Analysis of complications of prone position in acute respiratory distress syndrome: quality standard, incidence and related factors

Dependency-related skin lesions in the prone critical patient. Incidence study

OBJECTIVE

To determine the incidence of dependence-related skin lesions (DRSL) in patients in prone position (PP) and to identify the predisposing factors.

METHOD

Follow-up study in two polyvalent intensive care units. Patients undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation and PP with no skin lesions on admission were included. We recorded the 3 types of DRSL: (pressure ulcers [PU], moisture-associated skin damage [MASD] and friction injuries [FI]), demographic variables, diagnosis, length of stay, PP episodes, postural changes, APACHE II (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Disease Classification System), prealbumin level on admission, body mass index (BMI), diabetes, hypertension, smoking, peripheral vascular disease (PVD), vasoactive drugs, Braden scale and mortality. Bivariate analysis: chi-square test, t-test or Mann-Whitney U test. Multivariate analysis: logistic regression.

RESULTS

Forty nine patients were included and 170PP were performed.Forty-one DRSL appeared in 22 patients with a cumulative incidence of 44.9% (95%CI: 31.6-58.7). PU accounted for 63.4% (73.1% facial; 76.9% stage II), 12.2% were MASD (60% inguinal; 60% stage II) and 24.4% were FI (50% thoracic; 70% stage III). The median age of the lesion group (LG) was 66.5 [61.8-71.3] vs. 64 [43-71] years old in the non-lesion group (NLG), p=0.04. Eighty percent of the LG had PVD vs. 20% of the NLG, p=0.03. The median total hours on PP of the LG was 96.9 [56.1-149.4] vs. 38.2 [18.8-57] of the NIG, p<0.001. Multivariate analysis selected total PP hours (OR=1.03; 95%CI:1.01-1.05) and PVD (OR=8.9; 95%CI:1.3-58.9) as predisposing factors for developing DRSL.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a high incidence of skin lesions related to prone decubitus dependence, mostly pressure lesions, although of low severity.The accumulated hours in probe position and peripheral vascular disease favor their development.

Incidence of pressure ulcers due to prone position in patients admitted to the ICU for Covid-19

The appearance of pressure ulcers (PU) is one of the frequent complications of prone position (PP), due to prolonged pressure and shear forces.

OBJECTIVES

To compare the incidence of pressure ulcers secondary to prone position and describe their location among four Intensive Care Units (ICU) of public hospitals.

METHODS

Multicenter descriptive and retrospective observational study. The population consisted of patients admitted to the ICU between February 2020 and May 2021, diagnosed with Covid-19 who required prone decubitus. The variables studied were sociodemographic, days of admission to the ICU, total hours on PP, PU prevention, location, stage, frequency of postural changes, nutrition and protein intake. Data collection was carried out through the clinical history of the different computerized databases of each hospital. Descriptive analysis and association between variables were performed using SPSS vs.20.0.

RESULTS

A total of 574 patients were admitted for Covid-19, 43.03% were pronated. 69.6% were men, median age was 66 (IQR 55-74) and BMI 30.7 (RIC 27-34.2). Median ICU stay was 28 days (IQR 17-44.2), median hours on PD per patient 48 h (IQR 24-96). The incidence of PU occurrence was 56.3%, 76.2% of patients presented a PU, the most frequent location was the forehead (74.9%). There were significant differences between hospitals in terms of PU incidence (P = .002), location (P = .000) and median duration of hours per PD episode (P = .001).

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of pressure ulcers due to the prone position was very high. There is great variability in the incidence of pressure ulcers between hospitals, location and average duration of hours per episode of prone position.

Nursing Care of an Older Patient With Severe COVID-19 Receiving Prolonged Prone Ventilation: A Case Report

Introduction

Prone positioning has been shown to improve ventilation status for patients with severe COVID-19 who are receiving mechanical ventilation. This case report describes the nursing care of a patient with severe COVID-19 who underwent prone ventilation for 72 hours. Relevant nursing management and operational considerations are also discussed.

Clinical Findings

An 83-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital with fatigue, dizziness, and positive tests for SARS-CoV-2 on nasopharyngeal swab specimens. The patient was intubated.

Diagnosis

The patient’s positive tests for SARS-CoV-2, chest computed tomography findings, and clinical symptoms were consistent with a diagnosis of severe COVID-19.

Interventions

When the patient’s condition did not improve with mechanical ventilation and intermittent prone positioning, she was placed in the prone position for 72 hours. She received sedation, analgesics, anti-infective medications, and enteral nutrition support in the intensive care unit. Nurses performed dynamic monitoring based on blood gas analysis results to guide lung rehabilitation.

Outcomes

The patient was weaned from the ventilator on day 20 and successfully discharged home on day 28 of hospitalization.

Conclusion

During prolonged prone ventilation of a patient with severe COVID-19, nursing strategies included airway management, early lung rehabilitation training guided by pulmonary ultrasonography, skin care, hierarchical management of nurses, hemodynamic support, and enteral nutrition. This report may assist critical care nurses caring for similar patients.

Rehabilitation of COVID-19 patients with respiratory failure and critical illness disease in Slovenia: an observational study

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection often causes pneumonia and respiratory failure that may lead to postintensive care syndrome, including critical illness neuropathy (CIN) and critical illness myopathy (CIM). The data on the rehabilitation outcomes of post-novel coronavirus disease (COVID) patients with CIN and CIM following respiratory failure and mechanical ventilation are still limited. To address this, we enrolled in our prospective observational study a sample of 50 consecutive COVID-19 patients admitted to our facility between 2 November 2020 and 3 May 2021 with electrophysiologically confirmed or clinically suspected diagnosis of CIN/CIM. The functional abilities were assessed at admission and discharge with the Functional Independence Measure (FIM), The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, 10-metre walk test, 6-min walk test and the de Morton Mobility Index. The gain in motor FIM and the length of stay were used as an index of rehabilitation efficiency. Nutritional status was also assessed using anthropometric measurements and bioelectrical Impedance analysis. Psychologic evaluation was performed at admission only. At admission, functional limitations and severe malnutrition were present in all patients with psychologic problems in about one third. At discharge (42 ± 16 days later), clinically important and statistically significant improvements were found in all outcome measures, which was also noted by the patients. The gain in motor FIM was larger with the longer length of stay up to 2 months and plateaued thereafter. We conclude that post-COVID-19 patients who develop CIN/CIM following respiratory failure can improve functional and nutritional status during inpatient rehabilitation.

Desafíos en el cuidado de personas con Covid-19 en posición prono: apoyo al estudio internacional PRONEtect

Sinopsis:

El siguiente editorial presenta los resultados de una encuesta a los líderes de las 13 asociaciones de la Confederación Multidisciplinar Latinoamericana de Heridas, Estomas e Incontinencias (COMLHEI). La encuesta buscó determinar, de manera general, la situación de los pacientes con Covid-19 en posición prono (PP) con desarrollo de lesiones por presión (LPP). Los resultados indican que, en América latina, las LPP en pacientes en PP son frecuentes. Se evidenciaron deficiencias en estudios epidemiológicos y de elementos de protección, prevención y educación, además de brechas entre los diferentes países e instituciones en cuanto a la disponibilidad de personal para poder cumplir con las recomendaciones de posicionamiento de los pacientes. Las autoras sugieren tener en cuenta los resultados del estudio internacional PRONEtect para identificar, revisar y evaluar las pautas internacionales de pronación y cuidado de la piel, y hacer un inventario de los equipos y recursos de capacitación de uso común.

STRATEGIES FOR THE PREVENTION OF FACIAL PRESSURE INJURIES CAUSED BY THE USE OF THE PRONE POSITION

Objective: Identify the main strategies for preventing facial pressure injuries caused by the use of the prone position. Methods: Integrative literature review, carried out during the month of March 2021. Articles were searched in the MEDLINE, LILACS, BDENF and IBECS databases. The selected articles were written in English, Portuguese and Spanish, between 2016 and 2021. Duplicates and those that did not include the topic addressed were excluded. Initially, 29 articles were identified. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 10 articles resulted for analysis. Results: Of the complications related to the use of the prone position, 10 (100%) of the studies address the pressure injury as the main complication of this therapeutic maneuver. As for prevention strategies, the studies analyzed cite the change in position associated with the use of pads and hydrocolloids as the main preventive methods. Conclusion: The following strategies to prevent facial pressure injury by using the prone position were identified: change of decubitus at pre-established times; use of devices that provide relief from pressure points, such as pads and hydrocolloids; and the use of low-cost and easily accessible materials, such as adapted surgical sponges, respecting the anatomical structures of each patient.

ESTRATÉGIAS DE PREVENÇÃO DE LESÕES POR PRESSÃO FACIAL OCASIONADAS PELO USO DA POSIÇÃO PRONA

Objetivo:Identificar as principais estratégias para prevenção de lesões por pressão faciais ocasionadas pelo uso de posição prona. Métodos:Revisão integrativa de literatura, realizada durante o mês de março de 2021. Foram pesquisados artigos nas bases de dados da MEDLINE, LILACS, BDENF e IBECS. Os artigos selecionados foram redigidos nos idiomas inglês, português e espanhol, entre 2016 e 2021. Foram excluídos os duplicados e os que não incluíam a temática abordada. Inicialmente, foram identificados 29 artigos. Após a aplicação dos critérios de inclusão e exclusão, resultaram 10 artigos para análise. Resultados: Das complicações relacionadas ao uso de posição prona, 10 (100%) dos estudos abordam a lesão por pressão como a principal complicação dessa manobra terapêutica. Quanto às estratégias de prevenção, os estudos analisados citam a mudança de decúbito associada ao uso de coxim e hidrocolóides como principais métodos preventivos. Conclusão: Foram identificadas as seguintes estratégias de prevenção de lesão por pressão facial pelo uso de posição prona: mudança de decúbito em tempos pré-estabelecidos; uso de dispositivos que proporcionam alívio de pontos de pressão, tais como os coxins e hidrocolóides; e a utilização de materiais de baixo custo e fácil acesso, como esponjas cirúrgicas adaptadas, respeitando as estruturas anatômicas de cada paciente.

Full-Thickness Facial Pressure Injury and Buried Dentition from Prone Positioning in a Patient with COVID-19

ABSTRACT

Prone positioning is recognized for its efficacy in the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome related to COVID-19. Here the authors present a case of a facial pressure injury and buried dentition that occurred as a result of prolonged prone positioning in a patient who was COVID-19 positive. The patient was treated with primary closure of the injury and pressure offloading.

Complications of prone positioning in patients with COVID-19: A cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence of complications in patients with COVID-19 undergone prone positioning, focusing on the development of prone-related pressure ulcers.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study conducted in the hub COVID-19 centre in Milan (Italy), between March and June 2020. All patients with COVID-19 admitted to intensive care unit on invasive mechanical ventilation and treated with prone positioning were included. Association between prone-related pressure ulcers and selected variables was explored by the means of logistic regression.

RESULTS

A total of 219 proning cycles were performed on 63 patients, aged 57.6 (10.8) and predominantly obese males (66.7%). The main complications recorded were: prone-related pressure ulcers (30.2%), bleeding (25.4%) and medical device displacement (12.7%), even if no unplanned extubation was recorded. The majority of patients (17.5%) experienced bleeding of upper airways. Only 15 prone positioning cycles (6.8%) were interrupted, requiring staff to roll the patient back in the supine position. The likelihood of pressure ulcers development was independently associated with the duration of prone positioning, once adjusting for age, hypoxemic level, and nutritional status (OR 1.9, 95%CI 1.04-3.6).

CONCLUSION

The use of prone positioning in patients with COVID-19 was a safe and feasible treatment, also in obese patients, who might deserve more surveillance and active prevention by intensive care unit staff.

Manual vs Automatic Prone Positioning and Patient Outcomes in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

BACKGROUND

Prone positioning is a standard treatment for moderate to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), but the outcomes associated with manual versus automatic prone positioning have not been evaluated.

OBJECTIVE

To retrospectively evaluate outcomes associated with manual versus automatic prone positioning as part of a pronation quality improvement project implemented by a multidisciplinary team.

METHODS

A retrospective, descriptive-comparative approach was used to analyze data from 24 months of a prone positioning protocol for ARDS. The study involved 37 patients, with 16 undergoing manual and 21 undergoing automatic prone positioning. Descriptive and nonparametric statistical analyses were used to evaluate outcomes associated with manual versus automatic prone positioning.

RESULTS

Outcomes were similar between the 2 groups regarding time to initiation of prone positioning, discharge disposition, and length of stay. Manually pronated patients were less likely to experience interruptions in therapy (P = .005) and complications (P = .002). Pressure injuries were the most common type of complication, with the most frequent locations in automatically pronated patients being the head (P = .045), thorax (P = .003), and lower extremities (P = .047). Manual prone positioning resulted in a cost avoidance of $78 617 per patient.

CONCLUSION

Manual prone positioning has outcomes similar to those of automatic prone positioning with less risk of interruptions in therapy, fewer complications, and lower expense. Further research is needed to determine whether manual prone positioning is superior to automatic prone positioning in patients with ARDS.

Pseudoparalytic shoulder in a CoViD-19-positive patient treated with CPAP: A case report

The Authors report a case of a 46 years old man affected by severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by Novel Coronavirus 2019 and admitted to our hospital. The patient required continuous positive airway pressure therapy (CPAP) in the hospital ward and subsequently orotracheal intubation while in intensive care unit. The patient laid in lateral decubitus position for several hours every day while receiving CPAP therapy. During the hospitalization, he reported limitation of range of motion of the left upper limb, without any history of acute or previous trauma. The clinical appearance of the arm was suggestive of pseudoparalytic shoulder.

This case emphasizes the importance of proper body positioning during invasive and non-invasive mechanical ventilation in order to prevent peripheral nerve compression and further disability.

Administration of enteral nutrition in the prone position, gastric residual volume and other clinical outcomes in critically ill patients: a systematic review

This systematic review of longitudinal studies aimed to evaluate the effect of enteral feeding of critically ill adult and pediatric patients in the prone position on gastric residual volume and other clinical outcomes. A literature search was conducted in the databases PubMed, Scopus and Embase using terms related to population and intervention. Two independent reviewers analyzed the titles and abstracts, and data collection was performed using a standardized form. Discrepancies were resolved by a third reviewer. The methodological quality of the studies was evaluated considering the potential for systematic errors, and the data were qualitatively analyzed. Four studies with adult patients and one with preterm patients were included. The gastric residual volume was evaluated as the main outcome: three studies did not show differences in the gastric residual volume between the prone and supine positions (p > 0.05), while one study showed a higher gastric residual volume during enteral feeding in the prone position (27.6mL versus 10.6mL; p < 0.05), and another group observed a greater gastric residual volume in the supine position (reduction of the gastric residual volume by 23.3% in the supine position versus 43.9% in the prone position; p < 0.01). Two studies evaluated the frequency of vomiting; one study found that it was higher in the prone position (30 versus 26 episodes; p < 0.001), while the other study found no significant difference (p > 0.05). The incidence of aspiration pneumonia and death were evaluated in one study, with no difference between groups (p > 0.05). The literature on the administration of enteral feeding in the prone position in critically ill patients is sparse and of limited quality, and the results regarding gastric residual volume are contradictory. Observational studies with appropriate sample sizes should be conducted to support conclusions on the subject.