFNC avoided orotracheal intubation in the 50 % of the cases. The initial IROX and the IROX 12 hours after the use of HFNC were statistically significant, which is a good predictor of success in this population. The date of onset of symptoms and the use of FNAF and IROX delta during the first 12 hours were not statistically significant for the success of the therapy. These data are a useful tool for generating patient selection protocols for this pathology.

Early-Onset Respiratory Muscle Paralysis in Crotalic Envenomation: A Case Study

ABSTRACT Crotalic envenomation is responsible for approximately 8%-13% of ophidism cases in Brazil, yet it is associated with the highest mortality among snakes. We describe the case of a patient bitten by a rattlesnake who developed ventilatory muscle paralysis within hours after envenomation. While diaphragmatic paralysis is a rare late neurotoxic event following crotalic envenomation, in this case, paralysis occurred early but was rapidly reversed after antivenom administration. This report discusses potential contributing factors based on a comprehensive literature review.

Comparison of the timed inspiratory effort index with the T-piece trial as a decision-making tool for extubation: a randomized controlled non-inferiority trial

The "timed inspiratory effort" (TIE) index, a new predictor of weaning outcome, normalizes the maximal inspiratory pressure with the time required to reach this value up to 60 s, incorporating the time domain into the assessment of inspiratory muscle function. The objective of this study was to determine whether the TIE predicts successful extubation at a similar rate as the T-piece trial with less time required. A non-inferiority randomized controlled trial was performed with ICU subjects eligible for weaning. The participants were allocated to the TIE or the T-piece groups. The primary outcome was successful weaning, and the main secondary outcome was ICU mortality. Eighty participants of each group were included in the final analysis. Time from the start of a successful test to effective extubation was significantly lower in the TIE group than in the T-piece group, 15 (10 to 24) vs 55 (40 to 75) min, P<0.001. In the Kaplan-Meier analysis, no significant differences were found in successful weaning (79.5 vs 82.5%, P=0.268) or survival rate (62.9 vs 53.8%, P=0.210) between the TIE and T-piece groups at the 30th day. In this preliminary study, the TIE index was not inferior to the T-piece trial as a decision-making tool for extubation and allowed a reduction in the decision time.

Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for a Stanford type A aortic dissection patient combined with postoperative respiratory failure and COVID-19: A case report / 中国胸心血管外科临床杂志

@#During the new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there has been controversy over whether emergency surgical management should be performed or not in the patients with COVID-19. Stanford type A aortic dissection is a very urgent life-threatening disease, and guidelines recommend surgical treatment for patients with type A aortic dissection in the first instance. However, intraoperative extracorporeal circulation can be fatal to patients recovering from COVID-19. During the pandemic, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has played an important role in supporting COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory failure. This article reports a successful V-V ECMO treatment for a Stanford type A aortic dissection patient, who suffered respiratory failure caused by COVID-19 after emergency surgery.

Epidemiological characteristics and risk factors of severe respiratory failure in elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease / 公共卫生与预防医学

Objective To analyze the epidemiological characteristics and risk factors of severe respiratory failure in elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods A total of 288 COPD patients admitted to our hospital from January 2018 to December 2021 were selected. The patients were divided into control group (no severe respiratory failure) and observation group (severe respiratory failure) according to whether severe respiratory failure occurred during hospitalization. The FEV1 and FEV1/FVC values and clinical symptoms of the two groups were compared. Univariate analysis and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the influencing factors of severe respiratory failure in COPD patients. Results Among of 288 COPD patients, 86 cases (29.86%) developed severe respiratory failure. The proportion of severe respiratory failure in male patients aged ≥70 years was significantly higher (P3 times per year (OR=4.573) were the risk factors for severe respiratory failure in elderly COPD patients (P<0.05). Conclusion The elderly COPD hospitalized patients have a higher risk of severe respiratory failure, and most of them are male patients over 70 years old. Especially for patients over 70 years old with hypoproteinemia, more than 3 acute exacerbations per year, and nosocomial infection, active intervention should be given to prevent the risk of severe respiratory failure.

Predictive value of HACOR score on the clinical outcome of non-invasive positive pressure ventilation in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with pulmonary encephalopathy / 中华危重病急救医学

Objective:To explore the predictive value of HACOR score [heart rate (H), acidosis (A), consciousness (C), oxygenation (O), and respiratory rate (R)] on the clinical outcome of non-invasive positive pressure ventilation in patients with pulmonary encephalopathy due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods:A prospective study was conducted. The patients with COPD combined with pulmonary encephalopathy who were admitted to Henan Provincial People's Hospital from January 1, 2017 to June 1, 2021 and initially received non-invasive positive pressure ventilation were enrolled. Besides non-invasive positive pressure ventilation, standard medical treatments were delivered to these patients according to guidelines. The need for endotracheal intubation was judged as failure of non-invasive ventilation treatment. Early failure was defined as the need for endotracheal intubation within 48 hours of treatment, and late failure was defined as the need for endotracheal intubation 48 hours and later. The HACOR score at different time points after non-invasive ventilation, the length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, the total length of hospital stay, and the clinical outcome were recorded. The above indexes of patients with non-invasive ventilation were compared between successful and failed groups. The receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve) was drawn to evaluate the predictive effect of HACOR score on the failure of non-invasive positive pressure ventilation in the treatment of COPD with pulmonary encephalopathy.Results:A total of 630 patients were evaluated, and 51 patients were enrolled, including 42 males (82.35%) and 9 females (17.65%), with a median age of 70.0 (62.0, 78.0) years old. Among the 51 patients, 36 patients (70.59%) were successfully treated with non-invasive ventilation and discharged from the hospital eventually, and 15 patients (29.41%) failed and switched to invasive ventilation, of which 10 patients (19.61%) were defined early failure, 5 patients (9.80%) were late failure. The length of ICU and the total length of hospital stay of the non-invasive ventilation successful group were significantly longer than those of the non-invasive ventilation failure group [length of ICU stay (days): 13.0 (10.0, 16.0) vs. 5.0 (3.0, 8.0), total length of hospital stay (days): 23.0 (12.0, 28.0) vs. 12.0 (9.0, 15.0), both P < 0.01]. The HACOR score of patients at 1-2 hours in the non-invasive ventilation failure group was significantly higher than that in the successful group [10.47 (6.00, 16.00) vs. 6.00 (3.25, 8.00), P < 0.05]. However, there was no significant difference in HACOR score before non-invasive ventilation and at 3-6 hours between the two groups. The ROC curve showed that the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 1-2 hour HACOR score after non-invasive ventilation for predicting non-invasive ventilation failure in COPD patients with pulmonary encephalopathy was 0.686, and the 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was 0.504-0.868. When the best cut-off value was 10.50, the sensitivity was 60.03%, the specificity was 86.10%, positive predictive value was 91.23%, and negative predictive value was 47.21%. Conclusions:Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation could prevent 70.59% of COPD patients with pulmonary encephalopathy from intubation. HACOR score was valuable to predict non-invasive positive pressure ventilation failure in pulmonary encephalopathy patients due to COPD.

Endobronchial Ultrasound Bronchoscopy in Patients with Acute Respiratory Failure on Noninvasive Ventilation: Report of Two Cases

Fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) has simplified the direct examination of the lungs and is widely used for diagnosis and therapy. Fiberoptic bronchoscopes occupy a significant proportion of cross-section area of central airways, which can affect lung mechanics and gas exchanges that may lead to desaturation and cardiac arrhythmia. This makes bronchoscopy in critically ill patients with respiratory failure even more challenging. Use of noninvasive mechanical ventilation (NIV) may help to avoid use of invasive mechanical ventilation in selected patients with acute respiratory failure. It has been shown to be useful in hypoxemic patients to facilitate bronchoscopic examination for bronchoalveolar lavage, bronchial brushing, endobronchial biopsy (EBB), and transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB). Noninvasive mechanical ventilation has also been used to facilitate other endoscopic procedures including transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for diagnostic and therapeutic interventions in hypoxemic patients. Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) bronchoscope, having a wider diameter than a conventional bronchoscope, may have a more pronounced effect on lung mechanics and gas exchanges, and its use in patients on NIV has not been reported. Contraindications of EBUS are mostly relative and similar to FOB. There are several studies suggesting the safety of NIV-supported FOB in hypoxemic patients. We describe our experience of the first two EBUS bronchoscopies and transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) was done in hypoxemic patients with NIV support.