Predictors of Successful Extubation in Neurocritical Care Patients.

INTRODUCTION: Delayed extubation in neurocritical care patients is associated with an increased length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU), a greater incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), and a poor outcome. There is no evidence available to support use of certain variables over others as predictors of successful extubation in these patients. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify predictors of successful extubation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a prospective observational study. The following variables were recorded: neurocritical diagnosis, age, sex, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, duration of stay in the ICU, duration of mechanical ventilation, Airway Care Score (ACS), airway occlusion pressure/maximum inspiratory pressure (P 0.1/PIMAx), and the motor score component of the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score. Weaning was defined as successful extubation and absence of ventilatory support for >7 days. RESULTS: In this prospective cohort of consecutive neurocritical care patients treated over a period of 30 months, we evaluated the following parameters daily: neurological status, intubation status, ventilator parameters, and gas exchange. Of 82 patients, 48 were excluded from the analysis and the remaining 34 patients were included in the analysis. A total of 26 participants (73.5%) achieved successful extubation. Their average age was 39.72 ± 16.43 years. None of the variables that were compared in relation to success or failure of extubation showed statistical significance, except for age (Z = -2.014, P < 0.044 with a Wide confidence interval; Spearman's ρ: r = 0.351, P < 0.042). CONCLUSION: In this study, the only predictive factor for successful extubation in neurocritical care patients was an age of <42.5 years.

Prognostic capability of the Maximum Acute Gastrointestinal Injury Score and of caloric intake in patients requiring vasopressors: A multicenter prospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: Our main objective was to use the Maximum Acute Gastrointestinal Injury Score (AGImax) to evaluate the prognostic capability of gastrointestinal dysfunction (GID), on hospital mortality in patients on mechanical ventilation (MV) requiring vasopressors. A secondary goal was to analyze the relationship between AGImax and vasopressor dosage with increasing caloric intake. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective multicenter cohort study in ten ICUs across Argentina. Consecutive adult patients on MV, requiring vasopressors and receiving enteral nutrition (EN) were included. AGImax was identified (I-IV) using a modified AGI score. Comparisons of clinical and outcome variables were performed in 3 predetermined EN-groups: <10 kcal/kg/d, ≥10 to <20 kcal/kg/d, or ≥ 20 kcal/kg/d. RESULTS: A total of 494 patients met all inclusion criteria. Forty-four percent of patients had severe AGImax and 17% received <10 kcal/kg/day, indicating more severity and higher mortality. Notable independent predictors of mortality were AGImax, vasopressors, and caloric intake. PN was the only factor which had an inverse relationship to mortality. CONCLUSIONS: In this population, patients with AGImax III-IV were significantly associated with lower caloric intake and greater hospital mortality, highlighting the importance of AGI as a prognostic tool. As PN was linked with lower mortality, it could be an option to explore in further studies.