Long-Term Follow-Up of Patients With Ventilator-Dependent High Tetraplegia Managed With Diaphragmatic Pacing Systems

Ultrasonographic evaluation of diaphragm thickness and excursion: correlation with weaning success in trauma patients: prospective cohort study

PURPOSE

Prolonged mechanical ventilation (MV) subjects multiple trauma patients to ventilator-induced diaphragmatic dysfunction. There is limited evidence on the predictive role of diaphragm ultrasound (DUS) for weaning success in multiple trauma patients. Therefore, we evaluated Ultrasound of the diaphragm as a valuable indicator of weaning outcomes, in trauma patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This prospective cohort study included 50 trauma patients from September 2018 to February 2019. DUS was performed twice: upon ICU admission and the first weaning attempt. The diagnostic accuracy of indexes was evaluated by ROC curves.

RESULTS

The study included patients with a mean age of 35.4 ± 17.37, and 78% being male. The median injury severity score was 75 (42-75). The failure group exhibited significantly lower right diaphragmatic excursion (DE) compared to the success group (P = 0.006). In addition, the failure group experienced a significant decrease in both right and left DE from admission to the first attempt of weaning from MV (P < 0.001). Both groups showed a significant decrease in inspiratory and expiratory thickness on both sides during weaning from MV compared to the admission time (P < 0.001). The findings from the ROC analysis indicated that the Rapid shallow breathing index (RSBI) (Sensitivity = 91.67, Specificity = 100), respiratory rate (RR)/DE (Right: Sensitivity = 87.5, Specificity = 92.31), and RR/TF (Thickening Fraction) (Right: Sensitivity = 83.33, Specificity = 80.77) demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity in predicting weaning outcome.

CONCLUSION

In the context of patients with multiple trauma, employing DUC and assessing diaphragmatic excursion, thickness, RR/DE index, RR/TF index, and RSBI can aid in determining successful ventilator weaning.

Importance of Prospective Registries and Clinical Research Networks in the Evolution of Spinal Cord Injury Care

Only 100 years ago, traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) was commonly lethal. Today, most people who sustain SCI survive with continual efforts to improve their quality of life and neurological outcomes. SCI epidemiology is changing as preventative interventions reduce injuries in younger individuals, and there is an increased incidence of incomplete injuries in aging populations. Early treatment has become more intensive with decompressive surgery and proactive interventions to improve spinal cord perfusion. Accurate data, including specialized outcome measures, are crucial to understanding the impact of epidemiological and treatment trends. Dedicated SCI clinical research and data networks and registries have been established in the United States, Canada, Europe, and several other countries. We review four registry networks: the North American Clinical Trials Network (NACTN) SCI Registry, the National Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems (SCIMS) Database, the Rick Hansen SCI Registry (RHSCIR), and the European Multi-Center Study about Spinal Cord Injury (EMSCI). We compare the registries' focuses, data platforms, advanced analytics use, and impacts. We also describe how registries' data can be combined with electronic health records (EHRs) or shared using federated analysis to protect registrants' identities. These registries have identified changes in epidemiology, recovery patterns, complication incidence, and the impact of practice changes such as early decompression. They've also revealed latent disease-modifying factors, helped develop clinical trial stratification models, and served as matched control groups in clinical trials. Advancing SCI clinical science for personalized medicine requires advanced analytical techniques, including machine learning, counterfactual analysis, and the creation of digital twins. Registries and other data sources help drive innovation in SCI clinical science.

Mortality in ASIA Impairment Scale grade A to D Patients With Odontoid Fracture and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Evidence of Spinal Cord Injury

Odontoid fractures are common, often presenting in the elderly after a fall and infrequently associated with traumatic spinal cord injury (tSCI). The goal of this study was to analyze predictors of mortality and neurological outcome when odontoid fractures were associated with signal change on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at admission. Over an 18-year period (2001-2019), 33 patients with odontoid fractures and documented tSCI on MRI were identified. Mean age was 65.3 years (standard deviation [SD] = 17.2), and 21 patients were male. The mechanism of injury was falls in 25 patients, motor vehicle accidents in 5, and other causes in 3. Mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 40.5 (SD = 30.2), Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score was 13 (SD = 3.4), and American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) motor score (AMS) was 51.6 (SD = 42.7). ASIA Impairment Scale (AIS) grade was A, B, C, and D in 9, 2, 3, and 19 patients, respectively. Mean intramedullary lesion length was 32.3 mm (SD = 18.6). The odontoid peg was displaced ventral or dorsal in 15 patients. Twenty patients had surgical intervention: anterior odontoid screw fixation in 7 and posterior spinal fusion in 13. Eleven (33.3%) patients died in this series: withdrawal of medical care in 5; anoxic brain injury in 4; and failure of critical care management in 2. Univariate logistic regression indicated that GCS score (p < 0.014), AMS (p < 0.002), AIS grade (p < 0.002), and ISS (p < 0.009) were risk factors for mortality. Multi-variate regression analysis indicated that only AMS (p < 0.002) had a significant relationship with mortality when odontoid fracture was associated with tSCI (odds ratio, 0.963; 95% confidence interval, 0.941-0.986).

Observational study of early diaphragm pacing in cervical spinal cord injured patients to decrease mechanical ventilation during the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

Decreasing the burden of mechanical ventilation for spinal cord injuries was never more relevant than during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data have shown diaphragm pacing can replace mechanical ventilation, decrease wean times, improve respiratory mechanics, and decrease hospital costs for patients with spinal cord injuries. This is the largest report of diaphragm pacing during the pandemic.

METHODS

This is a retrospective analysis of prospective Institutional Review Board approved databases of nonrandomized interventional experience at a single institution. Subgroup analysis limited to traumatic cervical spinal cord injuries that were implanted laparoscopically with diaphragm electrodes within 30 days of injury.

RESULTS

For the study group of early implanted traumatic cervical spinal cord injuries, 13 subjects were identified from a database of 197 diaphragm pacing implantations from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2022, for all indications. All subjects were male with an average age of 49.3 years (range, 17-70). Injury mechanisms included falls (6), motor vehicle accident (4), gunshot wound (2), and diving (1). Time from injury to diaphragm pacing averaged 11 days (range, 3-22). Two patients are deceased and neither weaned from mechanical ventilation. Nine of the remaining 11 patients weaned from mechanical ventilation. Four patients never had a tracheostomy and 3 additional patients had tracheostomy decannulation. Three of these high-risk pulmonary compromised patients survived COVID-19 infections utilizing diaphragm pacing.

CONCLUSION

Diaphragm pacing successfully weaned from mechanical ventilation 82% of patients surviving past 90 days. Forty-four percent of this group never underwent a tracheostomy. Only 22% of the weaned group required long term tracheostomies. Early diaphragm pacing for spinal cord injuries decreases mechanical ventilation usage and tracheostomy need which allows for earlier placement for rehabilitation.

The effects of external diaphragmatic pacing on diaphragm function and weaning outcomes of critically ill patients with mechanical ventilation: a prospective randomized study

BACKGROUND

Diaphragmatic pacing can improve diaphragm function, which is beneficial for the prognosis of patients treated with prolonged mechanical ventilation (MV). While most previous studies have focused on the role of implanted diaphragm pacing (IDP), our study is the first to examine the effects of external diaphragmatic pacing (EDP) in mechanically ventilated patients. Specifically, the effect of EDP on diaphragm function, the success rate of weaning, the duration of MV (DMV), and the intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (ILOS) were assessed.

METHODS

From September 2019 to December 2020, a total of 51 mechanically ventilated patients in the ICU of the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University were enrolled and randomly divided into an EDP group of 27 patients and a control group of 24 patients. The control group received routine treatment, and the EDP group received EDP treatment in addition to routine treatment. The diaphragm excursion (DE), diaphragm thickening fraction (DTF), DMV, ILOS, and average survival time were recorded to evaluate efficacy.

RESULTS

Patients treated with EDP had increased DE [exp(B) =1.86, 95% CI: 1.39 to 2.50, P<0.001] and DTF [exp(B) =1.35, 95% CI: 1.05 to 1.76, P=0.022], shortened weaning time (P=0.026) and prolonged average survival time (P<0.001) compared to patients who did not receive EDP therapy. Especially in cases with difficult weaning, the improvement of DE and DTF in the EDP treatment group was more obvious than that in the control group (P=0.013 and P=0.032). Moreover, the DTF upon attempted spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) was negatively correlated with the fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) [r=-0.54; 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.77 to -0.19; P=0.004], the arterial partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) (r=-0.58; 95% CI: -0.79 to -0.25; P=0.001), the PaO2/FiO2 ratio (r=-0.52; 95% CI: -0.75 to -0.16; P=0.006), and the serum lactate concentration (Lac) (r=-0.39; 95% CI: -0.68 to 0.003; P=0.046).

CONCLUSIONS

EDP treatment can effectively reduce the DMV and prolong the average survival time of mechanically ventilated patients.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1900024096.

Diaphragm Pacing in Spinal Cord Injury Can Significantly Decrease Mechanical Ventilation in Multicenter Prospective Evaluation

BACKGROUND

Cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) can lead to dependence on mechanical ventilation (MV) with significant morbidity and mortality. The diaphragm pacing system (DPS) was developed as an alternative to MV.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective single arm study of DPS in MV dependent patients with high SCI and intact phrenic nerves. Following device acclimation, pacing effectiveness to provide ventilation was evaluated. The primary endpoint was the number who could use DPS to breathe for four continuous hours without MV. Secondary endpoints included the number of patients that could use DPS 24 hours/day free of MV and the ability of DPS to maintain clinically acceptable tidal volume (Vt). In addition, we conducted a meta-analysis that included the prospective study along with data from four recently published studies to evaluate DPS hourly use.

RESULTS

Fifty-three patients were implanted in the prospective study. Most were male (77.4%) with a median time from injury to treatment of 28.3 (IQR 12.1, 83.3) months. Four- and 24-hour use occurred in 96.2% (95%CI - 87.0%, 99.5%) and 58.5% (95% CI - 44.1%, 74.9%), respectively. Four and 24-hour results in the meta-analysis cohort (n=196) exhibited similar results 92.2% (95% CI - 82.6%,96.7%) and 52.7% (95% CI - 36.2%,68.6%) using DPS for four and 24 hours, respectively. DPS use significantly exceeded the calculated basal tidal volume requirements by a mean of 48.4% (95% CI - 37.0, 59.9%; p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates that in most ventilator-dependent patients, diaphragm pacing can effectively supplement or completely replace the need for MV and support basal metabolic requirements.