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Comparative study of two different modes of noninvasive home mechanical ventilation in chronic respiratory failure.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Two modes of noninvasive home mechanical ventilation (NIHMV) with volumetric ventilators were compared in patients with chronic respiratory failure. DESIGN: Retrospective, parallel-group, comparative study. SETTING: Third-level teaching Hospital in Barcelona (Spain). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied 110 patients with chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure secondary to neuromuscular disease, kyphoscoliosis or post-tuberculosis sequelae, starting NIHMV with volumetric ventilators. The assist/control (A/C) ventilation mode was used in 45 patients and the control (C) mode in 65 patients. Clinical characteristics, pulmonary function results and arterial blood gas findings were assessed in each patient before establishing ventilation and at 6 and 12 months after. The patient's satisfaction with ventilation, the time required for adaptation, and compliance with the prescription were also assessed. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Significant improvements in PaO(2) and PaCO(2) (P<0.001) were found at 6 and 12 months with both modes of mechanical ventilation. There were no significant differences between the two modes for pulmonary function or blood gas parameters with the exception of maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) in patients receiving the C mode, which was significantly different as compared to the baseline value after 12 months of use (mean+/-sd: 36.6+/-14.8 and 44.7+/-24.2 cmH(2)O, respectively; P=0.010). No significant differences were found in adaptation, compliance with ventilation or patient satisfaction between the two modes studied. CONCLUSIONS: According to several factors analysed, results with the A/C or C mode used with volumetric ventilators appear to be comparable in patients with chronic respiratory disease receiving NIHMV. Choice of mode will depend on the acquired experience of the prescribing physicians in each centre.

Aged↗

The effect of pre-ECLS ventilation time on survival and respiratory morbidity in the neonatal population.

Although mechanical ventilation for more than 7 to 10 days has been considered a contraindication to the application of extracorporeal life support (ECLS) in neonates, the outcome and respiratory morbidity for newborns placed on ECLS after more than 7 days of ventilation have not been well characterized. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of pre-ECLS ventilation time on the rate of survival, the likelihood of the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), and the need for supplemental oxygen at the time of discharge. Examination of the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) Registry showed that 6,110 neonates were treated for respiratory failure with a pre-ECLS ventilation time of less than 14 days between January 1990 and May 1995. Gestational age (GA), birth weight (BW), indication for ECLS, and diagnosis were compared with the rate of survival, the discharge diagnosis of BPD, and the need for home oxygen. The GA and BW of neonates placed on ECLS during the first week of life (n = 5,888) did not differ significantly from those of neonates whose ECLS was begun in the second week of life (n = 222). The neonates were divided into two groups (early, ventilation time of 3 to 6 days; late, ventilation time of 7 to 10 days) to determine the odds ratios for survival, BPD, and home oxygen. Logistic regression analysis was used to develop a model to predict the rate of survival, the risk for the development of BPD, and the need for home oxygen given the length of pre-ECLS ventilation time. The late group was less likely to survive (odds ratio, 1.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21 to 2.68). The late group also had approximately twice the risk for the development of BPD (odds ratio, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.2 to 3.04) and a trend toward an increased incidence of home oxygen use (odds ratio, 1.55; 95% CI, 0.92 to 2.60). The authors conclude that (1) there is a greater risk of mortality and BPD and a trend toward an increased need for home oxygen with increased time on the ventilator before ECLS; (2) at 14 days the predicted probability of survival is still 53% (95% CI, 31% to 74%); (3) at 14 days the predicted probability of BPD is 54% (95% CI, 28% to 78%); and (4) based on these data, it is reasonable to consider application of ECLS to patients who have had mechanical ventilation for up to 14 days.

Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia↗

A comparison of infant ventilation methods performed by prehospital personnel.

By comparing mouth-to-mouth ventilation to other methods, we tested whether there are significant differences among infant mannequin ventilation methods performed by emergency medical technicians-paramedics (EMT-Ps). Fifty-nine participants were evaluated in the performance of six ventilation methods; methods studied were mouth-to-mouth; two mouth-to-mask devices; and infant, pediatric, and adult bag-valve-mask devices. By measuring each breath, the percentage of acceptable ventilations in predetermined ranges, 5 to 25 mL/kg or 10 to 20 mL/kg, was calculated. Methods were compared using repeat measures ANOVA testing. Correlation between ventilation performance and the experience of personnel was expressed as the Pearson correlation coefficient. There were no significant differences in performance between methods, except for inadequate ventilation with the Laerdal Pocket Mask (P less than .05) from poor mask fit. The correlation between years of prehospital experience and the number of resuscitations versus ventilation performance was poor. Single rescuer, EMT-Ps can successfully ventilate an infant mannequin with various size resuscitation bags. The Laerdal Pocket Mask is an ineffective device for infant mannequin ventilation and should not be recommended for infant resuscitation.

Adult↗

Long-term mechanical ventilation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Acute respiratory insufficiency (ARI) with alveolar hypoventilation or incapacitating dyspnoea but without peripheral muscle involvement can be an early manifestation of respiratory involvement in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Some of these patients benefit from assisted ventilation. The object of this study was to analyse the results of long-term mechanical ventilation (LTMV) in ten patients with ALS. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of intensive care unit (ICU) or ambulant patients with ALS who underwent LTMV in a conventional hospital ward was performed. Erect and supine spirometry, blood gas analysis and pulse oximetry were performed before the start and during the course of ventilation. RESULTS: Ten patients on LTMV were included. Four from the ICU were ventilated via tracheostomy, and six ambulant patients had non-invasive (nasal) ventilation. In all cases, ventilation was performed in a conventional hospital ward. The ambulant patients improved symptomatically during ventilation, confirmed by measurement of gas exchange and of SaO2 by continuous pulse oximetry. Three of the ten patients survive in long-term care--two with nasal and one with tracheostomy ventilation. CONCLUSIONS: LTMV outside ICU was possible in ten patients, seven of whom returned home. Returning home is very difficult for patients dependent on a ventilator who lack family support.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis↗

Adaptive support ventilation.

Adaptive support ventilation (ASV) is a newer form of closed-loop ventilation control available on the Galileo ventilator (Hamilton Medical). ASV provides automated selection of initial ventilator parameters based on measurements of patient lung mechanics and breathing effort. After initiation, ASV will "titrate" ventilator output (mandatory breath rate, tidal volume, inspiratory pressure, inspiratory time, and I to E ratio) to maintain a calculated optimal breathing pattern that ensures delivery of a clinician selected minute ventilation target. ASV may be thought of as an "electronic" ventilator management protocol that may improve the safety and efficacy of mechanical ventilation. Additional clinical investigations regarding the effect of ASV on outcome, ventilator days, and so forth are forthcoming.

Algorithms↗

Mouth-to-mouth ventilation of cardiac arrested humans using a barrier mask.

INTRODUCTION: Concern for possible disease transmission during mouth-to-mouth resuscitation has decreased the incidence of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Barrier masks have become available that may be effective in CPR as well as protective against cross-contamination. HYPOTHESIS: A silicone rubber barrier mask incorporating a one-way-valved airway (Kiss of Life [KOL]) designed to prevent contamination of the rescuer, permits satisfactory mouth-to-mouth ventilation of victims of cardiopulmonary arrest. METHODS: Ten adult patients who did not survive non-traumatic cardiac arrest were ventilated with exhaled room air using a KOL barrier mask while external cardiac massage continued. Arterial blood gases were obtained every two minutes for a maximum of 10 minutes. The operator was blinded to the results of these blood tests. RESULTS: Eight men and two women with ages from 55 to 99 years were studied. Four patients were edentulous and two of these had marked mandibular atrophy. The two patients with mandibular atrophy were poorly ventilated with the barrier mask. One other patient was not ventilated successfully. This patient had undergone multiple attempts at endotracheal intubation and had transtracheal needle ventilation performed prior to use of the barrier mask. One patient had elevated PaCO2 despite being well-ventilated clinically. Six patients were ventilated well clinically and had satisfactory PaCO2 and PaO2 values. CONCLUSION: The barrier mask studied appears to be an effective aid to ventilation in CPR. Patients without facial support, as in edentulous patients with mandibular atrophy, are not ventilated well with this device.

Aged↗

Ventilator treatment in the Nordic countries. A multicenter survey.

BACKGROUND: A 1-day point prevalence study was performed in the Nordic countries to identify ventilator-treatment strategies in the region. MATERIAL AND METHODS: On 30 May 30 2001 all mechanically ventilated patients in 27 intensive care units (ICUs) were registered via the internet. The results are shown as medians (25th, 75th percentile). RESULTS: One hundred and eight patients were included (69% male) with new simplified acute physiology score (SAPS) 48 (37,57) and 4.5 d (2,11) of ventilator treatment. The most frequent indication for ventilator treatment was acute respiratory failure (73%). Airway management was by endotracheal tube (64%), tracheostomy (32%) and facial mask (4%). Pressure regulated ventilator modes were used in 86% of the patients and spontaneous triggering was allowed in 75%. The tidal volume was 7 ml/kg (6,9), peak inspiratory pressure 22 cmH2O (18,26) and positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) 6 cmH2O (6,9). FiO2 was 40% (35,50), SaO2 97% (95-98), PaO2 11 kPa (10,13), PaCO2 5.4 kPa (4.7,6.3), pH 7.43 (7.38,7.47) and BE 2.0 mmol/l (- 0.5,5). The PaO2/FiO2 ratio was 220 mmHg (166,283). The peak inspiratory pressure (r=0.37), mean airway pressure (r=0.36), PEEP (r=0.33), tidal volume (r=0.22) and SAPS score (r=0.19) were identified as independent variables in relation to the PaO2/FiO2 ratio. CONCLUSION: The vast majority of patients were ventilated with pressure-regulated modes. Tidal volume was well below what has been considered conventional in recent large trials. Correlations between the parameters of gas exchange, respiratory mechanics, ventilator settings and physiological status of the patients was poor. It appears that blood gas values are the main tool used to steer ventilator treatment. These results may help to design future interventional studies of ventilator treatment.

Aged↗

Ventilation-induced release of phosphatidylcholine from neonatal-rat lungs in vitro.

Factors regulating the release of phosphatidylcholine (PC) from neonatal-rat lungs were investigated. The results show that the release of prelabelled PC from the newborn-rat lung was augmented by air ventilation at the onset of breathing. This response was mimicked in lungs of pups delivered 1 day before term and allowed to breathe for different time intervals. Anoxia further augmented the ventilation-enhanced PC release from the newborn-rat lungs. The ventilation-induced release of PC was not abolished by the prior treatment of pups in utero or mothers in vivo with phenoxybenzamine, propranolol or atropine, suggesting the lack of receptor stimulation in the ventilation-enhanced PC release at birth. The results also show that ventilation stimulated [methyl-14C]choline incorporation into lung PC, presumably to replenish the depleted surfactant stores. The ratio of adenylate cyclase/cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activities, which reflects cyclic AMP levels in the developing rat lungs, did not change during the 120 min of air ventilation when the release of PC was much enhanced, implying that cyclic AMP may not be involved. This confirms our conclusion that stimulation of beta-adrenergic receptor was not involved in the air-ventilation-enhanced release of PC. Since the cell number or size did not change during 120 min of ventilation when the alveolar-cell surface was maximally distended, it is suggested that distension of alveolar wall by air ventilation at the onset of breathing may bring the lamellar bodies containing surfactant close to the luminal surface of alveolar type II cells, thereby enhancing their fusion and extrusion by exocytosis.

Animals↗

A comparison of two techniques for manual ventilation of the lungs by non-anaesthetists: the bag-valve-facemask and the cuffed oropharyngeal airway (COPA) apparatus.

In order to evaluate the possible role of the cuffed oropharyngeal airway during cardiopulmonary resuscitation, we compared its use by non-anaesthetists with the bag-valve-facemask technique of providing ventilation. A group of anaesthetic nurses and operating department practitioners were asked to manually ventilate the lungs of 40 patients undergoing elective surgery following the induction of general anaesthesia with neuromuscular blockade. Ventilation was first attempted using the bag-valve-facemask technique and then using the appropriate size cuffed oropharyngeal airway and self-inflating bag. Ventilation was clinically adequate in 32/40 (80%) patients using the bag-valve-facemask and in 38/40 (95%) patients using the cuffed oropharyngeal airway. Measured expired tidal volumes were greater using the cuffed oropharyngeal airway than with bag-valve-facemask ventilation in two-thirds of patients, despite a higher incidence of audible air leak. Successful ventilation was achieved using the cuffed oropharyngeal airway in seven of the eight patients in whom bag-valve-facemask ventilation was inadequate. The cuffed oropharyngeal airway may offer an effective method of providing ventilation during cardiopulmonary resuscitation by non-anaesthetic hospital staff, particularly when attempted ventilation using a bag-valve-facemask technique is proving ineffective.

Adolescent↗

Are aggressive treatment strategies less cost-effective for older patients? The case of ventilator support and aggressive care for patients with acute respiratory failure.

OBJECTIVES: A common assumption is that life-sustaining treatments are much less cost-effective for older patients than for younger patients. We estimated the incremental cost-effectiveness of providing mechanical ventilation and intensive care for patients of various ages who had acute respiratory failure. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of data on acute respiratory failure from Study to Understand Prognoses and Preferences for Outcomes and Risks of Treatments (SUPPORT). SETTING: Acute hospital. PARTICIPANTS: 1,005 with acute respiratory failure; 963 received ventilator support and 42 had ventilator support withheld. MEASUREMENTS: We studied 1,005 patients enrolled in a five-center study of seriously ill patients (SUPPORT) with acute respiratory failure (pneumonia or acute respiratory distress syndrome and an Acute Physiology Score > or = 10) requiring ventilator support. For cost-effectiveness analyses, we estimated life expectancy based on long-term follow-up of SUPPORT patients and estimated utilities (quality-of-life weights) using time-tradeoff questions. We used hospital fiscal data and Medicare data to estimate healthcare costs. We divided patients into three age groups (< 65, 65-74, and > or = 75 years); for each age group, we performed separate analyses for patients with a < or = 50% probability of surviving at least 2 months (high-risk group) and those with a > 50% probability of surviving at least 2 months (low-risk group). RESULTS: Of the 963 patients who received ventilator support, 44% were female; 48% survived 6 months; and the median (25th, 75th percentile) age was 63 (46, 75) years. For the 42 patients for whom ventilator support was withheld, the median survival was 3 days. For low-risk patients (> 50% estimated 2-month survival), the incremental cost (1998 dollars) per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) saved by providing ventilator support and aggressive care increased across the three age groups ($32,000 for patients age < 65, $44,000 for those age 65-74, and $46,000 for those age > or = 75). For high-risk patients, the incremental cost-effectiveness was much less favorable and was least favorable for younger patients ($130,000 for patients age < 65, $100,000 for those age 65-74, and $96,000 for those age > or = 75). When we varied our assumptions from 50% to 200% of our baseline estimates in sensitivity analyses, results were most sensitive to the costs of the index hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with relatively good short-term prognoses, we found that ventilator support and aggressive care were economically worthwhile, even for patients 75 years and older. For patients with poor short-term prognoses, ventilator support and aggressive care were much less cost-effective for adults of all ages.

Acute Disease↗

Allogeneic blood transfusion and postoperative duration of mechanical ventilation.

BACKGROUND: In patients having open heart surgery, allogeneic blood transfusion (ABT) may be related to an enhanced inflammatory response and impaired pulmonary function, resulting in the need for prolonged mechanical ventilation. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The records of 416 consecutive patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital were reviewed. Possible predictors and the number of days of postoperative ventilation, as well as the number of RBC units transfused and the length of their storage, were recorded. The association between mechanical ventilation after the day of operation and the number of RBC units transfused was calculated by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The number of RBC units transfused, but not the length of their storage, differed (p<0.0001) among patients ventilated for 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 or more days after the day of operation. Patients taken off ventilation on the day of operation received (mean +/- SE) 2.01 +/- 0.14 RBC units; patients kept on ventilation for 4 or more days received 9.45 +/- 1.83 units. After adjusting for the effects of 18 confounding factors, the number of RBC units transfused was not a significant predictor of ventilation past the day of operation. There was, however, a trend suggesting that the likelihood of such ventilation might increase by 26 percent per RBC unit transfused (p = 0.0628). CONCLUSIONS: Future studies of the outcomes of ABT should examine further the possibility of a relationship between the number of transfused RBCs and the likelihood of postoperative ventilation after the day of operation.

Blood Transfusion↗

[Liquid ventilation with perfluorocarbons].

Clark and Gollan demonstrated impressively in 1966 the ability of perfluorchemicals (PFCs) to transport oxygen and to provide gas exchange across the alveolar capillary membrane. PFCs are used for two major medical indications: as artificial blood substitutes and as a medium for liquid ventilation. The PFC perflubron is additionally used as a contrast medium for diagnostic radiologic procedures. For the intravenous application perfluorocarbons have to be emulgated in phospholipids for the intrapulmonary application the sterile pure solution is used. Liquid ventilation can either be performed by a method known as total liquid ventilation (TLV), in which a device is utilised to ventilate with perfluorocarbon the previously perfluorocarbon-filled lung, or as partial liquid ventilation (PLV) in which a conventional mechanical gas ventilator is used to gas ventilate the partially perfluorocarbon-filled lung. A number of studies have demonstrated the efficacy of perfluorocarbon liquid ventilation in improving gas exchange and pulmonary function in a number of animal species in the setting of acute respiratory failure. In 1989 Greenspan reported on the first human liquid ventilation experience in a neonate. More recently human experiences for neonatal, paediatric and adult patients with acute lung injury have been reported. Since 1995 an FDA-approved study to examine the efficacy of PLV in severe respiratory failure in patients of all ages has been undertaken in the United States. The number of PLV-treated patients is still small; if PLV demonstrates its efficacy even in the ongoing human studies, it might be a very effective additional tool for treating severe acute lung injury.

Adult↗

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation by chest compression alone or with mouth-to-mouth ventilation.

BACKGROUND: Despite extensive training of citizens of Seattle in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), bystanders do not perform CPR in almost half of witnessed cardiac arrests. Instructions in chest compression plus mouth-to-mouth ventilation given by dispatchers over the telephone can require 2.4 minutes. In experimental studies, chest compression alone is associated with survival rates similar to those with chest compression plus mouth-to-mouth ventilation. We conducted a randomized study to compare CPR by chest compression alone with CPR by chest compression plus mouth-to-mouth ventilation. METHODS: The setting of the trial was an urban, fire-department-based, emergency-medical-care system with central dispatching. In a randomized manner, telephone dispatchers gave bystanders at the scene of apparent cardiac arrest instructions in either chest compression alone or chest compression plus mouth-to-mouth ventilation. The primary end point was survival to hospital discharge. RESULTS: Data were analyzed for 241 patients randomly assigned to receive chest compression alone and 279 assigned to chest compression plus mouth-to-mouth ventilation. Complete instructions were delivered in 62 percent of episodes for the group receiving chest compression plus mouth-to-mouth ventilation and 81 percent of episodes for the group receiving chest compression alone (P=0.005). Instructions for compression required 1.4 minutes less to complete than instructions for compression plus mouth-to-mouth ventilation. Survival to hospital discharge was better among patients assigned to chest compression alone than among those assigned to chest compression plus mouth-to-mouth ventilation (14.6 percent vs. 10.4 percent), but the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.18). CONCLUSIONS: The outcome after CPR with chest compression alone is similar to that after chest compression with mouth-to-mouth ventilation, and chest compression alone may be the preferred approach for bystanders inexperienced in CPR.

Aged↗

Minimal ventilation to prevent bronchopulmonary dysplasia in extremely-low-birth-weight infants.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether minimal ventilation decreases death or bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). STUDY DESIGN: Infants with birth weight 501 g to 1000 g and mechanically ventilated before 12 hours were randomly assigned to minimal ventilation (partial pressure of carbon dioxide [PCO(2)] target >52 mm Hg) or routine ventilation (PCO(2) target <48 mm Hg) and a tapered dexamethasone course or saline placebo for 10 days, using a 2 x 2 factorial design. The primary outcome was death or BPD at 36 weeks' postmenstrual age. RESULTS: After enrollment of 220 patients, the trial was halted because of unanticipated nonrespiratory adverse events related to dexamethasone therapy. The relative risk for death or BPD at 36 weeks in the minimal versus routine ventilation groups was 0.93 (95% CI, 0.77-1.12; P =.43). Ventilator support at 36 weeks was 1% in the minimal versus 16% in the routine group (P <.01). Major morbidities and long-term outcome were comparable in both treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: With the sample size studied, minimal ventilation did not reduce the incidence of death or BPD. The reduced ventilator support at 36 weeks in the minimal ventilation group warrants further study of this intervention.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents↗

Buccal oscillation and lung ventilation in a semi-aquatic turtle, Platysternon megacephalum.

Movements of the hyobranchial apparatus in reptiles and amphibians contribute to many behaviors including feeding, lung ventilation, buccopharyngeal respiration, thermoregulation, olfaction, defense and display. In a semi-aquatic turtle, Platysternon megacephalum, x-ray video and airflow measurements from blowhole pneumotachography show no evidence that above water hyobranchial movements contribute to lung inflation, as in the buccal or gular pump of amphibians and some lizards. Instead, hyobranchial movements produce symmetrical oscillations of air into and out of the buccal cavity. The mean tidal volume of these buccal oscillations is 7.8 times smaller than the mean tidal volume of lung ventilation (combined mean for four individuals). Airflow associated with buccal oscillation occurs in the sequence of inhalation followed by exhalation, distinguishing it from lung ventilation which occurs as exhalation followed by inhalation. No fixed temporal relationship between buccal oscillation and lung ventilation was observed. Periods of ventilation often occur without buccal oscillation and buccal oscillation sometimes occurs without lung ventilation. When the two behaviors occur together, the onset of lung ventilation often interrupts buccal oscillation. The initiation of lung ventilation was found to occur in all phases of the buccal oscillation cycle, suggesting that the neural control mechanisms of the two behaviors are not coupled. The pattern of occurrence of both buccal oscillation and lung ventilation was found to vary over time with no obvious effect of activity levels.

Journal Article↗

Synchronized ventilation of very-low-birth-weight infants; report of 6 years' experience.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of long-term patient triggered ventilation (PTV) using assist/control or synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation (SIMV) in very-low-birth-weight infants with respiratory distress. METHODS: Ninety-seven very-low-birth-weight infants who had undergone synchronized ventilation for respiratory distress or insufficiency were assessed from January 1995 to December 2000. Death, oxygen support, pneumothorax development while ventilated, intracranial hemorrhage, necrotizing enterocolitis, periventricular leukomalacia, retinopathy of prematurity and duration of ventilation were noted as the mean outcome measures. RESULTS: The mean birth weight was 1139 +/- 268 g (range 450-1500 g) and the mean gestational age was 29.0 +/- 2.8 weeks (range 23-36 weeks). Eighty-four per cent of 97 infants survived. Antenatal steroids were administered to only 20% of mothers. Surfactant was administered to all of the 67% of infants with respiratory distress syndrome. The mean duration of ventilator support was 4.7 +/- 7.3 days (1-43 days) for survivors and 8.9 +/- 11 days (1-45 days) for infants who died. No respiratory paralysis was necessary in any case during ventilation and pneumothorax was diagnosed in only eight infants. Severe intracranial hemorrhage (grade > or = III) and periventricular leukomalacia developed in 15% and 12% of infants, respectively. Necrotizing enterocolitis (Bell's classification stage > or = 2) and retinopathy of prematurity were noted in two infants. Four infants had evidence of chronic lung disease. The rate of survival without major morbidity was 83.5%. CONCLUSION: Patient-triggered ventilation, initially PTV with Asist/Control and subsequently with SIMV in very-low-birth-weight infants with respiratory distress is feasible, but optimization of trigger and ventilator performance with respect to respiratory diagnosis is essential.

Female↗

Pressure-controlled ventilation attenuates lung microvascular injury in a rat model of activated charcoal aspiration.

BACKGROUND: Previous animal data suggest that aspiration of activated charcoal is associated with pulmonary microvascular injury that may be related to excessive ventilator-induced airway pressures. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that ventilator-induced airway trauma contributes to the lung vascular injury observed following activated charcoal aspiration. METHODS: Capillary filtration coefficient (Kf,c), a sensitive measure of lung microvascular permeability, was determined isogravimetrically prior to and after intratracheal instillation of 0.4 ml/kg (12% weight/vol. solution, pH 7.4) activated charcoal oran equal volume of sterile water in isolated, perfused rat lungs in which ventilation was either pressure-controlled at 10cm H2O or volume-controlled at 5 ml/kg. RESULTS: There was significant lung injury in both activated charcoal groups regardless of ventilation method compared to control lungs or lungs administered sterile water (p < 0.05 ANOVA). However, injury to pressure-controlled ventilated lungs was significantly less than lungs ventilated with traditional, volume-controlled ventilation. CONCLUSION: The results of this investigation demonstrate that pressure-controlled ventilation reduces the lung microvascular injury observed following aspiration of activated charcoal as compared to traditional volume-controlled ventilation methods.

Administration, Inhalation↗

Spinal fusion surgery in children with non-idiopathic scoliosis: is there a need for routine postoperative ventilation?

BACKGROUND: The perioperative management of children with non-idiopathic scoliosis undergoing spinal deformity surgery has not been standardized and the current practice is to routinely ventilate these patients in the postoperative period. This study reports the experience from a single institution and evaluates the need and reasons for postoperative ventilation. Details of ventilated patients are presented. METHODS: All patients undergoing spinal fusion surgery for non-idiopathic scoliosis were recorded prospectively (2003-4). Patients were anaesthetized according to a standardized technique. Physical characteristics, cardiopulmonary function, intraoperative blood loss and fluid requirement, postoperative need for ventilation and all perioperative adverse events were recorded on a computer database. RESULTS: A total of 76.2% of patients were safely extubated at the end of surgery without any further complications or need for re-ventilation; 23.8% of patients required postoperative ventilation with half of the cases being planned before operation and 40% of all patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) required postoperative ventilation. There were no specific factors that could predict the need for postoperative ventilation, although an increased tendency for children with DMD and those with a preoperative forced vital capacity <30% towards requiring postoperative ventilation was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Early extubation can be safely performed after spinal deformity surgery for non-idiopathic scoliosis. The use of short-acting anaesthetics, drugs to reduce blood loss, experienced spinal anaesthetists and the availability of intensive care support are all essential for a good outcome in patients with neuromuscular disease and cardiopulmonary co-morbidity.

Adolescent↗