Nursing Strategies for Effective Weaning of the Critically Ill Mechanically Ventilated Patient

The Effect of Nursing Interventions Based on Burns Wean Assessment Program on Successful Weaning from Mechanical Ventilation: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Background:

The effective design and implementation of the nursing interventions to evaluate the patients' readiness for ventilator weaning will reduce their connection time to the ventilator and the complications of their connection to it. This study was conducted to examine the effect of nursing interventions based on the Burns Wean Assessment Program (BWAP) on successful weaning from Mechanical Ventilation (MV).

Materials and Methods:

In this clinical trial, 70 patients undergoing MV in the Intensive Care Units (ICUs) of Golestan Hospital (Ahvaz, Iran) in 2018 were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. The nursing interventions designed based on BWAP were implemented on the patients in the intervention group, who were later weaned from the device according to this program. The recorded data included demographic information, BWAP score, vital signs, and laboratory values, which were analyzed using the Pearson correlation coefficient, Chi-Square, Fisher, and Mann-Whitney U tests.

Results:

There was a statistically significant and inverse correlation between the BWAP score and the MV duration such that a high BWAP score was associated with a shorter MV time (p = 0.041). Also, the mean number of re-intubation (p = 0.001) and the number of re-connection to the ventilator in the intervention group were significantly lower (p = 0.005).

Conclusions:

The results showed that nurses' assessment of patient's readiness for weaning from MV based on this tool and designed nursing care reduced the duration of MV, re-intubation, and re-connection.

Nurse-initiated spontaneous breathing trials in adult intensive care unit patients: a scoping review

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this scoping review was to explore existing literature on protocols initiated by nurses for a spontaneous breathing trial in adult intensive care unit (ICU) patients in order to examine and conceptually map the evidence, and identify gaps in the literature.

INTRODUCTION

Nurses are vital in the care of the critically ill mechanically ventilated patient. By involving the nurse in the weaning process through implementing the final stage of the weaning process, the spontaneous breathing trial, patients may liberate from mechanical ventilation more readily, thereby reducing the cost of care and number of complications associated with prolonged ventilation.

INCLUSION CRITERIA

This review considered experimental and quasi-experimental study designs, analytical observational studies, case-control studies, analytical cross-sectional studies, descriptive observational studies, qualitative studies, and text and opinion papers. Adult ICU patients, aged 18 and over who were mechanically ventilated and candidates for weaning to spontaneous breathing trials, were included in the review. Adult ICUs included but were not limited to burn ICUs, cardiovascular ICUs, medical ICUs, neurological ICUs, surgical ICUs and trauma ICUs in all geographic locations. This scoping review considered studies that examined the use of nurse-initiated protocols for a spontaneous breathing trial.

METHODS

The Joanna Briggs Institute scoping review methodology was used. Key information sources searched were Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, PubMed, PROSPERO, DARE, CINAHL, Embase, Scopus, Academic Search Premier, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, ClinicalTrials.gov, MedNar, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, Papers First and societal websites with information relevant to the scoping review. Only studies published in English were included, and no date limits were applied. The data extraction tool was developed by the authors to examine information retrieved from the studies.

RESULTS

Four studies, with 430 participants, were included in this review. One study was a non-randomized controlled trial, two were randomized controlled studies, and one was a text and opinion paper. The four studies included in the review identified both eligibility criteria for spontaneous breathing trial initiation, detailed elements of a spontaneous breathing trial, and criteria for success. Three of the four studies reported outcomes with the use of protocols for spontaneous breathing trials initiated by nurses.

CONCLUSIONS

All included studies support the utilization of protocols and allowing the nurse to initiate the protocol, however variations in the eligibility criteria, details of the spontaneous breathing trial and success criteria create ambiguity in practice.

Clinical study of Dysfunctional Ventilatory Weaning Response in critically ill patients

Objective:

to clinically validate the nursing diagnosis of Dysfunctional Ventilatory Weaning Response in adult patients admitted to Intensive Care Units.

Method:

a concurrent cohort performed with 93 patients admitted to Intensive Care Units. The incidence and incidence density of the diagnosis were estimated, its related factors were identified based on bivariate analysis and clinical indicators for determining its occurrence, according to the global and temporal presentation.

Results:

the overall incidence of the diagnosis was 44.09% and the incidence density was 14.49 occurrences for every 100 extubations/day. The factors related to the diagnosis were the following: age, clinical severity, fluid balance, oliguria, hemodialysis, edema in upper/lower limbs, anasarca, number of antibiotics, hypothermia, hyperthermia, amount of secretion, muscle retraction, anxiety score, heart rate, use of vasopressors and non-invasive ventilation after extubation. The clinical indicators most frequently identified for determining the diagnosis were the following: tachypnea, drop of saturation and tachycardia. Temporal progression in the severity of these manifestations was found.

Conclusion:

the Dysfunctional Ventilatory Weaning Response is a common finding in critically ill patients. Some components of the diagnosis of the NANDA-International (2018) version could be clinically validated. It is noteworthy that there are variables not yet described in the taxonomy, demonstrating the need to review this nursing diagnosis.

The effect of melatonin on reduction in the need for sedative agents and duration of mechanical ventilation in traumatic intracranial hemorrhage patients: a randomized controlled trial

Purpose

This study aimed to determine the effect of exogenous melatonin on the number of sedative drugs and the duration of mechanical ventilation in traumatic intracranial hemorrhage patients in ICU.

Methods

This double-blind randomized clinical trial study was conducted in the ICU wards of Golestan Hospital, Ahvaz, Iran, from September 2017 to March 2018. In this study, 52 patients with intracerebral hemorrhage were selected by convenient sampling (26 patients in each group) and were randomly assigned to two groups of melatonin and control. Sedation and pain management package was applied to both groups. Outcomes: Amount of the sedative and opioid drug; mechanical ventilation time; ICU staying time; Glasgow Coma Score; hemodynamic parameters.

Results

There was no significant difference between them in terms of demographic characteristics. Cumulative doses of morphine and mechanical ventilation time were significant in two groups. (P < 0.05) The mean length of ICU staying was not significant. Glasgow Coma Score on the 6th day was significant in two groups (P < 0.05). Diastolic blood pressure was significant between groups (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

This study presented that morphine consumption and mechanical ventilation time were significantly lower in the melatonin group than in the control. Also, rise in GCS in the melatonin group was faster in the melatonin group than in the control. The use of melatonin can be recommended for patients with ICH in the ICU for better outcomes.

Use of excessive supplemental oxygen in mechanically ventilated patients is based on unit culture. A multiple-methods study in a regional intensive care unit

BACKGROUND

Administration of supplemental oxygen is widely used in the management of critically ill patients; however, there is evidence that excessive supplemental oxygen exposure is associated with increased mortality. There is limited research evaluating what factors clinicians take into consideration when managing oxygenation in critically ill adults.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to explore intensive care unit (ICU) clinicians' experience and decision-making when managing supplemental oxygen therapy in mechanically ventilated patients in a regional intensive care unit.

METHODS

A multiple-methods observational study that included (i) a cross-sectional ICU staff survey and (ii) focus group discussions with critical care nurses was conducted. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise the key outcomes of the staff survey. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the focus group discussions and open-ended questions on the staff survey. The staff survey was completed by 49 ICU clinicians, and 11 critical care nurses participated in the two focus group discussions.

RESULTS

Survey data showed that staff acknowledged the problem of excessive oxygen exposure; 79.6% (n = 39) reported that the minimum acceptable fraction of inspired oxygen for mechanically ventilated patients was 0.3. The majority (89.8%, n = 44) reported that there was an interdisciplinary approach to decision-making in the unit. Two major themes were chosen from the focus group discussions and staff survey data: (i) Decision-making is based on unit culture rather than evidence and (ii) the process of weaning is driven by interdisciplinary team collaboration. Participants acknowledged that there needed to be a culture change from a liberal approach to oxygen therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Although participants acknowledged the adverse consequences of excessive oxygen use, achieving oxygenation targets with the minimum level of supplemental oxygen was not a key focus of care. The findings highlight the need to develop and evaluate evidence-based protocols to support a conservative approach to supplemental oxygen management.

Melatonin Supplementation May Improve the Outcome of Patients with Hemorrhagic Stroke in the Intensive Care Unit

Objective:

Although mechanical ventilation is frequently a life-saving therapy, its use can result in unwanted side effects. It has been well documented that the choice of sedating agent may influence the duration of mechanical ventilation. Melatonin is a sedative and analgesic agent without any respiratory depressant effect which makes it an attractive adjuvant for sedation in the intubated patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of melatonin on the duration of mechanical ventilation in patients with hemorrhagic stroke.

Methods:

Forty adult intubated patients with hemorrhagic stroke, who were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) within 24 h of onset, were enrolled in this randomized double-blind study. Subjects in the melatonin group received 30 mg of melatonin every night throughout the nasogastric tube. Length of ICU stay, mortality, and duration of mechanical ventilation were recorded for all patients.

Findings:

The duration of mechanical ventilation and length of ICU stay were shorter in patients who received melatonin in comparison with the control group, and this difference was statistically significant for the length of ICU stay and marginally significant for the duration of mechanical ventilation. Although not statistically significant, the mortality rate of the control group was 30%, almost double that of the study group (15%).

Conclusion:

Melatonin possesses hypnotic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidative properties that distinguish it as an attractive adjuvant in patients under mechanical ventilation. In conclusion, the administration of melatonin may facilitate the weaning process through decreasing the consumption of sedatives with respiratory depressant properties as well as preventing ventilator-associated lung injury.