Intraoperative initiation of a modified ARDSNet protocol increases survival of septic patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome.

PURPOSE: To assess the intraoperative initiation and feasibility of a modified NIH-NHLBI ARDS Network Mechanical Ventilation Protocol (mARDSNet protocol) in septic patients with severe ARDS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective observational study included consecutive adult septic patients with severe ARDS who underwent emergency abdominal surgery prior to intensive care unit (ICU) admission. The primary outcome was survival to hospital discharge and at 90 days. Secondary outcomes were intraoperative adverse events and ICU length of stay. RESULTS: Seven patients were included. A statistically significant difference in lung compliance [ε=0.150, F(1.053, 3.158)=31.098, p=0.010] and driving pressure [ε=0.263, F(1.844, 5.532)=7.042, p=0.031] was observed with time, while plateau pressure did not changed significantly during surgery [ε=0.322, F(2.256, 6.769)=1.920, p=0.219]. Also, PEEP values were constantly increased during surgery [ε=0.252, F(1.766, 5.297)=9.994, p=0.017], with the highest values being observed towards to the end of the procedure. No intraoperative adverse events were observed. Mean (±SD) ICU length of stay was 10.43 (±2.64) days, while all patients survived to hospital discharge and at 90 days. CONCLUSIONS: The intraoperative implementation of our mARDSNet protocol is feasible and may increase the survival of septic patients with severe ARDS if initiated prior to ICU admission.

Development and Testing of a Novel Anaesthesia Induction/Ventilation Protocol for Patients With Cardiogenic Shock Complicating Acute Myocardial Infarction.

BACKGROUND: Cardiogenic shock is a life-threatening condition and patients might require rapid sequence induction (RSI) and mechanical ventilation. In this study, we evaluated a new RSI/mechanical ventilation protocol in patients with acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock. METHODS: We included consecutive adult patients who were transferred to the emergency department. The RSI protocol included 5 phases: preoxygenation, pretreatment, induction/paralysis, intubation, and mechanical ventilation (PPIIM). A posteriori, we selected historical patients managed with standard RSI as a control group. The primary outcome was hemodynamic derangement or hypoxemia from enrollment until intensive care unit (ICU) admission. RESULTS: We studied 31 consecutive patients who were intubated using the PPIIM protocol and 22 historical controls. We found significant differences in systolic (85.32 ± 4.23 vs 71.72 ± 7.98 mm Hg; P < 0.0001), diastolic (58.84 ± 5.84 vs 39.05 ± 5.63 mm Hg; P < 0.0001), and mean arterial pressure (67.71 ± 4.90 vs 49.90 ± 5.66 mm Hg; P < 0.0001), as well as in partial pressure of oxygen (85.80 ± 19.82 vs 164.73 ± 43.07 mm Hg; P < 0.0001) between the PPIIM and control group at 5 minutes of automated ventilation. Also, statistically significant differences were observed in diastolic (59.74 ± 4.93 vs 47.86 ± 11.47 mm Hg; P < 0.0001) and mean arterial pressure (68.65 ± 4.10 vs 60.23 ± 11.67 mm Hg; P < 0.0001), as well as in partial pressure of oxygen (119.84 ± 50.57 vs 179.50 ± 42.17 mm Hg; P < 0.0001), and partial pressure of carbon dioxide (39.81 ± 10.60 vs 31.00 ± 9.30 mm Hg; P = 0.003) between the 2 groups at ICU admission. Compared with the control group, with PPIIM more patients survived to ICU admission (100% vs 77%) and hospital discharge (71% vs 31.8%), as well as at 90 days (51.6% vs 18.2%), and at 180 days (38.7% vs 13.6%). CONCLUSIONS: The PPIIM protocol allows safe intubation of acute myocardial infarction patients with cardiogenic shock and improves hemodynamic and oxygenation parameters.

Airway pressure and outcome of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: A prospective observational study.

AIM: To assess the usefulness of airway pressure as predictor of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), as well as to investigate the optimized ventilation compression strategy during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). METHODS: In this prospective observational study, 300 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims were intubated and resuscitated with the use of a ventilator. Mean airway pressure (mPaw) was measured at pre-defined phases of CPR. RESULTS: A significant difference in mPaw was observed between survivors and non-survivors after the onset of the third minute of CPR. An mPaw value of 42.5mbar during CPR had specificity and sensitivity of 0.788 and 0.804, respectively, for ROSC (AUC=0.668, p=0.047). During CPR, we found statistically significant differences in mPaw at phases zero (F=4.526, p=0.002), two (F=4.506, p=0.002), four (F=8.187, p<0.0001), five (F=2.871, p=0.024), and six (F=5.364, p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Mean airway pressure was higher in survivors. A value of 42.5mbar was associated with ROSC.