Variability in care for children with severe acute asthma in Latin America.

BACKGROUND: Care variability for children with severe acute asthma has been well documented in high-income countries, yet data from low- and middle-income regions are lacking. We sought to characterize the magnitude of practice variability in the care of Latin American children to identify opportunities for standardization of care. METHODS: A cross-sectional study performed through a retrospective analysis of contemporaneously collected data of children with severe acute asthma admitted to a center contributing to the LARed Network registry between May 2017 and May 2019. Centers were grouped by geographic location: Atlantic (AT), South Pacific (SP), and North Central (NC). RESULTS: Among 434 children, most received care in hospitals in the AT group (54% [235/434]), followed by the NC (23% [101/434]) and SP (23% [98/434]) groups. The majority of children in the AT (92% [215/235]) and SP (91% [89/98]) groups received nebulized salbutamol/albuterol, while metered-dose inhalers were preferred in the NC group (72% [73/101]). There was a wide variation in the use of antibiotics: AT (57% [135/235]), SP (48% [47/98]), and NC (14% [14/101]). The same was true for ipratropium bromide: AT (67% [157/235]), SP (90% [88/98]), and NC (17% [17/101]), and aminophylline: AT (57% [135/235]), NC (5% [5/101]), and SP (0% [0/98]). High-flow nasal cannula was the preferred respiratory support modality in the AT (60% [141/235]) and NC (40% [40/101]) groups, while bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) use was more common in the SP group (80% [78/98]). CONCLUSION: We identified significant variability in care for severe acute asthma. Our findings will help to inform the design of future studies, quality improvement initiatives, and development of practice guidelines within Latin America.

Is It Time to Change the Definition of Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmornary Disease? What Do We Need to Add?

Acute exacerbations in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) are associated with increased mortality, rate of hospitalization, use of healthcare resources, and have a negative impact on disease progression, quality of life and lung function of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). There is an imperative need to homogenize the definition of AECOPD because the incidence of exacerbations has a significant influence or implication on treatment decision making, particularly in pharmacotherapy and could impact the outcome or change the statistical significance of a therapeutic intervention in clinical trials. In this review, using PubMed searches, we have analyzed the weaknesses and strengths of the different used AECOPD definitions (symptom-based, healthcare-based definition or the combinations of both), as well as the findings of the studies that have assessed the relationship of different biomarkers with the diagnosis, etiology and differential diagnosis of AECOPD and the progress towards the development of a more precise definition of COPD exacerbation. Finally, we have proposed a simple definition of AECOPD, which must be validated in future clinical trials to define its accuracy and usefulness in daily practice.

Ventilación mecánica en paciente con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica / Mechanical ventilation in patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

La enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC) es un problema sanitario y económico mundial. En los pacientes que presentan exacerbación aguda y son hospitalizados, alrededor del 8 por ciento requieren soporte ventilatorio. La ventilación no invasiva es el tratamiento de primera línea en la falla respiratoria, no obstante, la ventilación mecánica invasiva también es requerida. Un buen entendimiento de la fisiopatología de la vía aérea y de la mecánica respiratoria es necesario para un mejor manejo de las exacerbaciones y la falla respiratoria. La hiperinsuflación dinámica a nivel pulmonar derivado de una limitación de los flujos espiratorios es un hecho cardinal. Por ello, es necesario una óptima programación del ventilador mecánico que privilegie el vaciamiento espiratorio de los pulmones, mejorar el intercambio gaseoso y minimizar el trabajo respiratorio del paciente. Esta revisión discute las alteraciones fisiopatológicas y mecánicas respiratorias en el paciente con EPOC exacerbado y las técnicas ventilatorias para optimizar el manejo de la falla respiratoria hipercápnica.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major global healthcare problem. The patients that present acute exacerbation and are hospitalized, about 8 percent needs support ventilator. The noninvasive ventilation is the treatment of the first line in the respiratory failure, nevertheless, the mechanical invasive ventilation also is needed. A good understanding of the airway pathophysiology and lung mechanics in COPD is necessary for a better manage of the acute exacerbations and respiratory failure. The dynamic hyperinflation derived from an expiratory airflow limitation is a cardinal fact. For management, is necessary an appropriate programming of the mechanical ventilator that favors the reducing the amount of air trapping of the lungs, to improve the gas exchange and to minimize the respiratory work of the patient. This review discusses the alterations pathophysiology and lung mechanics in the patient with acute exacerbation of COPD and ventilatory strategies.