Protocol-directed weaning versus conventional weaning from mechanical ventilation for neurocritical patients in an intensive care unit: a nonrandomized quasi-experimental study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether protocol-directed weaning in neurocritical patients would reduce the rate of extubation failure (as a primary outcome) and the associated complications (as a secondary outcome) compared with conventional weaning. METHODS: A quasi-experimental study was conducted in a medical-surgical intensive care unit from January 2016 to December 2018. Patients aged 18 years or older with an acute neurological disease who were on mechanical ventilation > 24 hours were included. All patients included in the study were ready to wean, with no or minimal sedation, Glasgow coma score ≥ 9, spontaneous ventilatory stimulus, noradrenaline ≤ 0.2µgr/kg/ minute, fraction of inspired oxygen ≤ 0.5, positive end-expiratory pressure ≤ 5cmH2O, maximal inspiratory pressure < -20cmH2O, and occlusion pressure < 6cmH2O. RESULTS: Ninety-four of 314 patients admitted to the intensive care unit were included (50 in the Intervention Group and 44 in the Control Group). There was no significant difference in spontaneous breathing trial failure (18% in the Intervention Group versus 34% in the Control Group, p = 0.12). More patients in the Intervention Group were extubated than in the Control Group (100% versus 79%, p = 0.01). The rate of extubation failure was not signifiantly diffrent between the groups (18% in the Intervention Group versus 17% in the Control Group; relative risk 1.02; 95%CI 0.64 - 1.61; p = 1.00). The reintubation rate was lower in the Control Group (16% in the Intervention Group versus 11% in the Control Group; relative risk 1.15; 95%CI 0.74 - 1.82; p = 0.75). The need for tracheotomy was lower in the Intervention Group [4 (8%) versus 11 (25%) in the Control Group; relative risk 0.32; 95%CI 0.11 - 0.93; p = 0.04]. At Day 28, the patients in the Intervention Group had more ventilator-free days than those in the Control Group [28 (26 - 28) days versus 26 (19 - 28) days; p = 0.01]. The total duration of mechanical ventilation was shorter in the Intervention Group than in the Control Group [5 (2 - 13) days versus 9 (3 - 22) days; p = 0.01]. There were no diffrences in the length of intensive care unit stay, 28-day free from mechanical ventilation, hospital stay or 90-day mortality. CONCLUSION: Considering the limitations of our study, the application of a weaning protocol for neurocritical patients led to a high percentage of extubation, a reduced need for tracheotomy and a shortened duration of mechanical ventilation. However, there was no reduction in extubation failure or the 28-day free of from mechanical ventilation compared with the Control Group.ClinicalTrials.gov Registry: NCT03128086.

Protocol-directed weaning versus conventional weaning from mechanical ventilation for neurocritical patients in an intensive care unit: a nonrandomized quasi-experimental study / Desmame da ventilação mecânica por protocolo versus desmame convencional em pacientes neurocríticos de uma unidade de terapia intensiva: um estudo quase experimental não randomizado

ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate whether protocol-directed weaning in neurocritical patients would reduce the rate of extubation failure (as a primary outcome) and the associated complications (as a secondary outcome) compared with conventional weaning. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted in a medical-surgical intensive care unit from January 2016 to December 2018. Patients aged 18 years or older with an acute neurological disease who were on mechanical ventilation > 24 hours were included. All patients included in the study were ready to wean, with no or minimal sedation, Glasgow coma score ≥ 9, spontaneous ventilatory stimulus, noradrenaline ≤ 0.2μgr/kg/ minute, fraction of inspired oxygen ≤ 0.5, positive end-expiratory pressure ≤ 5cmH2O, maximal inspiratory pressure < -20cmH2O, and occlusion pressure < 6cmH2O. Results: Ninety-four of 314 patients admitted to the intensive care unit were included (50 in the Intervention Group and 44 in the Control Group). There was no significant difference in spontaneous breathing trial failure (18% in the Intervention Group versus 34% in the Control Group, p = 0.12). More patients in the Intervention Group were extubated than in the Control Group (100% versus 79%, p = 0.01). The rate of extubation failure was not signifiantly diffrent between the groups (18% in the Intervention Group versus 17% in the Control Group; relative risk 1.02; 95%CI 0.64 - 1.61; p = 1.00). The reintubation rate was lower in the Control Group (16% in the Intervention Group versus 11% in the Control Group; relative risk 1.15; 95%CI 0.74 - 1.82; p = 0.75). The need for tracheotomy was lower in the Intervention Group [4 (8%) versus 11 (25%) in the Control Group; relative risk 0.32; 95%CI 0.11 - 0.93; p = 0.04]. At Day 28, the patients in the Intervention Group had more ventilator-free days than those in the Control Group [28 (26 - 28) days versus 26 (19 - 28) days; p = 0.01]. The total duration of mechanical ventilation was shorter in the Intervention Group than in the Control Group [5 (2 - 13) days versus 9 (3 - 22) days; p = 0.01]. There were no diffrences in the length of intensive care unit stay, 28-day free from mechanical ventilation, hospital stay or 90-day mortality. Conclusion: Considering the limitations of our study, the application of a weaning protocol for neurocritical patients led to a high percentage of extubation, a reduced need for tracheotomy and a shortened duration of mechanical ventilation. However, there was no reduction in extubation failure or the 28-day free of from mechanical ventilation compared with the Control Group. ClinicalTrials.gov Registry:NCT03128086

RESUMO Objetivo: Investigar se o desmame por protocolo em pacientes neurocríticos reduz a taxa de falha de extubação (desfecho primário) e as complicações associadas (desfecho secundário) em comparação com o desmame convencional. Métodos: Realizou-se um estudo quase experimental em uma unidade de terapia intensiva médico-cirúrgica de janeiro de 2016 a dezembro de 2018. Foram incluídos pacientes com 18 anos de idade ou mais, com doença neurológica aguda e em ventilação mecânica > 24 horas. Todos os pacientes incluídos no estudo estavam prontos para o desmame, com nenhuma ou mínima sedação, escala de coma de Glasgow ≥ 9, estímulo ventilatório espontâneo, noradrenalina ≤ 0,2μgr/kg/minuto, fração inspirada de oxigênio ≤ 0,5, pressão expiratória positiva final ≤ 5cmH2O, pressão inspiratória máxima < -20cmH2O e pressão de oclusão < 6cmH2O. Resultados: Foram incluídos 94 dos 314 pacientes admitidos à unidade de terapia intensiva, sendo 50 no Grupo Intervenção e 44 no Grupo Controle. Não houve diferença significativa na falha do ensaio respiratório espontâneo (18% no Grupo Intervenção versus 34% no Grupo Controle, p = 0,12). Foram extubados mais pacientes no Grupo Intervenção do que no Controle (100% versus 79%; p = 0,01). A taxa de falha de extubação não foi significativamente diferente entre os grupos (18% no Grupo Intervenção versus 17% no Grupo Controle, risco relativo de 1,02; IC95% 0,64 - 1,61; p = 1,00). A taxa de reintubação foi menor no Grupo Controle (16% no Grupo Intervenção versus 11% no Grupo Controle; risco relativo de 1,15; IC95% 0,74 -1,82; p = 0,75). A necessidade de traqueotomia foi menor no Grupo Intervenção [4 (8%) versus 11 (25%) no Grupo Controle; risco relativo de 0,32; IC95% 0,11 - 0,93; p = 0,04]. Aos 28 dias, os pacientes do Grupo Intervenção tinham mais dias sem ventilador do que os do Grupo Controle [28 (26 - 28) dias versus 26 (19 - 28) dias; p = 0,01]. A duração total da ventilação mecânica foi menor no Grupo Intervenção do que no Controle [5 (2 - 13) dias versus 9 (3 - 22) dias; p = 0,01]. Não houve diferenças no tempo de internação na unidade de terapia intensiva, 28 dias sem ventilação mecânica, internação hospitalar ou mortalidade em 90 dias. Conclusão: Considerando as limitações de nosso estudo, a aplicação de um protocolo de desmame em pacientes neurocríticos levou à maior proporção de extubação, à menor necessidade de traqueotomia e à menor duração da ventilação mecânica. Entretanto, não houve redução na falha de extubação ou 28 dias sem ventilação mecânica em comparação com o Grupo de Controle. Registro ClinicalTrials.gov:NCT03128086

Airway Ultrasound in Critically Ill Patients: A Narrative Review.

Airway assessment and management have a central role in critical care medicine. Airway ultrasound can help us evaluate the anatomy, facilitate interventions such as intubation in difficult airways and tracheostomy, prevent post-extubation complications, and diagnose dysphagia. In this review, we will summarize the current use of ultrasound in airway assessment and management in critically ill patients.

Altered glutathione system is associated with the presence of distal symmetric peripheral polyneuropathy in type 2 diabetic subjects.

Distal symmetric peripheral polyneuropathy (DSPN) is a highly prevalent complication of diabetes. However, underlying pathophysiological mechanisms are multiple and not well understood. The aim of our study was to analyze the oxidative stress levels in circulating mononuclear cells by measuring the glutathione system, malondialdehyde and oxidized-LDL, in 60 type 2 diabetic patients from a well-characterized cohort of 196 type 2 diabetic patients. Using a nested case-control design, we studied 30 type 2 diabetic patients with distal symmetric polyneuropathy and 30 diabetic controls without this complication, according to the Neuropathy Disability Score. We have found that diabetic patients with distal symmetric polyneuropathy showed significantly lower values of reduced glutathione (GSH) and reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) ratio. These data indicate an increased consumption of glutathione in mononuclear cells from patients with distal symmetric polyneuropathy. No significant differences were found in malondialdehyde or in oxidized-LDL levels comparing both groups. These data show an altered glutathione response in circulating monocytes from diabetic patients with distal symmetric polyneuropathy.

Oxidative stress and antioxidant enzyme values in lymphomonocytes after an oral unsaturated fat load test in familial hypercholesterolemic subjects.

Oxidative stress (OS) has been observed in conditions affecting the cardiovascular system. Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is associated with an increased risk of premature coronary heart disease. In the postprandial state, circulating lipids and lipoproteins can modulate OS status. Our aim was to study the response of lymphomonocyte OS status and reactive oxygen species by-products after an oral unsaturated fat load test (OFLT) in those with FH and to compare this response with that obtained in normolipidemic, normoglycemic subjects. We studied 12 patients with FH and 20 healthy controls. In both groups, lymphomonocyte, oxidized/reduced glutathione ratio, and malondialdehyde were determined at baseline and at 2, 4, 6, and 8 hours after an OFLT. Fasting urinary 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine and isoprostane were measured using standard procedures. In both groups, oxidized/reduced glutathione ratio and malondialdehyde significantly decreased in the postprandial state after the OFLT. Both parameters were significantly higher in the FH group at baseline and during all the postprandial points, but the reduction from the baseline levels was significantly higher in the FH group than in the control group. Urinary 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine was significantly increased in the FH group compared with the healthy control group, indicating a higher fasting OS status. We conclude that subjects with FH exhibited OS levels that were higher than in controls before and after an OFLT, but the improvement in the OS status after the unsaturated fat load was significantly higher in subjects with FH.