[Life after ARDS]

Trajectories of quality of life, return to work, psychopathology, and disability in survivors of the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS): A three-year prospective cohort study (DACAPO)

PURPOSE

Describe the long-term development of outcomes for survivors of the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A cohort study with N = 877 ARDS survivors was conducted. Health related quality of life (HRQoL, Physical and Mental Component Scale: PCS, MCS of the SF-12), return to work (RtW), panic disorder, depressive symptoms (PHQD), and post-traumatic-stress-disorder (PTSD, PTSS-14) were assessed at 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months after discharge from ICU.

RESULTS

PCS, MCS, and RtW increased during the first 12 months [e.g. PCS: Md = 36 (IQR 31-43) at 3 months, Md = 42 (IQR 34-52) at 12 months; MCS: Md = 44 (IQR 32-54) at 3 months, Md = 47 (IQR 33-57) at 12 months, RtW = 23.2% at 3 months, 54.5% at 12 months], and remained relatively stable afterwards. Proportion of major depressive syndrome decreased from 3 (14.2%) to 36 months (8.9%). Proportions of panic disorder (5.3% to 7.4%) and PTSD (27.1% to 32.6%) varied only slightly.

CONCLUSIONS

Most of recovery in HRQoL and RtW occur during the first 12 months, after which a plateau is reached, indicating a chronification for many patients. Contrary to this, however, psychopathological symptoms remain stable, except for depressive symptoms. [200 words].

Lung injury does not aggravate mechanical ventilation-induced early cerebral inflammation or apoptosis in an animal model

Introduction

The acute respiratory distress syndrome is not only associated with a high mortality, but also goes along with cognitive impairment in survivors. The cause for this cognitive impairment is still not clear. One possible mechanism could be cerebral inflammation as result of a “lung-brain-crosstalk”. Even mechanical ventilation itself can induce cerebral inflammation. We hypothesized, that an acute lung injury aggravates the cerebral inflammation induced by mechanical ventilation itself and leads to neuronal damage.

Methods

After approval of the institutional and state animal care committee 20 pigs were randomized to one of three groups: lung injury by central venous injection of oleic acid (n = 8), lung injury by bronchoalveolar lavage in combination with one hour of injurious ventilation (n = 8) or control (n = 6). Brain tissue of four native animals from a different study served as native group. For six hours all animals were ventilated with a tidal volume of 7 ml kg^-1 and a scheme for positive end-expiratory pressure and inspired oxygen fraction, which was adapted from the ARDS network tables. Afterwards the animals were killed and the brains were harvested for histological (number of neurons and microglia) and molecular biologic (TNFalpha, IL-1beta, and IL-6) examinations.

Results

There was no difference in the number of neurons or microglia cells between the groups. TNFalpha was significantly higher in all groups compared to native (p < 0.05), IL-6 was only increased in the lavage group compared to native (p < 0.05), IL-1beta showed no difference between the groups.

Discussion

With our data we can confirm earlier results, that mechanical ventilation itself seems to trigger cerebral inflammation. This is not aggravated by acute lung injury, at least not within the first 6 hours after onset. Nevertheless, it seems too early to dismiss the idea of lung-injury induced cerebral inflammation, as 6 hours might be just not enough time to see any profound effect.