Outcomes of Trauma Patients with Flail Chest and Surgical Rib Stabilization

The goal of this project was to describe the current practices of this institution and identify which patients benefit from surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF). A total of 1429 trauma patients admitted to our Level 1 center with rib fractures between January 1, 2014 and June 22, 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Flail chest was observed in 43 (3.01%) patients. Surgical stabilization of rib fractures was pursued in 27 of all patients (1.89%). Twenty-four flail chest patients required intubation (ETT). Nineteen were not intubated (NoET). Of the ETT group, 8 underwent SSRF and 16 did not. Those who had SSRF had a shorter ventilator LOS (7.1 vs 15.7 d) and ICU LOS (9.8 vs 11.9 d). Surgical stabilization of rib fractures has shown success in managing flail chest. In intubated patients with flail chest, fixation seems to decrease ICU stays and the duration of ventilation. We believe we need to perform SSRF on more patients with flail chest.

Noninvasive Bi-Level Positive Airway Pressure Ventilation in Blunt Chest Trauma

Background: Chest injury was found to cause death in 20%–25% of multiple trauma patients. Thoracic trauma is, therefore, important in the overall management of multiple injury patients and may require a longer stay in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and use of mechanical ventilation. Methods: This prospective randomized clinical study was in Emergency Intensive Care, Tanta University Hospitals. For, 88 adult patients with blunt chest injury. Patients were enrolled in this study aged ≥18 years old classified into two equal groups: Group I (Non-Invasive Mechanical Ventilation group) = 44 patient: Patients in this group received BIPAP. Group II (Control group=44 patient: Patients in this group have received high flow O2 by mask O2 without use of non-invasive mechanical ventilation. Data of collection were: the demographic data, Frequent arterial blood gas analysis of all patients every 6 hrs. Respiratory rate, Arterial blood pressure, Heart rate were recorded: every 6 h. All Patients receive analgesia. Evaluate outcome: a-Primary outcome. Tracheal intubation, duration of ventilation. b-Secondary outcome. Mortality, ICU length stay. And Chest Trauma Scoring System. Results: Ten patients (22%) were intubated and mechanically ventilated in group I (BiPAP). with mean value of duration of ventilation 34.4 hrs. But at group II 16 patients (36%) were intubated and mechanically ventilated with mean value of duration of ventilation 34.12 hrs. ICU stay at group I (BiPAP) was statistically decrease of number of days when compared to group II (control). 6 days at group I and 12 days at group II. In this study no case of mortality was recorded with non-invasive ventilation, although three mortality cases were recorded with the control group. Conclusion: This study recommends the pre-emptive use of Non-Invasive Ventilation in the treatment for blunt chest injury in patients at risk for respiratory failure. Success of Non-Invasive Ventilation depends on improvement of hypercarbia and hypoxemia in patients impending respiratory failure due to reversible cause as blunt chest trauma with the expectation of a good outcome and avoidance of intubation.

Non-invasive ventilation versus invasive weaning in critically ill adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundExtubation to non-invasive ventilation (NIV) has been investigated as a strategy to wean critically ill adults from invasive ventilation and reduce ventilator-related complications.MethodsWe searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, proceedings of four conferences and bibliographies (to June 2020) for randomised and quasi-randomised trials that compared extubation with immediate application of NIV to continued invasive weaning in intubated adults and reported mortality (primary outcome) or other outcomes. Two reviewers independently screened citations, assessed trial quality and abstracted data.ResultsWe identified 28 trials, of moderate-to-good quality, involving 2066 patients, 44.6% with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Non-invasive weaning significantly reduced mortality (risk ratio (RR) 0.57, 95% CI 0.44 to 0.74; high quality), weaning failures (RR 0.59, 95% CI 0.43 to 0.81; high quality), pneumonia (RR 0.30, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.41; high quality), intensive care unit (ICU) (mean difference (MD) −4.62 days, 95% CI −5.91 to −3.34) and hospital stay (MD −6.29 days, 95% CI −8.90 to −3.68). Non-invasive weaning also significantly reduced the total duration of ventilation, duration of invasive ventilation and duration of ventilation related to weaning (MD −0.57, 95% CI −1.08 to −0.07) and tracheostomy rate. Mortality, pneumonia, reintubation and ICU stay were significantly lower in trials enrolling COPD (vs mixed) populations.ConclusionNon-invasive weaning significantly reduced mortality, pneumonia and the duration of ventilation related to weaning, particularly in patients with COPD. Beneficial effects are less clear (or more careful patient selection is required) in non-COPD patients.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42020201402.

Introduction of 24 h Resident Consultant Cover in a Tertiary Neonatal Unit—Impact on Mortality and Clinical Outcomes

Background: We aimed to determine whether the introduction of 24 h cover by resident consultants in a tertiary neonatal unit affected mortality and other clinical outcomes. Methods: Retrospective cohort study in a tertiary medical and surgical neonatal unit between 2010–2020 of all liveborn infants admitted to the neonatal unit. Out of hours cover was rearranged in 2014 to ensure 24 h presence of a senior trained neonatologist (resident consultant). Results: In the study period, 4778 infants were included: 2613 in the pre-resident period and 2165 in the resident period. The median (IQR) time to first consultation by a senior member of staff was significantly longer in the pre-resident period [1.5 (0.6–4.3) h] compared to the resident period [0.5 (0.3–1.5) h, p < 0.001]. Overall, mortality was similar in the pre-resident and the resident periods (3.2% versus 2.3%, p = 0.077), but the mortality of infants born at night was significantly higher in the pre-resident (4.5%) compared to the resident period (2.5%, p = 0.016). The resident period was independently associated with an increased survival to discharge (adjusted p < 0.001, odds ratio: 2.0) after adjusting for gestational age, admission temperature and duration of ventilation. Conclusions: Following introduction of a resident consultant model the mortality and time to consultation after admission decreased.

Neurally-Adjusted Ventilatory Assist (NAVA) versus Pneumatically Synchronized Ventilation Modes in Children Admitted to PICU

Traditionally, invasively ventilated children in the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) are weaned using pneumatically-triggered ventilation modes with a fixed level of assist. The best weaning mode is currently not known. Neurally adjusted ventilatory assist (NAVA), a newer weaning mode, uses the electrical activity of the diaphragm (Edi) to synchronise ventilator support proportionally to the patient’s respiratory drive. We aimed to perform a systematic literature review to assess the effect of NAVA on clinical outcomes in invasively ventilated children with non-neonatal lung disease. Three studies (n = 285) were included for analysis. One randomised controlled trial (RCT) of all comers showed a significant reduction in PICU length of stay and sedative use. A cohort study of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients (n = 30) showed a significantly shorter duration of ventilation and improved sedation with the use of NAVA. A cohort study of children recovering from cardiac surgery (n = 75) showed significantly higher extubation success, shorter duration of ventilation and PICU length of stay, and a reduction in sedative use. Our systematic review presents weak evidence that NAVA may shorten the duration of ventilation and PICU length of stay, and reduce the requirement of sedatives. However, further RCTs are required to more fully assess the effect of NAVA on clinical outcomes and treatment costs in ventilated children.

Risk factors of laryngeal injuries in extubated critical pediatric patients

Background The larynx in children is unique compared to adults. This makes the larynx more prone to trauma during intubation. Under sedation and frequent repositioning of the tube are recorded as risk factors for laryngeal injury. We examined the larynx of 40 critically ill children in the first 24 h after extubation to estimate the frequency and analyze the risk factors for laryngeal trauma using the classification system for acute laryngeal injury (CALI). Results The post-extubation stridor patients had a higher frequency of diagnosis of inborn errors of metabolism, longer duration of ventilation, longer hospital stay, moderate to severe involvement of glottic and subglottic area, frequent intubation attempts, and more than 60 s to intubate Regression analysis of the risk factors of severity of the injury has shown that development of ventilator-associated pneumonia carried the highest risk (OR 32.111 95% CI 5.660 to 182.176), followed by time elapsed till intubation in seconds (OR 11.836, 95% CI 2.889 to 48.490), number of intubation attempts (OR 10.8, CI 2.433 to 47.847), and development of pneumothorax (OR 10.231, 95% CI 1.12 to 93.3). Conclusion The incidence of intubation-related laryngeal trauma in pediatric ICU is high and varies widely from mild, non-symptomatic to moderate, and severe and could be predicted by any of the following: prolonged days of ventilation, pneumothorax, multiple tube changes, or difficult intubation.

Feasibility of an Innovative Absorbable Ventilation Tube Designed to Provide Intermediate-Term Middle Ear Ventilation

Myringotomy with ventilation tube placement is a common surgical procedure performed in children and adults to remove fluid buildup behind the tympanic membrane. However, retention of tubes beyond achievement of therapeutic response increases risk for complications and additional intervention. This small feasibility study was conducted to demonstrate proof of concept of a novel bioabsorbable ventilation tube that provides the necessary duration of ventilation with absorption shortly thereafter. Tubes were placed in 15 ears of 14 patients meeting indications for short or intermediate duration of middle ear ventilation. Two independent examiners documented tube patency and tube absorption status at 3, 6, and 12 weeks or until absorption was complete. Results indicate that average ventilation time was 12 weeks (range, 3 weeks to 18 months). There was no observation of blockage. These findings support the feasibility of a novel bioabsorbable ventilation tube.

Transient and persistent acute kidney injury phenotypes following the Norwood operation: a retrospective study

Background: Acute kidney injury is a common complication following the Norwood operation. Most neonatal studies report acute kidney injury peaking within the first 48 hours after cardiac surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate if persistent acute kidney injury (>48 postoperative hours) after the Norwood operation was associated with clinically relevant outcomes. Methods: Two-centre retrospective study among neonates undergoing the Norwood operation. Acute kidney injury was initially identified as developing within the first 48 hours after cardiac surgery and stratified into transient (≤48 hours) and persistent (>48 hours) using the neonatal modification of the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes serum creatinine criteria. Severe was defined as stage ≥2. Primary and secondary outcomes were mortality and duration of ventilation and hospital length of stay. Results: One hundred sixty-eight patients were included. Transient and persistent acute kidney injuries occurred in 24 and 17%, respectively. Cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic cross clamp duration, and incidence of cardiac arrest were greater among those with persistent kidney injury. Mortality was four times higher (41 versus 12%, p < 0.001) and mechanical ventilation duration 50 hours longer in persistent acute kidney injury patients (158 versus 107 hours; p < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, persistent acute kidney injury was not associated with mortality, duration of ventilation or length of stay. Severe persistent acute kidney injury was associated with a 59% increase in expected ventilation duration (aIRR:1.59, 95% CI:1.16, 2.18; p = 0.004). Conclusions: Future large studies are needed to determine if risk factors and outcomes change by delineating acute kidney injury into discrete timing phenotypes.

Feasibility of an Innovative Absorbable Ventilation Tube Designed to Provide Intermediate-Term Middle Ear Ventilation: Clinical Human Proof-of-Concept

Myringotomy with ventilation tube placement is a common surgical procedure performed in children and adults to remove fluid build-up behind the tympanic membrane. However, retention of tubes beyond achievement of therapeutic response increases risk for complications and additional intervention. This small feasibility study was conducted to demonstrate proof-of-concept of a novel bioabsorbable ventilation tube (BVT) that provides the necessary duration of ventilation with absorption shortly thereafter in human adult patients. BVTs were placed in 15 ears of 14 patients meeting indications for short or intermediate-duration of middle ear ventilation. Two independent examiners documented eardrum status. BVT patency and BVT absorption status at 3, 6, and 12 week intervals until absorption was complete. Results indicate that average ventilation time was 12 weeks (range 3 weeks to 18 months). There was no observation of blockage. These findings support the safety and utility of a novel bioabsorbable ventilation tube.

Higher Versus Lower Positive End-Expiratory Pressure in Patients Without Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Background: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to assess the association of higher positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), as opposed to lower PEEP, with hospital mortality in adult intensive care unit (ICU) patients undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation for reasons other than acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Methods: We performed an electronic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL, and Web of Science from inception until December 18, 2020 with no language restrictions. In addition, a research-in-progress database and grey literature were searched. Results: We identified 22 RCTs (2225 patients) comparing higher PEEP (1007 patients) with lower PEEP (991 patients). No statistically significant association between higher PEEP and hospital mortality was observed (risk ratio 1.02, 95% confidence interval 0.89-1.16; I2 = 0%, p = 0.62; low certainty of evidence). Among secondary outcomes, higher PEEP was associated with better oxygenation, higher respiratory system compliance, and lower risk of hypoxemia and ARDS occurrence. Furthermore, barotrauma, hypotension, duration of ventilation, lengths of stay, and ICU mortality were similar between the two groups. Conclusions: In our meta-analysis of RCTs, higher PEEP, compared with lower PEEP, was not associated with mortality or duration of ventilation in patients without ARDS receiving invasive mechanical ventilation, despite being associated with improved oxygenation and lower occurrence of ARDS.