Noninvasive ventilation and weaning in patients with chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure: a randomized multicenter trial

Ultrasound evaluation of cardiac and diaphragmatic function at different positions during a spontaneous breathing trial predicting extubation outcomes: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

The ratio (E/Ea) of mitral Doppler inflow velocity to annular tissue Doppler wave velocity by transthoracic echocardiography and diaphragmatic excursion (DE) by diaphragm ultrasound have been confirmed to predict extubation outcomes. However, few studies focused on the predicting value of E/Ea and DE at different positions during a spontaneous breathing trial (SBT), as well as the effects of △E/Ea and △DE (changes in E/Ea and DE during a SBT).

METHODS

This study was a reanalysis of the data of 60 difficult-to-wean patients in a previous study published in 2017. All eligible participants were organized into respiratory failure (RF) group and extubation success (ES) group within 48 h after extubation, or re-intubation (RI) group and non-intubation (NI) group within 1 week after extubation. The risk factors for respiratory failure and re-intubation including E/Ea and △E/Ea, DE and △DE at different positions were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression, respectively. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves of E/Ea (septal, lateral, average) and DE (right, left, average) were compared with each other, respectively.

RESULTS

Of the 60 patients, 29 cases developed respiratory failure within 48 h, and 14 of those cases required re-intubation within 1 week. Multivariate logistic regression showed that E/Ea were all associated with respiratory failure, while only DE (right) and DE (average) after SBT were related to re-intubation. There were no statistic differences among the ROC curves of E/Ea at different positions, nor between the ROC curves of DE. No statistical differences were shown in △E/Ea between RF and ES groups, while △DE (average) was remarkably higher in NI group than that in RI group. However, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that △DE (average) was not associated with re-intubation.

CONCLUSIONS

E/Ea at different positions during a SBT could predict postextubation respiratory failure with no statistical differences among them. Likewise, only DE (right) and DE (average) after SBT might predict re-intubation with no statistical differences between each other.

Tissue Doppler imaging of the diaphragm and outcome of weaning from mechanical ventilation

Purpose

This study aimed to employ tissue Doppler imaging to monitor diaphragmatic peak velocity and acceleration during contraction and relaxation in mechanically ventilated patients, with the objective of assessing the potential utility of this technique in predicting weaning outcomes.

Methods

A total of 89 adult subjects were recruited in this study. After 30 min of spontaneous breathing trial, the diaphragm motion parameters, including peak contraction velocity, peak relaxation velocity, contraction acceleration and relaxation acceleration, were measured in real time using tissue Doppler imaging. According to the results of weaning, the patients were divided into successful weaning group and failed weaning group. The differences of diaphragmatic tissue Doppler imaging monitoring indicators between the two groups were analysed, and the receiver operating characteristic curve was drawn to analyse the value of each ultrasound parameter in predicting weaning.

Results

In the successful weaning group, there were 61 subjects, while in the failed weaning group, there were 28 subjects. The peak contraction velocity, peak relaxation velocity, contraction acceleration and relaxation acceleration of the diaphragm were significantly higher in the failed weaning group compared to the successful weaning group (P < 0.05). The area under the curve of diaphragmatic peak contraction velocity, peak relaxation velocity, diaphragmatic contraction acceleration and diaphragmatic relaxation acceleration were 0.81 (0.72-0.91), 0.85 (0.77-0.93), 0.74 (0.63-0.86) and 0.86 (0.78-0.94), respectively.

Conclusions

The diaphragm ultrasonic tissue Doppler imaging variables can serve as predictive indicators for weaning mechanical ventilation in patients, thus providing an effective tool to assist critical care physicians in determining the optimal timing for weaning mechanical ventilation.

[Non-invasive Mechanical Ventilation in Acute Respiratory Failure. Clinical Practice Guidelines - on behalf of the German Society of Pneumology and Ventilatory Medicine]

The guideline update outlines the advantages as well as the limitations of NIV in the treatment of acute respiratory failure in daily clinical practice and in different indications.Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) has a high value in therapy of hypercapnic acute respiratory failure, as it significantly reduces the length of ICU stay and hospitalization as well as mortality.Patients with cardiopulmonary edema and acute respiratory failure should be treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and oxygen in addition to necessary cardiological interventions. This should be done already prehospital and in the emergency department.In case of other forms of acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure with only mild or moderately disturbed gas exchange (PaO2/FiO2 > 150 mmHg) there is no significant advantage or disadvantage compared to high flow nasal oxygen (HFNO). In severe forms of ARDS NIV is associated with high rates of treatment failure and mortality, especially in cases with NIV-failure and delayed intubation.NIV should be used for preoxygenation before intubation. In patients at risk, NIV is recommended to reduce extubation failure. In the weaning process from invasive ventilation NIV essentially reduces the risk of reintubation in hypercapnic patients. NIV is regarded useful within palliative care for reduction of dyspnea and improving quality of life, but here in concurrence to HFNO, which is regarded as more comfortable. Meanwhile NIV is also recommended in prehospital setting, especially in hypercapnic respiratory failure and pulmonary edema.With appropriate monitoring in an intensive care unit NIV can also be successfully applied in pediatric patients with acute respiratory insufficiency.

Liberation from mechanical ventilation in critically ill patients: Korean Society of Critical Care Medicine Clinical Practice Guidelines

BACKGROUND

Successful liberation from mechanical ventilation is one of the most crucial processes in critical care because it is the first step by which a respiratory failure patient begins to transition out of the intensive care unit and return to their own life. Therefore, when devising appropriate strategies for removing mechanical ventilation, it is essential to consider not only the individual experiences of healthcare professionals, but also scientific and systematic approaches. Recently, numerous studies have investigated methods and tools for identifying when mechanically ventilated patients are ready to breathe on their own. The Korean Society of Critical Care Medicine therefore provides these recommendations to clinicians about liberation from the ventilator.

METHODS

Meta-analyses and comprehensive syntheses were used to thoroughly review, compile, and summarize the complete body of relevant evidence. All studies were meticulously assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) method, and the outcomes were presented succinctly as evidence profiles. Those evidence syntheses were discussed by a multidisciplinary committee of experts in mechanical ventilation, who then developed and approved recommendations.

RESULTS

Recommendations for nine PICO (population, intervention, comparator, and outcome) questions about ventilator liberation are presented in this document. This guideline includes seven conditional recommendations, one expert consensus recommendation, and one conditional deferred recommendation.

CONCLUSIONS

We developed these clinical guidelines for mechanical ventilation liberation to provide meaningful recommendations. These guidelines reflect the best treatment for patients seeking liberation from mechanical ventilation.

Noninvasive respiratory support after extubation: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The effect of noninvasive respiratory support (NRS), including high-flow nasal oxygen, bi-level positive airway pressure and continuous positive airway pressure (noninvasive ventilation (NIV)), for preventing and treating post-extubation respiratory failure is still unclear. Our objective was to assess the effects of NRS on post-extubation respiratory failure, defined as re-intubation secondary to post-extubation respiratory failure (primary outcome). Secondary outcomes included the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), discomfort, intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital mortality, ICU and hospital length of stay (LOS), and time to re-intubation. Subgroup analyses considered "prophylactic" versus "therapeutic" NRS application and subpopulations (high-risk, low-risk, post-surgical and hypoxaemic patients).

METHODS

We undertook a systematic review and network meta-analysis (Research Registry: reviewregistry1435). PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL, Scopus and Web of Science were searched (from inception until 22 June 2022). Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the use of NRS after extubation in ICU adult patients were included.

RESULTS

32 RCTs entered the quantitative analysis (5063 patients). Compared with conventional oxygen therapy, NRS overall reduced re-intubations and VAP (moderate certainty). NIV decreased hospital mortality (moderate certainty), and hospital and ICU LOS (low and very low certainty, respectively), and increased discomfort (moderate certainty). Prophylactic NRS did not prevent extubation failure in low-risk or hypoxaemic patients.

CONCLUSION

Prophylactic NRS may reduce the rate of post-extubation respiratory failure in ICU patients.

Management of Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in the ICU: An Observational Study From the OUTCOMEREA Database, 1997-2018

OBJECTIVES

Our aim was to describe changes in the management of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) by ICUs and patient outcomes.

DESIGN

We extracted data from the OutcomeRea database concerning patients admitted for AECOPD between 1997 and 2018. We analyzed trends in the use of ventilatory support, corticosteroid therapy, antibiotic therapy, and patient survival.

SETTING

ICUs at 32 French sites.

PATIENTS

One thousand eight hundred sixteen patients in the database had a diagnosis of AECOPD.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Over time, there was a reduction in the prescription of corticosteroids and antibiotics. In a time-series analysis, these changes in practice were not linked with ICU mortality. The proportion of patients treated with invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) also gradually declined (from 51% between 1997 and 2002 to 35% between 2013 and 2018) with an association between decrease in IMV use and reduction in ICU mortality in a time series analysis. Rates of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) failure decreased with an increase in NIV use to support weaning from IMV. There was a reduction in the median ICU length of stay (from 8 d in 1997-2002 to 4 d in 2013-2018) and in the median total duration of hospitalization (from 23 d in 1997-2002 to 14 d in 2013-2018). We observed an improvement in prognosis, with decreases in overall hospital mortality (from 24% between 1997 and 2002 to 15% between 2013 and 2018), ICU mortality (from 14% between 1997 and 2002 to 10% between 2013 and 2018), and 90-day mortality (from 41% between 1997 and 2002 to 22% between 2013 and 2018).

CONCLUSIONS

The length of stay and mortality of patients with AECOPD admitted to ICUs has decreased over the last 20 years, with a wider use of NIV and a reduction in antibiotic and corticosteroid prescriptions.

Postoperative prophylactic intermittent noninvasive ventilation versus usual postoperative care for patients at high risk of pulmonary complications: a multicentre randomised trial

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary complications are an important cause of morbidity and mortality after surgery. We evaluated the clinical effectiveness of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) in preventing postoperative acute respiratory failure.

METHODS

This is an open, multicentre randomised trial that included patients at high risk of postoperative pulmonary complications after elective or semi-urgent surgery with an Assess Respiratory Risk in Surgical Patients in Catalonia (ARISCAT) score ≥45. Patients were randomly assigned to intermittent prophylactic face-mask NIV for 6-8 h day^-1 or usual postoperative care. The primary outcome was in-hospital acute respiratory failure within 7 days after surgery. Patients who underwent surgery and postoperative extubation were included in the modified intended-to-treat analysis. Results are presented as n (%) and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

Between November 2017 and October 2019, 266 patients were randomised and 253 included in the main analysis. Of these, 203 (80.2%) were male with a mean age of 68 (11) yr and an ARISCAT score of 53 (6); 237 subjects (93.7%) underwent cardiac or thoracic surgery. There were 125 patients allocated to prophylactic NIV and 128 to usual care. Unplanned treatment termination occurred in 58 subjects in the NIV group, which was linked to NIV discomfort for 36 subjects. There was no difference in the incidence of the primary outcome of postoperative acute respiratory failure between treatment groups (NIV: 30 of 125 subjects [24.0%] vs usual care: 35 of 128 subjects [27.3%]; OR 0.97 [0.90-1.04]; P=0.54).

CONCLUSIONS

Prophylactic NIV was difficult to implement after high-risk surgery because of low patient compliance. Prophylactic NIV did not prevent acute respiratory failure.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT03629431 and EudraCT 2017-001011-36.

Noninvasive respiratory support following extubation in critically ill adults: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Systematic review and network meta-analysis to investigate the efficacy of noninvasive respiratory strategies, including noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) and high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC), in reducing extubation failure among critically ill adults.

METHODS

We searched databases from inception through October 2021 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating noninvasive respiratory support therapies (NIPPV, HFNC, conventional oxygen therapy, or a combination of these) following extubation in critically ill adults. Two reviewers performed screening, full text review, and extraction independently. The primary outcome of interest was reintubation. We used GRADE to rate the certainty of our findings.

RESULTS

We included 36 RCTs (6806 patients). Compared to conventional oxygen therapy, NIPPV (OR 0.65 [95% CI 0.52-0.82]) and HFNC (OR 0.63 [95% CI 0.45-0.87]) reduced reintubation (both moderate certainty). Sensitivity analyses showed that the magnitude of the effect was highest in patients with increased baseline risk of reintubation. As compared to HFNC, no difference in incidence of reintubation was seen with NIPPV (OR 1.04 [95% CI 0.78-1.38], low certainty). Compared to conventional oxygen therapy, neither NIPPV (OR 0.8 [95% CI 0.61-1.04], moderate certainty) or HFNC (OR 0.9 [95% CI 0.66-1.24], low certainty) reduced short-term mortality. Consistent findings were demonstrated across multiple subgroups, including high- and low-risk patients. These results were replicated when evaluating noninvasive strategies for prevention (prophylaxis), but not in rescue (application only after evidence of deterioration) situations.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that both NIPPV and HFNC reduced reintubation in critically ill adults, compared to conventional oxygen therapy. NIPPV did not reduce incidence of reintubation when compared to HFNC. These findings support the preventative application of noninvasive respiratory support strategies to mitigate extubation failure in critically ill adults, but not in rescue conditions.

Non-invasive ventilation versus invasive weaning in critically ill adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Extubation to non-invasive ventilation (NIV) has been investigated as a strategy to wean critically ill adults from invasive ventilation and reduce ventilator-related complications.

METHODS

We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, proceedings of four conferences and bibliographies (to June 2020) for randomised and quasi-randomised trials that compared extubation with immediate application of NIV to continued invasive weaning in intubated adults and reported mortality (primary outcome) or other outcomes. Two reviewers independently screened citations, assessed trial quality and abstracted data.

RESULTS

We identified 28 trials, of moderate-to-good quality, involving 2066 patients, 44.6% with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Non-invasive weaning significantly reduced mortality (risk ratio (RR) 0.57, 95% CI 0.44 to 0.74; high quality), weaning failures (RR 0.59, 95% CI 0.43 to 0.81; high quality), pneumonia (RR 0.30, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.41; high quality), intensive care unit (ICU) (mean difference (MD) -4.62 days, 95% CI -5.91 to -3.34) and hospital stay (MD -6.29 days, 95% CI -8.90 to -3.68). Non-invasive weaning also significantly reduced the total duration of ventilation, duration of invasive ventilation and duration of ventilation related to weaning (MD -0.57, 95% CI -1.08 to -0.07) and tracheostomy rate. Mortality, pneumonia, reintubation and ICU stay were significantly lower in trials enrolling COPD (vs mixed) populations.

CONCLUSION

Non-invasive weaning significantly reduced mortality, pneumonia and the duration of ventilation related to weaning, particularly in patients with COPD. Beneficial effects are less clear (or more careful patient selection is required) in non-COPD patients.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42020201402.

High-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy and noninvasive ventilation for preventing extubation failure during weaning from mechanical ventilation assessed by lung ultrasound score: A single-center randomized study

BACKGROUND

We sought to demonstrate the superiority of a targeted therapy strategy involving high-flow nasal cannula oxygen (HFNCO₂) therapy and noninvasive ventilation (NIV) using lung ultrasound score (LUS) in comparison with standard care among patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) who undergo successful weaning to decrease the incidence of extubation failure at both 48 hours and seven days.

METHODS

During the study period, 98 patients were enrolled in the study, including 49 in the control group and 49 in the treatment group. Patients in the control group and patients with an LUS score <14 points (at low risk of extubation failure) in the treatment group were extubated and received standard preventive care without NIV or HFNCO₂. Patients with an LUS score ≥14 points (at high risk of extubation failure) in the treatment group were extubated with a second review of the therapeutic optimization to identify and address any persisting risk factors for postextubation respiratory distress; patients received HFNCO₂ therapy combined with sessions of preventive NIV (4-8 hours per day for 4-8 sessions total) for the first 48 hours after extubation.

RESULTS

In the control group, 13 patients had the LUS scores ≥14 points, while 36 patients had scores <14 points. In the treatment group, 16 patients had the LUS scores ≥14 points, while 33 patients had scores <14 points. Among patients with the LUS score ≥14 points, the extubation failure rate within 48 hours was 30.8% in the control group and 12.5% in the treatment group, constituting a statistically significant difference (P<0.05). Conversely, among patients with an LUS score <14 points, 13.9% in the control group and 9.1% in the treatment group experienced extubation failure (P=0.61). The length of ICU stay (9.4±3.1 days vs. 7.2±2.4 days) was significantly different and the re-intubation rate (at 48 hours: 18.4% vs. 10.2%; seven days: 22.4% vs. 12.2%) significantly varied between the two groups (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the 28-day mortality rate (6.1% vs. 8.2%) between the control and treatment groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Among high-risk adults being weaned from mechanical ventilation and assessed by LUS, the NIV+HFNCO₂ protocol does not lessen the mortality rate but reduce the length of ICU stay, the rate of extubation failure at both 48 hours and seven days.

High-flow nasal oxygen cannula vs. noninvasive mechanical ventilation to prevent reintubation in sepsis: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

High-flow nasal oxygen cannula (HFNC) and noninvasive mechanical ventilation (NIV) can prevent reintubation in critically ill patients. However, their efficacy in post-extubated sepsis patients remains unclear. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of HFNC vs. NIV to prevent reintubation in post-extubated sepsis patients.

METHODS

We conducted a single-centre, prospective, open-labelled, randomised controlled trial at the medical intensive care unit of Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. Sepsis patients who had been intubated, recovered, and passed the spontaneous breathing trial were enrolled and randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either HFNC or NIV support immediately after extubation. The primary outcome was rate of reintubation at 72 h after extubation.

RESULTS

Between 1st October 2017 and 31st October 2019, 222 patients were enrolled and 112 were assigned to the HFNC group and 110 to the NIV group. Both groups were well matched in baseline characteristics. The median [IQR] age of the HFNC group was 66 [50-77] vs. 65.5 [54-77] years in the NIV group. The most common causes of intubation at admission were shock-related respiratory failure (57.1% vs. 55.5%) and acute hypoxic respiratory failure (34.8% vs. 40.9%) in the HFNC and NIV groups, respectively. The duration of mechanical ventilation before extubation was 5 [3-8] days in the HFNC group vs. 5 [3-9] days in the NIV group. There was no statistically significant difference in the primary outcome: 20/112 (17.9%) in the HFNC group required reintubation at 72 h compared to 20/110 (18.2%) in the NIV group [relative risk (RR) 0.99: 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.70-1.39); P = 0.95]. The 28-day mortality was not different: 8/112 (7.1%) with HFNC vs. 10/110 (9.1%) with NIV (RR 0.88: 95% CI (0.57-1.37); P = 0.59).

CONCLUSIONS

Among sepsis patients, there was no difference between HFNC and NIV in the prevention of reintubation at 72 h after extubation. Clinical Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03246893; Registered 11 August 2017; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03246893?term=surat+tongyoo&draw=2&rank=3.

Oxygenation strategies after extubation of critically ill and postoperative patients

In intensive care units (ICUs), the decision to extubate is a critical one because mortality is particularly high in case of reintubation. Around 15% of patients ready to be weaned off a ventilator experience extubation failure leading to reintubation. The use of high-flow nasal oxygen and non-invasive ventilation are two alternatives of standard oxygen supplementation that may help to prevent reintubation. High-flow nasal oxygen and non-invasive ventilation, may be used to prevent reintubation in patients with low (e.g., patients without comorbidities and with short durations of mechanical ventilation) and high risk (e.g., patients >65 years and those with underlying cardiac disease, chronic respiratory disorders, and/or hypercapnia at the time of extubation) of reintubation, respectively. However, non-invasive ventilation used as a rescue therapy to treat established post-extubation respiratory failure could increase mortality by delaying reintubation, and should therefore be used very carefully in this setting. The oxygenation strategy to be applied in postoperative patients is different from the patients who are extubated in the ICUs. Standard oxygen after a surgical procedure is adequate, even following major abdominal or cardiothoracic surgery, but should probably be switched to high-flow nasal oxygen in patients with hypoxemic. Unlike in patients experiencing post-extubation respiratory failure in ICUs wherein non-invasive ventilation may have deleterious effects, it may actually improve the outcomes in postoperative patients with respiratory failure. This review discusses the different clinical situations with the aim of choosing the most effective oxygenation strategy to prevent post-extubation respiratory failure and to avoid reintubation.

Non-invasive ventilation versus high-flow nasal oxygen for postextubation respiratory failure in ICU: a post-hoc analysis of a randomized clinical trial

Background

In intensive care units (ICUs), patients experiencing post-extubation respiratory failure have poor outcomes. The use of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) to treat post-extubation respiratory failure may increase the risk of death. This study aims at comparing mortality between patients treated with NIV alternating with high-flow nasal oxygen or high-flow nasal oxygen alone.

Methods

Post-hoc analysis of a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial focusing on patients who experienced post-extubation respiratory failure within the 7 days following extubation. Patients were classified in the NIV group or the high-flow nasal oxygen group according to oxygenation strategy used after the onset of post-extubation respiratory failure. Patients reintubated within the first hour after extubation and those promptly reintubated without prior treatment were excluded. The primary outcome was mortality at day 28 after the onset of post-extubation respiratory failure.

Results

Among 651 extubated patients, 158 (25%) experienced respiratory failure and 146 were included in the analysis. Mortality at day 28 was 18% (15/84) using NIV alternating with high-flow nasal oxygen and 29% (18/62) with high flow nasal oxygen alone (difference, − 11% [95% CI, − 25 to 2]; p = 0.12). Among the 46 patients with hypercapnia at the onset of respiratory failure, mortality at day 28 was 3% (1/33) with NIV and 31% (4/13) with high-flow nasal oxygen alone (difference, − 28% [95% CI, − 54 to − 6]; p = 0.006). The proportion of patients reintubated 48 h after the onset of post-extubation respiratory failure was 44% (37/84) with NIV and 52% (32/62) with high-flow nasal oxygen alone (p = 0.21).

Conclusions

In patients with post-extubation respiratory failure, NIV alternating with high-flow nasal oxygen might not increase the risk of death.

Trial registration number

The trial was registered at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov with the registration number NCT03121482 the 20th April 2017.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13054-021-03621-6.

Preventive use of non-invasive ventilation is associated with reduced risk of extubation failure in patients on mechanical ventilation for more than 7 days: a propensity-matched cohort study

BACKGROUND

Extubation failure (EF) is high in patients on mechanical ventilation for more than 7 days. However, strategies to prevent EF in this population are lacking.

AIMS

To evaluate the efficacy of preventive use of noninvasive ventilation in patients on mechanical ventilation for more than 7 days.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective study in an intensive care unit of a teaching hospital. We enrolled patients who received mechanical ventilation for more than 7 days and successfully completed a weaning trial. After extubation, patients who immediately received non-invasive ventilation (NIV) were classified as the NIV group, and those who received conventional oxygenation therapy only were classified as the usual care group.

RESULTS

We enrolled 95 patients in the NIV group and 61 patients in the usual care group. NIV is associated with reduced risk of EF compared to usual care both 72 h following extubation (11.6% vs 32.8%, P < 0.01, for the overall cohort; 8.6% vs 42.9%, P < 0.01, for the propensity-matched cohort) and 7 days following extubation (25.3% vs 45.9%, P < 0.01, for the overall cohort; 28.6% vs 51.4%, P = 0.09, for the propensity-matched cohort). Within 7 days of extubation, the NIV group had a lower proportion of EF than the controls (log rank test: P < 0.01 and P = 0.02 for the overall and propensity-matched cohorts, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients on mechanical ventilation for more than 7 days, preventive use of NIV is associated with a reduction in EF.

Impact of chronic respiratory diseases on re-intubation rate in critically ill patients: a cohort study

Chronic respiratory diseases’ (CRDs) impact on re-intubation rate remains unclear. We investigated the association between these factors in mechanically ventilated patients. Data were extracted from the freely available online Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III database. CRDs were defined according to ICD-9 codes. Generalised linear regression and propensity score matching were performed. Of 13,132 patients, 7.9% required re-intubation. Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) had higher re-intubation (OR 2.48, 95% CI 1.83–3.33) and mortality rates (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.15–2.34) than those without. Patients with asthma had a lower mortality rate (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.43–0.92) but a similar re-intubation rate to those of patients without. These findings remained stable after propensity score matching and bootstrapping analysis. The association of COPD with re-intubation was significantly stronger in patients with high oxygen-partial pressure (PaO₂) or mild disease severity but was independent of carbon dioxide partial pressure. Corticosteroid use was associated with increased re-intubation rates in subgroups without CRDs (OR 1.77–1.99, p < 0.001) but not in subgroups with CRDs. COPD patients with high post-extubation PaO₂ or mild disease severity should be carefully monitored as they have higher re-intubation and mortality rates.

Non-invasive ventilation alternating with high-flow nasal oxygen versus high-flow nasal oxygen alone after extubation in COPD patients: a post hoc analysis of a randomized controlled trial

Background

Several randomized clinical trials have shown that non-invasive ventilation (NIV) applied immediately after extubation may prevent reintubation in patients at high-risk of extubation failure. However, most of studies included patients with chronic respiratory disorders as well as patients without underlying respiratory disease. To date, no study has shown decreased risk of reintubation with prophylactic NIV after extubation among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We hypothesized that prophylactic NIV after extubation may decrease the risk of reintubation in COPD patients as compared with high-flow nasal oxygen. We performed a post hoc subgroup analysis of COPD patients included in a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial comparing prophylactic use of NIV alternating with high-flow nasal oxygen versus high-flow nasal oxygen alone immediately after extubation.

Results

Among the 651 patients included in the original study, 150 (23%) had underlying COPD including 86 patients treated with NIV alternating with high-flow nasal oxygen and 64 patients treated with high-flow nasal oxygen alone. The reintubation rate was 13% (11 out of 86 patients) with NIV and 27% (17 out of 64 patients) with high-flow nasal oxygen alone [difference, − 14% (95% CI − 27% to − 1%); p = 0.03]. Whereas reintubation rates were significantly lower with NIV than with high-flow nasal oxygen alone at 72 h and until ICU discharge, mortality in ICU did not differ between groups: 6% (5/86) with NIV vs. 9% (6/64) with high-flow nasal oxygen alone [difference − 4% (95% CI − 14% to 5%); p = 0.40].

Conclusions

In COPD patients, prophylactic NIV alternating with high-flow nasal oxygen significantly decreased the risk of reintubation compared with high-flow nasal oxygen alone.

Trial registration The study was registered at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov with the trial registration number NCT03121482 (20 April 2017)

How to ventilate obstructive and asthmatic patients

Exacerbations are part of the natural history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma. Severe exacerbations can cause acute respiratory failure, which may ultimately require mechanical ventilation. This review summarizes practical ventilator strategies for the management of patients with obstructive airway disease. Such strategies include non-invasive mechanical ventilation to prevent intubation, invasive mechanical ventilation, from the time of intubation to weaning, and strategies intended to prevent post-extubation acute respiratory failure. The role of tracheostomy, the long-term prognosis, and potential future adjunctive strategies are also discussed. Finally, the physiological background that underlies these strategies is detailed.

Multimorbidity and Critical Care Neurosurgery: Minimizing Major Perioperative Cardiopulmonary Complications

With increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, multimorbid patients have become commonplace in the neurosurgical intensive care unit (neuro-ICU), offering unique management challenges. By reducing physiological reserve and interacting with one another, chronic comorbidities pose a greatly enhanced risk of major postoperative medical complications, especially cardiopulmonary complications, which ultimately exert a negative impact on neurosurgical outcomes. These premises underscore the importance of perioperative optimization, in turn requiring a thorough preoperative risk stratification, a basic understanding of a multimorbid patient’s deranged physiology and a proper appreciation of the potential of surgery, anesthesia and neurocritical care interventions to exacerbate comorbid pathophysiologies. This knowledge enables neurosurgeons, neuroanesthesiologists and neurointensivists to function with a heightened level of vigilance in the care of these high-risk patients and can inform the perioperative neuro-ICU management with individualized strategies able to minimize the risk of untoward outcomes. This review highlights potential pitfalls in the intra- and postoperative neuro-ICU period, describes common preoperative risk stratification tools and discusses tailored perioperative ICU management strategies in multimorbid neurosurgical patients, with a special focus on approaches geared toward the minimization of postoperative cardiopulmonary complications and unplanned reintubation.

Invasive Mechanical Ventilation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Exacerbations

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) continues to be an important cause of morbidity, mortality, and health care costs worldwide. Although there exist some heterogeneity between patients, the course of COPD is characterized by recurrent acute exacerbations, which are among the most common causes of medical admission to hospital. Patients with frequent exacerbations have accelerated lung function decline, worse quality of life, and greater mortality. Therefore, interest is growing in assessing the effectiveness of interventions used to treat exacerbations. The present review summarizes the current evidence regarding the use of ventilatory management to treat COPD and the implementation of novel cost-effective strategies, such as high-flow oxygenation or extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal to improve clinical outcomes and functional recovery in this disease and to reduce the associated costs.

Noninvasive Ventilation and High-Flow Nasal Therapy Administration in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Exacerbations

Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is considered to be the standard of care for the management of acute hypercapnic respiratory failure in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation. It can be delivered safely in any dedicated setting, from emergency rooms to high dependency or intensive care units and wards. NIV helps improving dyspnea and gas exchange, reduces the need for endotracheal intubation, and morbidity and mortality rates. It is therefore recognized as the gold standard in this condition. High-flow nasal therapy helps improving ventilatory efficiency and reducing the work of breathing in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Early studies indicate that some patients with acute hypercapnic respiratory failure can be managed with high-flow nasal therapy, but more information is needed before specific recommendations for this therapy can be made. Therefore, high-flow nasal therapy use should be individualized in each particular situation and institution, taking into account resources, and local and personal experience with all respiratory support therapies.

Effect of high-flow nasal cannula versus conventional oxygen therapy and non-invasive ventilation for preventing reintubation: a Bayesian network meta-analysis and systematic review

BACKGROUND

Adequate respiratory support can improve clinical outcomes in patients who are ready for weaning from a ventilator. We aimed to investigate the efficacy of respiratory methods in adults undergoing planned extubation using a Bayesian network meta-analysis.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Embase, and ClinicalTrials.gov for unpublished and ongoing trials up to November 2019 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in English that compared conventional oxygen therapy (COT), a high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC), and noninvasive ventilation (NIV) for post-extubation respiratory support. Screening of citations, study selection, data extraction, and assessment of risk were performed independently by two authors. The primary outcome was the reintubation rate.

RESULTS

Twenty-two studies (4,218 patients) were included in our meta-analysis. Extubated patients supported with NIV had a significantly lower incidence of reintubation than those supported with COT [odds ratio (OR): 0.63, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.42, 0.89]. However, there was no significant difference in the reintubation rate between the HFNC and NIV, and HFNC and COT groups (OR: 1.05, 95% CI: 0.60, 1.81; OR: 0.60, 95% CI: 0.33, 1.02, respectively). HFNC and NIV reduced the incidence of hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) (OR: 0.50, 95% CI: 0.25, 0.93; OR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.27, 0.87, respectively) and post-extubation acute respiratory failure (ARF) (OR: 0.35, 95% CI: 0.14, 0.89; OR: 0.31, 95% CI: 0.14, 0.63, respectively) compared with COT. There was no significant difference in a decreased incidence of HAP (OR: 1.1, 95% CI: 0.56, 1.8) or post-extubation ARF (OR: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.33, 2.1) between NIV and HFNC. There were also no significant differences in improvements in other clinical outcomes, including intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital mortality and the length of stay (LOS) between NIV and HFNC.

CONCLUSIONS

NIV reduces the reintubation rate in adult patients undergoing planned extubation compared with COT and HFNC.

Prophylactic noninvasive positive pressure ventilation in the weaning of difficult-weaning tracheotomy patients

Background

Prophylactic noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) reduces reintubation in endotracheal intubation patients. However, the efficacy of using the prophylactic NPPV in the weaning of tracheotomy patients is unclear.

Methods

We performed prophylactic NPPV in 11 tracheotomy patients who passed a spontaneous breathing trial (SBT), removed the tracheotomy tube, and closed the incision (intervention group). We matched another 11 tracheotomy patients who also passed an SBT but weaning and removing of tracheotomy tube were managed as conventional methods (control group).

Results

Patients in the control group had reinstitution of mechanical ventilation 36 times after the initial SBT success. Compared with the control group, the interventional group had fewer weaning days (3.0±2.1 vs. 11.3±9.2, P=0.01) from initial SBT success to successful weaning and shorter intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (11.6±4.2 vs. 20.3±11.6, P=0.03) after initial SBT success. The interventional group had lower nosocomial pneumonia rates after initial SBT success (0/11 vs. 2/11), lower ICU mortality (0/11 vs. 2/11), lower hospital mortality (0/11 vs. 3/11), and higher successful weaning rate (11/11 vs. 8/11), but it didn’t reach significant difference. Also, there was no significant difference between groups in total duration of ventilation (25.5±13.3 vs. 34.7±24.2 days), hospital stay after initial SBT success (24.0±22.3 vs. 37.4±31.3 days), total ICU stay (35.7±15.3 vs. 45.0±29.5 days), and total hospital stay (48.7±33.1 vs. 68.6±52.6 days).

Conclusions

Prophylactic NPPV may be useful to accelerate weaning, and shorten ICU stay after initial SBT success in tracheotomy patients.

Outcome of Prophylactic Noninvasive Ventilation Following Planned Extubation in High-risk Patients: A Two-year Prospective Observational Study from a General Intensive Care Unit

Introduction

Prophylactic use of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is recommended following extubation in patients at high risk of extubation failure. In a prospective cohort study, we examined the impact of prophylactic NIV in this subset of patients, potentially exploring the risk factors for extubation failure in them and the impact of extubation failure on organ function. We also explored the effect of fluid balance on extubation failure or success in this high-risk patient subgroup.

Materials and methods

Consecutive adult patients (≥18 years) admitted in the mixed intensive care unit (ICU) of a tertiary care center, between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2019, who passed a spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) following at least 12 hours of invasive mechanical ventilation and put on prophylactic NIV for being at a high risk of extubation failure, were prospectively followed throughout their hospital stay. Extubation failure was defined as developing respiratory failure within 72 hours postextubation requiring reintubation or still requiring NIV support at 72 hours postextubation.

Results

A total of 85 patients were included in the study. 11.8% of patients had extubation failure at 72 hours with an overall reintubation rate of 10.5%. Higher age (p < 0.05), longer duration of invasive ventilation (p < 0.05), and higher sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score at extubation (p < 0.05) were identified as risk factors for extubation failure in univariate analysis. However, in the multivariate analysis, only a higher SOFA score remained statistically significant in forward logistic regression analysis (p < 0.05). We found a clear trend toward worsening organ function score in the extubation failure group in the first 72 hours postextubation, suggesting extubation failure as a risk factor for organ dysfunction. Cumulative fluid balance was higher both at extubation and in subsequent 3 days postextubation in the failure group, but the differences were not statistically significant.

Conclusion

Higher age, longer duration of invasive ventilation, and higher baseline SOFA score at extubation remain risk factors for extubation failure even in this high-risk subset of patients on prophylactic NIV. Extubation failure is associated with the worsening of organ function. A trend toward higher cumulative fluid balance both at extubation and postextubation, suggests aggressive de-resuscitation as a potentially helpful strategy in preventing extubation failure.

How to cite this article

Ghosh S, Chawla A, Jhalani R, Salhotra R, Arora G, Nagar S, et al. Outcome of Prophylactic Noninvasive Ventilation Following Planned Extubation in High-risk Patients: A Two-year Prospective Observational Study from a General Intensive Care Unit. Indian J Crit Care Med 2020;24(12):1185–1192.

ISCCM Guidelines for the Use of Non-invasive Ventilation in Acute Respiratory Failure in Adult ICUs

A. ACUTE HYPERCAPNIC RESPIRATORY FAILURE A1. Acute Exacerbation of COPD: Recommendations: NIV should be used in management of acute exacerbation of COPD in patients with acute or acute-on-chronic respiratory acidosis (pH = 7.25-7.35). (1A) NIV should be attempted in patients with acute exacerbation of COPD (pH <7.25 & PaCO2 ≥ 45) before initiating invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) except in patients requiring immediate intubation. (2A). Lower the pH higher the chance of failure of NIV. (2B) NIV should not to be used routinely in normo- or mildly hyper-capneic patients with acute exacerbation of COPD, without acidosis (pH > 7.35). (2B) A2. NIV in ARF due to Chest wall deformities/Neuromuscular diseases: Recommendations: NIV may be used in patients of ARF due to chest wall deformity/Neuromuscular diseases. (PaCO2 ≥ 45) (UPP) A3. NIV in ARF due to Obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS): Recommendations: NIV may be used in AHRF in OHS patients when they present with acute hypercapnic or acute on chronic respiratory failure (pH 45). (3B) NIV/CPAP may be used in obese, hypercapnic patients with OHS and/or right heart failure in the absence of acidosis. (UPP) B.

NIV IN ACUTE HYPOXEMIC RESPIRATORY FAILURE

B1. NIV in Acute Cardiogenic Pulmonary Oedema: Recommendations: NIV is recommended in hospital patients with ARF, due to Cardiogenic pulmonary edema. (1A). NIV should be used in patients with acute heart failure/ cardiogenic pulmonary edema, right from emergency department itself. (1B) Both CPAP and BiPAP modes are safe and effective in patients with cardiogenic pulmonary edema. (1A). However, BPAP (NIV-PS) should be preferred in cardiogenic pulmonary edema with hypercapnia. (3A) B2. NIV in acute hypoxemic respiratory failure: Recommendations: NIV may be used over conventional oxygen therapy in mild early acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (P/F ratio <300 and >200 mmHg), under close supervision. (2B) We strongly recommend against a trial of NIV in patients with acute hypoxemic failure with P/F ratio <150. (2A) B3. NIV in ARF due to Chest Trauma: Recommendations: NIV may be used in traumatic flail chest along with adequate pain relief. (3B) B4. NIV in Immunocompromised Host: Recommendations: In Immunocompromised patients with early ARF, we may consider NIV over conventional oxygen. (2B). B5. NIV in Palliative Care: Recommendations: We strongly recommend use of NIV for reducing dyspnea in palliative care setting. (2A) B6. NIV in post-operative cases: Recommendations: NIV should be used in patients with post-operative acute respiratory failure. (2A) B6a. NIV in abdominal surgery: Recommendations: NIV may be used in patients with ARF following abdominal surgeries. (2A) B6b. NIV in bariatric surgery: Recommendations: NIV may be used in post-bariatric surgery patients with pre-existent OSA or OHS. (3A) B6c. NIV in Thoracic surgery: Recommendations: In cardiothoracic surgeries, use of NIV is recommended post operatively for acute respiratory failure to improve oxygenation and reduce chance of reintubation. (2A) NIV should not be used in patients undergoing esophageal surgery. (UPP) B6d. NIV in post lung transplant: Recommendations: NIV may be used for shortening weaning time and to avoid re-intubation following lung transplantation. (2B) B7. NIV during Procedures (ETI/Bronchoscopy/TEE/Endoscopy): Recommendations: NIV may be used for pre-oxygenation before intubation. (2B) NIV with appropriate interface may be used in patients of ARF during Bronchoscopy/Endoscopy to improve oxygenation. (3B) B8. NIV in Viral Pneumonitis ARDS: Recommendations: NIV cannot be considered as a treatment of choice for patients with acute respiratory failure with H1N1 pneumonia. However, it may be reasonable to use NIV in selected patients with single organ involvement, in a strictly controlled environment with close monitoring. (2B) B9. NIV and Acute exacerbation of Pulmonary Tuberculosis: Recommendations: Careful use of NIV in patients with acute Tuberculosis may be considered, with effective infection control precautions to prevent air-borne transmission. (3B) B10. NIV after planned extubation in high risk patients: Recommendation: We recommend that NIV may be used to wean high risk patients from invasive mechanical ventilation as it reduces re-intubation rate. (2B) B11. NIV for respiratory distress post extubation: Recommendations: We recommend that NIV therapy should not be used to manage respiratory distress post-extubation in high risk patients. (2B) C.

APPLICATION OF NIV

Recommendation: Choice of mode should be mainly decided by factors like disease etiology and severity, the breathing effort by the patient and the operator familiarity and experience. (UPP) We suggest using flow trigger over pressure triggering in assisted modes, as it provides better patient ventilator synchrony. Especially in COPD patients, flow triggering has been found to benefit auto PEEP. (3B) D.

MANAGEMENT OF PATIENT ON NIV

D1. Sedation: Recommendations: A non-pharmacological approach to calm the patient (Reassuring the patient, proper environment) should always be tried before administrating sedatives. (UPP) In patients on NIV, sedation may be used with extremely close monitoring and only in an ICU setting with lookout for signs of NIV failure. (UPP) E.

EQUIPMENT

Recommendations: We recommend that portable bilevel ventilators or specifically designed ICU ventilators with non-invasive mode should be used for delivering Non-invasive ventilation in critically ill patients. (UPP) Both critical care ventilators with leak compensation and bi-level ventilators have been equally effective in decreasing the WOB, RR, and PaCO2. (3B) Currently, Oronasal mask is the most preferred interface for non-invasive ventilation for acute respiratory failure. (3B) F.

WEANING

Recommendations: We recommend that weaning from NIV may be done by a standardized protocol driven approach of the unit. (2B) How to cite this article: Chawla R, Dixit SB, Zirpe KG, Chaudhry D, Khilnani GC, Mehta Y, et al. ISCCM Guidelines for the Use of Non-invasive Ventilation in Acute Respiratory Failure in Adult ICUs. Indian J Crit Care Med 2020;24(Suppl 1):S61-S81.

Non-Invasive Ventilatory Support In the Elderly

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The first description of non-invasive ventilation use began in the 1920s. Since then, its role in patient care has evolved through increased clinical knowledge and scientific advancements. The utilization of non-invasive ventilation has broadened from initial application in acute in-hospital ICU settings to now include the outpatient settings. This review discusses the history of non-invasive ventilation and its role in acute in-hospital chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations, cardiogenic pulmonary edema, and weaning from mechanical ventilation in the elderly. The elderly population represents a significant portion of patients hospitalized for the aforementioned conditions. These groups often have more limitations related to the use of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), therefore, it is essential to understand the impact of non-invasive ventilation on hospital outcomes.

RECENT FINDINGS

There is strong clinical evidence supporting the use of non-invasive ventilation in patients with respiratory failure secondary to acute COPD exacerbations and cardiogenic pulmonary edema. When compared to standard medical management of these conditions, there is a consistent and significant reduction in the rate of endotracheal intubation and in-hospital mortality.

SUMMARY

The basis of noninvasive ventilation applicability has been determined by significant reduction in mortality and intubation rates. Although survival benefits have been observed, there still remain limitations to the clinical applicability of non-invasive ventilation in certain patient populations and conditions that require further investigation.

Protocolized Post-Extubation Respiratory Support to prevent reintubation: protocol and statistical analysis plan for a clinical trial

INTRODUCTION

Following extubation from invasive mechanical ventilation, nearly one in seven critically ill adults requires reintubation. Reintubation is independently associated with increased mortality. Postextubation respiratory support (non-invasive ventilation or high-flow nasal cannula applied at the time of extubation) has been reported in small-to-moderate-sized trials to reduce reintubation rates among hypercapnic patients, high-risk patients without hypercapnia and low-risk patients without hypercapnia. It is unknown whether protocolised provision of postextubation respiratory support to every patient undergoing extubation would reduce the overall reintubation rate, compared with usual care.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The Protocolized Post-Extubation Respiratory Support (PROPER) trial is a pragmatic, cluster cross-over trial being conducted between 1 October 2017 and 31 March 2019 in the medical intensive care unit of Vanderbilt University Medical Center. PROPER compares usual care versus protocolized post-extubation respiratory support (a respiratory therapist-driven protocol that advises the provision of non-invasive ventilation or high-flow nasal cannula based on patient characteristics). For the duration of the trial, the unit is divided into two clusters. One cluster receives protocolised support and the other receives usual care. Each cluster crosses over between treatment group assignments every 3 months. All adults undergoing extubation from invasive mechanical ventilation are enrolled except those who received less than 12 hours of mechanical ventilation, have 'Do Not Intubate' orders, or have been previously reintubated during the hospitalisation. The anticipated enrolment is approximately 630 patients. The primary outcome is reintubation within 96 hours of extubation.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The trial was approved by the Vanderbilt Institutional Review Board. The results will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at one or more scientific conferences.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT03288311.

Ventilatory support after extubation in critically ill patients

The periextubation period represents a crucial moment in the management of critically ill patients. Extubation failure, defined as the need for reintubation within 2-7 days after a planned extubation, is associated with prolonged mechanical ventilation, increased incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia, longer intensive care unit and hospital stays, and increased mortality. Conventional oxygen therapy is commonly used after extubation. Additional methods of non-invasive respiratory support, such as non-invasive ventilation and high-flow nasal therapy, can be used to avoid reintubation. The aim of this Review is to describe the pathophysiological mechanisms of postextubation respiratory failure and the available techniques and strategies of respiratory support to avoid reintubation. We summarise and discuss the available evidence supporting the use of these strategies to achieve a tailored therapy for an individual patient at the bedside.

Physiotherapist prediction of extubation outcome in the adult intensive care unit

Objective

Most patients requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation are extubated successfully at the first attempt; however, a minority experience extubation failure, which is associated with increased risk of ventilator‐associated pneumonia, prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay and mortality. Physiotherapists have expertise to assess cough strength, work of breathing, respiratory muscle strength, and respiratory secretion load, which are important factors in the outcome of extubation. Accurate prediction of extubation outcome could help to inform management plans pre‐extubation and postextubation. The primary objective of this service evaluation was to report the accuracy of physiotherapists' prediction of extubation outcome in the adult ICU.

Methods

A single‐centre case note review was undertaken. All subjects who received a physiotherapy assessment of extubation suitability prior to extubation between January and March 2016 in the adult ICU of a large teaching hospital in the United Kingdom were included. Assessment, by both specialist and nonspecialist physiotherapists—which included risk stratification of extubation failure as “high,” “moderate,” or “low”—was undertaken prior to extubation. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine which pre‐extubation factors were predictive of extubation outcome.

Results

During the evaluation period, 68 subjects were extubated following a physiotherapy assessment. Physiotherapy risk stratification as “high risk” (OR 4; 95% confidence interval, CI, [1.312]; p=0.009) and “inappropriate” neurological status (OR 3.3; 95% CI [1.0410]; p=0.037) were the only pre‐extubation factors significantly associated with extubation failure. Assessment by specialist physiotherapists demonstrated greater sensitivity (100% vs. 22%) but lower specificity (68% vs. 95%) to detect extubation failure compared with the assessment performed by nonspecialist physiotherapists.

Conclusion

Patients classified as “high risk” of extubation failure by a physiotherapist are significantly more likely to fail extubation. Specialist physiotherapists should be involved in the decision to extubate patients in the adult ICU.

Experts' guidelines of intubation and extubation of the ICU patient of French Society of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine (SFAR) and French-speaking Intensive Care Society (SRLF) : In collaboration with the pediatric Association of French-speaking Anaesthetists and Intensivists (ADARPEF), French-speaking Group of Intensive Care and Paediatric emergencies (GFRUP) and Intensive Care physiotherapy society (SKR)

BACKGROUND

Intubation and extubation of ventilated patients are not risk-free procedures in the intensive care unit (ICU) and can be associated with morbidity and mortality. Intubation in the ICU is frequently required in emergency situations for patients with an unstable cardiovascular or respiratory system. Under these circumstances, it is a high-risk procedure with life-threatening complications (20-50%). Moreover, technical problems can also give rise to complications and several new techniques, such as videolaryngoscopy, have been developed recently. Another risk period is extubation, which fails in approximately 10% of cases and is associated with a poor prognosis. A better understanding of the cause of failure is essential to improve success procedure.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

In constructing these guidelines, the SFAR/SRLF experts have made use of new data on intubation and extubation in the ICU from the last decade to update existing procedures, incorporate more recent advances and propose algorithms.

Early extubation followed by immediate noninvasive ventilation vs. standard extubation in hypoxemic patients: a randomized clinical trial

PURPOSE

Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) may facilitate withdrawal of invasive mechanical ventilation (i-MV) and shorten intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (LOS) in hypercapnic patients, while data are lacking on hypoxemic patients. We aim to determine whether NIV after early extubation reduces the duration of i-MV and ICU LOS in patients recovering from hypoxemic acute respiratory failure.

METHODS

Highly selected non-hypercapnic hypoxemic patients were randomly assigned to receive NIV after early or standard extubation. Co-primary end points were duration of i-MV and ICU LOS. Secondary end points were treatment failure, severe events (hemorrhagic, septic, cardiac, renal or neurologic episodes, pneumothorax or pulmonary embolism), ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) or tracheobronchitis (VAT), tracheotomy, percent of patients receiving sedation after study enrollment, hospital LOS, and ICU and hospital mortality.

RESULTS

We enrolled 130 consecutive patients, 65 treatments and 65 controls. Duration of i-MV was shorter in the treatment group than for controls [4.0 (3.0-7.0) vs. 5.5 (4.0-9.0) days, respectively, p = 0.004], while ICU LOS was not significantly different [8.0 (6.0-12.0) vs. 9.0 (6.5-12.5) days, respectively (p = 0.259)]. Incidence of VAT or VAP (9% vs. 25%, p = 0.019), rate of patients requiring infusion of sedatives after enrollment (57% vs. 85%, p = 0.001), and hospital LOS, 20 (13-32) vs. 27(18-39) days (p = 0.043) were all significantly reduced in the treatment group compared with controls. There were no significant differences in ICU and hospital mortality or in the number of treatment failures, severe events, and tracheostomies.

CONCLUSIONS

In highly selected hypoxemic patients, early extubation followed by immediate NIV application reduced the days spent on invasive ventilation without affecting ICU LOS.

Non-invasive ventilation as a strategy for weaning from invasive mechanical ventilation: a systematic review and Bayesian meta-analysis

PURPOSE

A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to answer the question 'In adults with respiratory failure requiring invasive ventilation for more than 24 h, does a weaning strategy with early extubation to non-invasive ventilation (NIV) compared to invasive ventilation weaning reduce all-cause hospital mortality?'

METHODS

We included randomised and quasi-randomised controlled trials that evaluated the use of non-invasive ventilation, compared to invasive ventilation, as a weaning strategy in adults mechanically ventilated for at least 24 h. The EMBASE, MEDLINE and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) bibliographic databases were searched from inception to February 2018. Bayesian hierarchical models were used to perform the meta-analysis. The primary outcome was mortality at hospital discharge. Secondary outcomes included mortality (30, 60, 90 and 180 days), quality of life, duration of invasive ventilation, weaning failure, length of stay [intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital] and adverse events.

RESULTS

Twenty-five relevant studies involving 1609 patients were included in the quantitative analysis. Studies had moderate to high risk of bias due to risk of performance and detection bias. Mortality at hospital discharge was lower in the NIV weaning group compared to the invasive weaning group [pooled odds ratio (OR) 0.58, 95% highest density interval (HDI) 0.29-0.89]. Subgroup analyses showed lower pooled mortality at hospital discharge rates in NIV weaning than those in the control group in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients (pooled OR 0.43, 95% HDI 0.13-0.81) and the effect is less certain in the mixed ICU population (pooled OR 0.88, 95% HDI 0.25-1.48). NIV weaning reduced the duration of invasive ventilation in patients [standardised mean difference (SMD) - 1.34, 95% HDI - 1.92 to - 0.77] and ICU length of stay (SMD - 0.70, 95% HDI - 0.94 to - 0.46). Reported rates of ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP) were lower in the NIV group. NIV weaning did not reduce overall hospital length of stay or long-term mortality. There were insufficient data to compare other adverse events and health-related quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of NIV in weaning from mechanical ventilation decreases hospital mortality, the incidence of VAP and ICU length of stay. NIV as a weaning strategy appears to be most beneficial in patients with COPD.

Effect of Protocolized Weaning With Early Extubation to Noninvasive Ventilation vs Invasive Weaning on Time to Liberation From Mechanical Ventilation Among Patients With Respiratory Failure: The Breathe Randomized Clinical Trial

IMPORTANCE

In adults in whom weaning from invasive mechanical ventilation is difficult, noninvasive ventilation may facilitate early liberation, but there is uncertainty about its effectiveness in a general intensive care patient population.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate among patients with difficulty weaning the effects of protocolized weaning with early extubation to noninvasive ventilation on time to liberation from ventilation compared with protocolized invasive weaning.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Randomized, allocation-concealed, open-label, multicenter clinical trial enrolling patients between March 2013 and October 2016 from 41 intensive care units in the UK National Health Service. Follow-up continued until April 2017. Adults who received invasive mechanical ventilation for more than 48 hours and in whom a spontaneous breathing trial failed were enrolled.

INTERVENTIONS

Patients were randomized to receive either protocolized weaning via early extubation to noninvasive ventilation (n = 182) or protocolized standard weaning (continued invasive ventilation until successful spontaneous breathing trial, followed by extubation) (n = 182).

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Primary outcome was time from randomization to successful liberation from all forms of mechanical ventilation among survivors, measured in days, with the minimal clinically important difference defined as 1 day. Secondary outcomes were duration of invasive and total ventilation (days), reintubation or tracheostomy rates, and survival.

RESULTS

Among 364 randomized patients (mean age, 63.1 [SD, 14.8] years; 50.5% male), 319 were evaluable for the primary effectiveness outcome (41 died before liberation, 2 withdrew, and 2 were discharged with ongoing ventilation). The median time to liberation was 4.3 days in the noninvasive group vs 4.5 days in the invasive group (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.1; 95% CI, 0.89-1.40). Competing risk analysis accounting for deaths had a similar result (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.1; 95% CI, 0.86-1.34). The noninvasive group received less invasive ventilation (median, 1 day vs 4 days; incidence rate ratio, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.47-0.87) and fewer total ventilator days (median, 3 days vs 4 days; incidence rate ratio, 0.8; 95% CI, 0.62-1.0). There was no significant difference in reintubation, tracheostomy rates, or survival. Adverse events occurred in 45 patients (24.7%) in the noninvasive group compared with 47 (25.8%) in the invasive group.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Among patients requiring mechanical ventilation in whom a spontaneous breathing trial had failed, early extubation to noninvasive ventilation did not shorten time to liberation from any ventilation.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ISRCTN Identifier: ISRCTN15635197.

Pleural effusion during weaning from mechanical ventilation: a prospective observational multicenter study

Background

Pleural effusion is common during invasive mechanical ventilation, but its role during weaning is unclear. We aimed at assessing the prevalence and risk factors for pleural effusion at initiation of weaning. We also assessed its impact on weaning outcomes and its evolution in patients with difficult weaning.

Methods

We performed a prospective multicenter study in five intensive care units in France. Two hundred and forty-nine patients were explored using ultrasonography. Presence of moderate-to-large pleural effusion (defined as a maximal interpleural distance ≥ 15 mm) was assessed at weaning start and during difficult weaning.

Results

Seventy-three (29%) patients failed weaning, including 46 (18%) who failed the first spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) and 39 (16%) who failed extubation. Moderate-to-large pleural effusion was detected in 81 (33%) patients at weaning start. Moderate-to-large pleural effusion was associated with more failures of the first SBT [27 (33%) vs. 19 (11%), p < 0.001], more weaning failures [37 (47%) vs. 36 (22%), p < 0.001], less ventilator-free days at day 28 [21 (5–24) vs. 23 (16–26), p = 0.01], and a higher mortality at day 28 [14 (17%) vs. 14 (8%), p = 0.04]. The association of pleural effusion with weaning failure persisted in multivariable analysis and sensitivity analyses. Short-term (48 h) fluid balance change was not associated with the evolution of interpleural distance in patients with difficult weaning.

Conclusions

In this multicenter observational study, pleural effusion was frequent during the weaning process and was associated with worse weaning outcomes.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13613-018-0446-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Risk factors and outcomes for airway failure versus non-airway failure in the intensive care unit: a multicenter observational study of 1514 extubation procedures

BACKGROUND

Patients liberated from invasive mechanical ventilation are at risk of extubation failure, including inability to breathe without a tracheal tube (airway failure) or without mechanical ventilation (non-airway failure). We sought to identify respective risk factors for airway failure and non-airway failure following extubation.

METHODS

The primary endpoint of this prospective, observational, multicenter study in 26 intensive care units was extubation failure, defined as need for reintubation within 48 h following extubation. A multinomial logistic regression model was used to identify risk factors for airway failure and non-airway failure.

RESULTS

Between 1 December 2013 and 1 May 2015, 1514 patients undergoing extubation were enrolled. The extubation-failure rate was 10.4% (157/1514), including 70/157 (45%) airway failures, 78/157 (50%) non-airway failures, and 9/157 (5%) mixed airway and non-airway failures. By multivariable analysis, risk factors for extubation failure were either common to airway failure and non-airway failure: intubation for coma (OR 4.979 (2.797-8.864), P < 0.0001 and OR 2.067 (1.217-3.510), P = 0.003, respectively, intubation for acute respiratory failure (OR 3.395 (1.877-6.138), P < 0.0001 and OR 2.067 (1.217-3.510), P = 0.007, respectively, absence of strong cough (OR 1.876 (1.047-3.362), P = 0.03 and OR 3.240 (1.786-5.879), P = 0.0001, respectively, or specific to each specific mechanism: female gender (OR 2.024 (1.187-3.450), P = 0.01), length of ventilation > 8 days (OR 1.956 (1.087-3.518), P = 0.025), copious secretions (OR 4.066 (2.268-7.292), P < 0.0001) were specific to airway failure, whereas non-obese status (OR 2.153 (1.052-4.408), P = 0.036) and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score ≥ 8 (OR 1.848 (1.100-3.105), P = 0.02) were specific to non-airway failure. Both airway failure and non-airway failure were associated with ICU mortality (20% and 22%, respectively, as compared to 6% in patients with extubation success, P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Specific risk factors have been identified, allowing us to distinguish between risk of airway failure and non-airway failure. The two conditions will be managed differently, both for prevention and curative strategies.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT 02450669 . Registered on 21 May 2015.

High-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy alone or with non-invasive ventilation during the weaning period after extubation in ICU: the prospective randomised controlled HIGH-WEAN protocol

INTRODUCTION

Recent practice guidelines suggest applying non-invasive ventilation (NIV) to prevent postextubation respiratory failure in patients at high risk of extubation failure in intensive care unit (ICU). However, such prophylactic NIV has been only a conditional recommendation given the low certainty of evidence. Likewise, high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) oxygen therapy has been shown to reduce reintubation rates as compared with standard oxygen and to be as efficient as NIV in patients at high risk. Whereas HFNC may be considered as an optimal therapy during the postextubation period, HFNC associated with NIV could be an additional means of preventing postextubation respiratory failure. We are hypothesising that treatment associating NIV with HFNC between NIV sessions may be more effective than HFNC alone and may reduce the reintubation rate in patients at high risk.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This study is an investigator-initiated, multicentre randomised controlled trial comparing HFNC alone or with NIV sessions during the postextubation period in patients at high risk of extubation failure in the ICU. Six hundred patients will be randomised with a 1:1 ratio in two groups according to the strategy of oxygenation after extubation. The primary outcome is the reintubation rate within the 7 days following planned extubation. Secondary outcomes include the number of patients who meet the criteria for moderate/severe respiratory failure, ICU length of stay and mortality up to day 90.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The study has been approved by the ethics committee and patients will be included after informed consent. The results will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT03121482.

Targeted-Volume Noninvasive Ventilation Reduces Extubation Failure in Postextubated Medical Intensive Care Unit Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Purpose

Till date, the benefit of using noninvasive ventilation (NIV) routinely after extubation to prevent reintubation has been conflicting. We aim to demonstrate the effect of targeted-volume NIV for the prevention of reintubation and extubation failure after planned extubation in medical intensive care unit (ICU) patients.

Study Design

This was a prospective, randomized controlled study.

Materials and Methods

Patients on invasive mechanical ventilation for more than 48 hrs for acute respiratory failure, who were ready for extubation, were randomized into targeted-volume NIV (intervention group) or oxygen mask (controlled group) immediately after extubation and continuously for 24 hrs.

Results

A total of 58 patients were enrolled in this study. The targeted-volume NIV group was observed to have a trend toward lower reintubation rate within 48 hrs compared to oxygen mask group (0% vs. 17.2%; P = 0.052). Extubation failure rate within 48 hrs was significantly lower in targeted-volume NIV group compared to oxygen mask group (0% vs. 41.38%; P < 0.001). There was a trend toward lower ICU length of stay (6[5] days vs. 10[8] days (median interquartile range [IQR]); P = 0.053) as well as shorter hospital length of stay after extubation (10[19] days vs. 18[15] days (median [IQR]); P = 0.059). There were no differences in the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP)/hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) (6.90% vs. 20.69%;P = 0.253) and 28 day-mortality (13.79% vs. 20.69%; P = 0.487).

Conclusions

Our study is the first study to demonstrate the benefit of application of targeted-volume NIV immediately after extubation in reducing extubation failure rate. There was a trend toward lowering reintubation rate and shorter ICU length of stay and hospital length of stay after extubation in mixed medical ICU patients.

Different effects of cardiac and diaphragm function assessed by ultrasound on extubation outcomes in difficult-to-wean patients: a cohort study

Background

Ultrasound is a convenient tool to evaluate cardiac and diaphragm function. The ratio (E/Ea) of mitral Doppler inflow velocity to annular tissue Doppler wave velocity by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and diaphragmatic excursion (DE) by diaphragm ultrasound have been confirmed in predicting extubation outcomes independently, however their different roles in the weaning process have not been determined until now.

Methods

We designed a cohort study to preform diaphragm ultrasound and TTE before and after the spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) in difficult-to-wean patients. Patients considered for enrollment should succeed on a SBT and have been extubated. They were followed up with the events of respiratory failure within 48 h, and divided into the respiratory failure and extubation success subgroups. Relevant risk factors predicting respiratory failure were analysed by a multivariate logistic regression model. Then, each subgroup was assessed with respect to re-intubation within 1 week, and divided into the re-intubation and non-intubation subgroups. Furthermore, relevant risk factors predicting re-intubation were also analysed in each subgroup. The area under the curve (AUC) and optimum cut-off value were identified by the receiver operating characteristic curve.

Results

Among 60 patients, 29 cases developed respiratory failure within 48 h, and 14 cases were re-intubated or died within 1 week, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that E/Ea (average) after SBT [odds ratio (OR) 1.450, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.092-1.926, P = 0.01] and left ventricular ejection fraction were associated with respiratory failure. The AUC of E/Ea (average) after SBT was 0.789, and a cut-off value ≥ 12.5 showed the highest diagnostic accuracy with a sensitivity and specificity of 72.4% and 77.4%, respectively. Furthermore, in the respiratory failure subgroup only DE (average) after SBT was associated with re-intubation (OR 0.690, CI 0.499-0.953, P = 0.024). The AUC of DE (average) after SBT was 0.805, and a cut-off value ≤ 12.6 mm showed the highest diagnostic accuracy with a sensitivity and specificity of 80% and 68.4%, respectively.

Conclusions

E/Ea (average) after SBT could help predict respiratory failure within 48 h. However, DE (average) after SBT could help predict re-intubation within 1 week in the respiratory failure subgroup.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12890-017-0501-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Official ERS/ATS clinical practice guidelines: noninvasive ventilation for acute respiratory failure

Noninvasive mechanical ventilation (NIV) is widely used in the acute care setting for acute respiratory failure (ARF) across a variety of aetiologies. This document provides European Respiratory Society/American Thoracic Society recommendations for the clinical application of NIV based on the most current literature.The guideline committee was composed of clinicians, methodologists and experts in the field of NIV. The committee developed recommendations based on the GRADE (Grading, Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation) methodology for each actionable question. The GRADE Evidence to Decision framework in the guideline development tool was used to generate recommendations. A number of topics were addressed using technical summaries without recommendations and these are discussed in the supplementary material.This guideline committee developed recommendations for 11 actionable questions in a PICO (population-intervention-comparison-outcome) format, all addressing the use of NIV for various aetiologies of ARF. The specific conditions where recommendations were made include exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiogenic pulmonary oedema, de novo hypoxaemic respiratory failure, immunocompromised patients, chest trauma, palliation, post-operative care, weaning and post-extubation.This document summarises the current state of knowledge regarding the role of NIV in ARF. Evidence-based recommendations provide guidance to relevant stakeholders.

Official ERS/ATS clinical practice guidelines: noninvasive ventilation for acute respiratory failure

Noninvasive mechanical ventilation (NIV) is widely used in the acute care setting for acute respiratory failure (ARF) across a variety of aetiologies. This document provides European Respiratory Society/American Thoracic Society recommendations for the clinical application of NIV based on the most current literature.The guideline committee was composed of clinicians, methodologists and experts in the field of NIV. The committee developed recommendations based on the GRADE (Grading, Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation) methodology for each actionable question. The GRADE Evidence to Decision framework in the guideline development tool was used to generate recommendations. A number of topics were addressed using technical summaries without recommendations and these are discussed in the supplementary material.This guideline committee developed recommendations for 11 actionable questions in a PICO (population-intervention-comparison-outcome) format, all addressing the use of NIV for various aetiologies of ARF. The specific conditions where recommendations were made include exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiogenic pulmonary oedema, de novo hypoxaemic respiratory failure, immunocompromised patients, chest trauma, palliation, post-operative care, weaning and post-extubation.This document summarises the current state of knowledge regarding the role of NIV in ARF. Evidence-based recommendations provide guidance to relevant stakeholders.

Intermittent noninvasive ventilation after extubation in patients with chronic respiratory disorders: a multicenter randomized controlled trial (VHYPER)

PURPOSE

Early noninvasive ventilation (NIV) after extubation decreases the risk of respiratory failure and lowers 90-day mortality in patients with hypercapnia. Patients with chronic respiratory disease are at risk of extubation failure. Therefore, it could be useful to determine the role of NIV with a discontinuous approach, not limited to patients with hypercapnia. We assessed the efficacy of early NIV in decreasing respiratory failure after extubation in patients with chronic respiratory disorders.

METHODS

A prospective randomized controlled multicenter study was conducted. We enrolled 144 mechanically ventilated patients with chronic respiratory disorders who tolerated a spontaneous breathing trial. Patients were randomly allocated after extubation to receive either NIV (NIV group, n = 72), performed with a discontinuous approach, for the first 48 h, or conventional oxygen treatment (usual care group, n = 72). The primary endpoint was decreased respiratory failure within 48 h after extubation. Analysis was by intention to treat. This trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01047852).

RESULTS

Respiratory failure after extubation was less frequent in the NIV group: 6 (8.5%) versus 20 (27.8%); p = 0.0016. Six patients (8.5%) in the NIV group versus 13 (18.1%) in the usual care group were reintubated; p = 0.09. Intensive care unit (ICU) mortality and 90-day mortality did not differ significantly between the two groups (p = 0.28 and p = 0.33, respectively). Median postrandomization ICU length of stay was lower in the usual care group: 3 days (IQR 2-6) versus 4 days (IQR 2-7; p = 0.008). Patients with hypercapnia during a spontaneous breathing trial were at risk of developing postextubation respiratory failure [adjusted odds ratio (95% CI) = 4.56 (1.59-14.00); p = 0.006] and being intubated [adjusted odds ratio (95% CI) = 3.60 (1.07-13.31); p = 0.04].

CONCLUSIONS

Early NIV performed following a sequential protocol for the first 48 h after extubation decreased the risk of respiratory failure in patients with chronic respiratory disorders. Reintubation and mortality did not differ between NIV and conventional oxygen therapy.

Management of acute hypercapnic respiratory failure

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The objective of this article is to review the most recent literature regarding the management of acute hypercapnic respiratory failure (AHRF).

RECENT FINDINGS

In the field of AHRF management, noninvasive ventilation (NIV) has become the standard method of providing primary mechanical ventilator support. Recently, extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal (ECCO2R) devices have been proposed as new therapeutic option.

SUMMARY

NIV is an effective strategy in specific settings and in selected population with AHRF. To date, evidence on ECCO2R is based only on case reports and case-control trials. Although the preliminary results using ECCO2R to decrease the rate of NIV failure and to wean hypercapnic patients from invasive ventilation are remarkable; further randomized studies are needed to assess the effects of this technique on both short-term and long-term clinical outcomes.

Mechanical Ventilator Discontinuation Process

The goal of this article is to discuss approaches to discontinuing invasive mechanical ventilation in a general intensive care unit (ICU) population. It considers approaches in which the clinician expects patient survival, as well as those that do not. Additionally, approaches to acute and chronic critical illness are included.