Noninvasive mechanical ventilation for very old patients with limitations of care: is the ICU the most appropriate setting?

Treatment of patients with 'do not intubate orders'

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Do-not-intubate (DNI) orders are more frequently encountered over time. This widespread diffusion of DNI orders make it essential to develop therapeutic strategies matching patient's and his family willingness. The present review sheds light on the therapeutic approaches employed to support respiratory function of patients with DNI orders.

RECENT FINDINGS

In DNI patients, several approaches have been described to relieve dyspnoea and address acute respiratory failure (ARF). Despite its extensive use, supplemental oxygen is not so useful in assuring dyspnoea relief. Noninvasive respiratory support (NIRS) is frequently employed to treat ARF in DNI patients. Also, to enhance DNI patients comfort during NIRS, it is worthy to point out the role of analgo-sedative medications. Lastly, a particular aspect concerns the first waves of coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, when DNI orders have been pursued on factors unrelated to patient's wishes, in the total absence of family support due to the lockdown policy. In this setting, NIRS has been extensively employed in DNI patients with a survival rate of around 20%.

SUMMARY

In dealing with DNI patients, the individualization of treatments is of pivotal importance to respect patient's preferences and improve quality of life at the same time.

Don't forget shared decision-making in the COVID-19 crisis

Mechanical ventilation as a resource is limited and may lead to poor outcomes in at‐risk populations. Critical care supports may not be preferred by those at risk of deterioration in the COVID‐19 setting. Patient‐centred communication and shared decision‐making should continue to remain central to clinical practice.

Caring for critically ill oldest old patients: a clinical review

Despite technological advances, the mortality rate for critically ill oldest old patients remains high. The intensive caring should be able to combine technology and a deep humanity considering that the patients are living the last part of their lives. In addition to the traditional goals of ICU of reducing morbidity and mortality, of maintaining organ functions and restoring health, caring for seriously oldest old patients should take into account their end-of-life preferences, the advance or proxy directives if available, the prognosis, the communication, their life expectancy and the impact of multimorbidity. The aim of this review was to focus on all these aspects with an emphasis on some intensive procedures such as mechanical ventilation, noninvasive mechanical ventilation, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, renal replacement therapy, hemodynamic support, evaluation of delirium and malnutrition in this heterogeneous frail ICU population.

Non-invasive mechanical ventilation in elderly patients: A narrative review

The treatment of acute respiratory failure with non-invasive ventilation (NIV) as a first-line therapy is increasingly common in intensive care units. The reduced invasiveness of NIV leads to better outcomes than endotracheal intubation in carefully selected groups of patients. Furthermore, the use of NIV as a palliative treatment for respiratory failure and dyspnea has become increasingly common. NIV also has an impact on the use of "do not intubate" orders. In the present narrative review, we explore the use and outcome of NIV in elderly patients. To accomplish this, we reviewed the most recent available medical literature. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 689-696.

[Non-invasive ventilation in 'do-not-intubate' patients in a chronic disease hospital. One year follow-up study]

Elderly patients with multiple morbidity and do not intubate (DNI) orders frequently present with acute respiratory failure. There are data supporting the effectiveness of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in this context. Our chronic disease hospital developed an integrated care clinical pathway for the use of NIV in acute respiratory failure in the emergency room and wards in 2010. The aim of this study was to assess the outcome of NIV in patients with acute respiratory failure who had a DNI order in a sub-acute care hospital.

METHODS

Observational, one year-follow up study. The main variables were in-hospital mortality and one year mortality. Other variables recorded were: demographics, clinical data, functional data, performance of daily life activities, dementia, arterial blood gases and re-admissions.

RESULTS

The study included a total of 102 patients, of which 22% were in institutions. The mean age 81±7.47% males, with a Charlson index 3.7±1, and Barthel index 54±31. The overall mortality during the admission was 33% (34 patients). Among those patients ventilated outside the protocol indication, the mortality was significantly greater, at 71% (P>.05). Overall one-year survival rate was 46%. This survival rate was statistically higher in patients with obesity hypoventilation syndrome and a Barthel >50.

CONCLUSIONS

NIV is a useful technique in a hospital for chronic patients in an elderly population with a therapeutic ceiling. Despite their disease severity and comorbidity, acceptable survival rates are achieved. A correct case selection is needed. Obesity hypoventilation syndrome and those with Barthel index >50 have a better prognosis.

The use of non-invasive ventilation in very old patients with hypercapnic acute respiratory failure because of COPD exacerbation

AIMS

We prospectively enrolled 207 patients (121 were 75 or older and 86 younger than 75) who were admitted to three Respiratory Monitoring Units. The primary outcomes were intubation and mortality rates; the secondary outcomes were changes in arterial blood gases analysis, non-invasive ventilation (NIV) duration and length of hospital stay.

RESULTS

Hospital mortality was similar in the two groups, as were intubation rates. The proportion who died in the very old patient group was 19.8% (24/121) vs. 10.4% (9/86) in the younger group. Intubation rate was 10.7% (13/121) in the very old patient group and 11.6% (10/86) in the younger group. The presence of comorbidities, the severity of illness (SAPS II), the level of consciousness, NIV failure (intubation), absolute value of pH prior to NIV, as well as the changes in pH and paCO2 and PaO2 /FiO2 after 2 h of NIV, were the variables associated with higher mortality. Very old patients had significantly higher NIV duration than younger patients (69.0 ± 47.0 vs. 57.0 ± 27.0 h) (p ≤ 0.03) and hospital stays (11.6 ± 3.8 vs. 8.4 ± 1.4) (p ≤ 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

The use of NIV in very old patients was effective in many cases. Endotracheal intubation after NIV failure was not efficacious in either group.