Mechanical ventilation

Bundle to reduce ventilator associated events

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Nishi Rawat, Ting Yang,  Kisha J. Ali et el  published a two state multifaceted intervention study showing benefits of improved compliance with evidence based practices can reduce ventilator-associated event, infection-related ventilator- associated complication, and probable ventilator-associated pneumonia. It was a longitudinal quasi-experimental study involving 56 ICUs at 38 hospitals in Maryland and Pennsylvania from October 2012 to March 2015. PROBLEM … Read more

Steroids to prevent post extubation stridor and reintubation

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Kuriyama A, Umakoshi N, Sun R published a systemic review and meta- analysis of recent trials regarding use of steroids to prevent post extubation stridor and reintubation. BACKGROUND Earlier meta-analysis of trials of steroids by Fan T et el, Jaber S et el , Khemani RG et el and McCaffrey J et el suggested the potential of corticosteroids to … Read more

Difficult airway characteristics associated with video laryngoscopy failure

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Raj Joshi , Cameron D. Hypes,  Jarrod M. Mosier et el published a single center prospective observational study looking at the risk factors for failure of first attempt at intubation using video laryngoscopy in intensive care unit.   Background Macintosh (1943) and Miller (1941) developed direct laryngoscopes and paved the way for modern direct laryngoscopy.  Mainstay of … Read more

Conservative Vs Conventional Oxygen therapy : How much or how low ?

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Massimo Girardis, Stefano Busani and Mervin Singer et el  published a single center study in October, 2016 issue of JAMA comparing conservative oxygen therapy with conventional one in critically ill patients.    Who All adult patients admitted to an ICU in Italian hospital from 2010 to 2012. Following were excluded pregnancy, ICU readmission, a decision to withhold life-sustaining … Read more

Timing of intubation for in hospital cardiac arrest ?

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Traditional wisdom taught us to secure airway as soon as possible in case of cardiac arrest(at least in hospital arrest), though over the course of years, American hearth association have moved their focus from “ABC” (airway-breathing-circulation) to “CAB” (circulation-airway-breathing). AHA also suggested that if a trained individual is not present to secure airway, bag mask ventilation … Read more

New Surviving Sepsis Guidelines

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New surviving sepsis guidelines were just been released, incorporating new evidence and new sepsis definition. It is a 38 page document(excluding references) . Here is a concise summary of the new guidelines.   FOR RECOMMENDATIONS Treatment and resuscitation should begin immediately. 30 mL/kg of IV crystalloid fluid should be given within the first 3 hours. … Read more

What the hell is EIP ?

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Low tidal volume ventilation in ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome) have been shown to improve mortality. However, low tidal volume ventilation invariably leads to hypercapnia. Many strategies have been employed to optimize the ventilation in ARDS using increases in respiratory rate , use of active humidifiers  and the tracheal gas insufflation or aspiration of dead space. … Read more

You may want this drug in your RSI box!

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Finally, an alternative to Succinylcholine in USA (short duration paralytic)   In December, 2015, FDA approved Bridion (sugammadex) injection to reverse the effects of neuromuscular blockade induced by rocuronium bromide and vecuronium bromide. Now finally we have an alternative to succinylcholine (Mainly used for its very short duration of action).(1)   “Bridion provides a new treatment … Read more

Effective communication with mechanically ventilated patients

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S. Ten Hoorn, P. W. Elbers and A. R. Girbes published a systemic review in critical care journal in Sept, 2016 about how to communicate with patients on mechanical ventilation.  Summary of the review is in this picture In the US, many ICUs use commercially available communication boards. One below is from Vidatak. In the current technology driven era, there are many … Read more

New recommendations for liberation from mechanical ventilation

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Chest/ American thoracic society released new guidelines for liberation from mechanical ventilation. There are six key recommendations. They all are applicable to patients who are mechanically ventilated for more than 24 hours. For all recommendations, strength is conditional except recommendation for NIV after extubation where it is strong. Initial SBT or spontaneous breathing trial should … Read more

Should you extubate during night ? Yes, if you are there!

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Gershengorn et al published in JAMA a very large retrospective cohort study of 97 844 patients from 165 US ICUs who participate in Project Impact from October 1, 2000, to March 29, 2009. Authors created  4518 propensity-matched pairs of patients with less than 12 hours of Mechanical ventilation and 5761 propensity-matched pairs of patients with mechanical ventilation of more … Read more