Best evidence in critical care medicine

Sedation and Analgesia in Patients Undergoing Tracheostomy in COVID-19, a Multi-Center Registry

INTRODUCTION

Patients with COVID-19 ARDS require significant amounts of sedation and analgesic medications which can lead to longer hospital/ICU length of stay, delirium, and has been associated with increased mortality. Tracheostomy has been shown to decrease the amount of sedative, anxiolytic and analgesic medications given to patients. The goal of this study was to assess whether tracheostomy decreased sedation and analgesic medication usage, improved markers of activity level and cognitive function, and clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19 ARDS.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

A retrospective registry of patients with COVID-19 ARDS who underwent tracheostomy creation at the University of Pennsylvania Health System or the Johns Hopkins Hospital from 3/2020 to 12/2020. Patients were grouped into the early (≤14 days, n = 31) or late (15 + days, n = 97) tracheostomy groups and outcome data collected.

RESULTS

128 patients had tracheostomies performed at a mean of 19.4 days, with 66% performed percutaneously at bedside. Mean hourly dose of fentanyl, midazolam, and propofol were all significantly reduced 48-h after tracheostomy: fentanyl (48-h pre-tracheostomy: 94.0 mcg/h, 48-h post-tracheostomy: 64.9 mcg/h, P = .000), midazolam (1.9 mg/h pre vs. 1.2 mg/h post, P = .0012), and propofol (23.3 mcg/kg/h pre vs. 8.4 mcg/kg/h post, P = .0121). There was a significant improvement in mobility score and Glasgow Coma Scale in the 48-h pre- and post-tracheostomy. Comparing the early and late groups, the mean fentanyl dose in the 48-h pre-tracheostomy was significantly higher in the late group than the early group (116.1 mcg/h vs. 35.6 mcg/h, P = .03). ICU length of stay was also shorter in the early group (37.0 vs. 46.2 days, P = .012).

INTERPRETATION

This data supports a reduction in sedative and analgesic medications administered and improvement in cognitive and physical activity in the 48-h period post-tracheostomy in COVID-19 ARDS. Further, early tracheostomy may lead to significant reductions in intravenous opiate medication administration, and ICU LOS.

[A first step towards safer sedation and analgesia: A systematic evaluation of outcomes and level of sedation and analgesia in the mechanically ventilated critically ill patient]

INTRODUCTION

Safe analgesia and sedation strategies are necessary in order to avoid under or over sedation, as well as improving the comfort and safety of critical care patients.

OBJECTIVES

To compare and contrast a multidisciplinary protocol of systematic evaluation and management of analgesia and sedation in a group of critical care patients on mechanical ventilation with the usual procedures.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cohort study with contemporary series was conducted in a tertiary care medical-surgical ICU February to November during 2013 and 2014. The inclusion criteria were mechanical ventilation ≥ 24h and use of sedation by continuous infusion. Sedation was monitored using the Richmond agitation-sedation scale or bispectral index, and analgesia were measured using the numeric rating scale, or behavioural indicators of pain scale. The study variables included; mechanical ventilation time, weaning time, ventilation support time, artificial airway time, continuous sedative infusion time, daily dose and frequency of analgesic and sedative drug use, hospital stay, and ICU and hospital mortality, Richmond agitation-sedation scale, bispectral index, numeric rating scale, and behavioural indicators of pain scale measurements. Kruskal Wallis and Chi², and a significance of p<.05 were used.

RESULTS

The study included 153 admissions, 75 pre-intervention and 78 post-intervention, with a mean age of 55.7±13 years old, and 67% men. Both groups showed similarities in age, reason for admission, and APACHE. There were non-significant decreases in mechanical ventilation time 4 (1.4-9.2) and 3.2 (1.4-8.1) days, respectively; p= 0.7, continuous sedative infusion time 6 (3-11) and 5 (3-11) days; p= 0.9, length of hospital stay 29 (18-52); 25 (14-41) days; p= 0.1, ICU mortality (8 vs. 5%; p= 0.4), and hospital mortality (10.6 vs. 9.4%: p= 0.8). Daily doses of midazolam and remifentanil decreased 347 (227-479) mg/day; 261 (159-358) mg/day; p= 0.02 and 2175 (1427-3285) mcg/day; 1500 (715-2740) mcg/day; p= 0.02, respectively. There were increases in the use of remifentanil (32% vs. 51%; p= 0.01), dexmedetomidine (0 vs.6%; p= 0.02), dexketoprofen (60 vs. 76%; p= 0.03), and haloperidol (15 vs.28%; p= 0.04). The use of morphine decreased (71 vs. 54%; p= 0.03). There was an increase in the number of measurements and Richmond agitation-sedation scale scores 6 (3-17); 21 (9-39); p< 0.0001, behavioural indicators of pain scale 6 (3-18); 19(8-33); p< 0.001 and numeric rating scale 4 (2-6); 8 (6-17); p< 0.0001.

CONCLUSIONS

The implementation of a multidisciplinary protocol of systematic evaluation of analgesia and sedation management achieved an improvement in monitoring and adequacy of dose to patient needs, leading to improved outcomes.

The role of high-frequency oscillatory ventilation in the treatment of acute respiratory failure in adults

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

High-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) is increasingly used in adults with the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), who remain hypoxemic during conventional mechanical ventilation. In this review, we will summarize the trials evaluating HFOV in adults with ARDS and discuss issues relevant to the clinician regarding the use of HFOV.

RECENT FINDINGS

Several observational and randomized trials support the safety of HFOV and improvements in oxygenation in adult patients with severe ARDS, who remain hypoxemic during conventional mechanical ventilation.

SUMMARY

HFOV theoretically meets the goals of lung-protective ventilation. On the basis of the current evidence, HFOV is associated with improvements in oxygenation in severe, adult ARDS. However, whether HFOV influences mortality, length of ICU stay, ventilator-free days, quality-of-life factors and is cost-effective remains to be determined. Large, prospective, randomized controlled trials such as the ongoing OSCAR and OSCILLATE trials will help further define the role of HFOV in adult ARDS.

Patient care guidelines: a telephone survey of intensive care practices in New South Wales

BACKGROUND

There are a number of practice areas highlighted in the literature as important for the care of critically ill patients. However, the current implementation of evidence into clinical practice for these areas is largely unknown. The development of clinical practice guidelines can translate the current evidence into useful tools to guide clinicians in providing evidence based care.

AIM

To identify existence of current guidelines and informal routine procedures and clinicians' views of same within New South Wales (NSW) Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and High Dependency Units (HDUs) for 11 practice areas, namely, bowel management, endotracheal tube (ETT) stabilisation, tracheostomy tube stabilisation, feeding, analgesia, sedation, thromboembolic prevention, head of bed elevation, ulcer prophylaxis and glucose control.

METHOD

A telephone survey conducted with a representative from NSW ICUs and HDUs.

RESULTS

There was variation in the number of guidelines and informal routine procedures reported for the 11 practice areas within the study units. Larger ICUs (Joint Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine Level II and Level III) and those who employed an onsite CNC were significantly more likely to have formal guidelines in place. Overall, there were very few audits reportedly conducted for the 11 practice areas. Bowel management was the area of practice most respondents reported as a neglected area of critical care nursing practice and the one they were least satisfied with.

CONCLUSION

This survey provides a baseline of current practice and guideline use within NSW ICUs and HDUs. It also highlights areas for consideration to further develop clinical practice guidelines that could benefit critically ill patients.