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Setting positive end-expiratory pressure: using the pressure-volume curve

18

Dec 23


Have a look to this brand new review to improve your use of pressure-volume curves to set PEEP in ICU patients - on Current Opinion in Critical Care

Setting positive end-expiratory pressure: using the pressure-volume curve

Francesco Mojoli 1 2, Marco Pozzi 2, Eric Arisi 2

Abstract

Purpose of review: To discuss the role of pressure-volume curve (PV curve) in exploring elastic properties of the respiratory system and setting mechanical ventilator to reduce ventilator-induced lung injury. Recent findings: Nowadays, quasi-static PV curves and loops can be easily obtained and analyzed at the bedside without disconnection of the patient from the ventilator. It is shown that this tool can provide useful information to optimize ventilator setting. For example, PV curves can assess for patient's individual potential for lung recruitability and also evaluate the risk for lung injury of the ongoing mechanical ventilation setting. Summary: In conclusion, PV curve is an easily available bedside tool: its correct interpretation can be extremely valuable to enlighten potential for lung recruitability and select a high or low positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) strategy. Furthermore, recent studies have shown that PV curve can play a significant role in PEEP and driving pressure fine tuning: clinical studies are needed to prove whether this technique will improve outcome.

Dynamic NLR and PLR in Predicting COVID-19 Severity: A Retrospective Cohort Study

30

Aug 23


Infectious Diseases and Therapy volume 12, pages 1625–1640 (2023)   Erika Asperges, Giuseppe Albi, Valentina Zuccaro, Margherita Sambo, Teresa C. Pieri, Matteo Calia, Marta Colaneri, Laura Maiocchi, Federica Melazzini, Angioletta Lasagna, Andrea Peri, Francesco Mojoli, Paolo Sacchi & Raffaele Bruno  

Abstract

Introduction

The hyperinflammation phase of severe SARS-CoV-2 is characterised by complete blood count alterations. In this context, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) can be used as prognostic factors. We studied NLR and PLR trends at different timepoints and computed optimal cutoffs to predict four outcomes: use of continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP), intensive care unit (ICU) admission, invasive ventilation and death.

Methods

We retrospectively included all adult patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pneumonia admitted from 23 January 2020 to 18 May 2021. Analyses included non-parametric tests to study the ability of NLR and PLR to distinguish the patients’ outcomes at each timepoint. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were built for NLR and PLR at each timepoint (minus discharge) to identify cutoffs to distinguish severe and non-severe disease. Their statistical significance was assessed with the chi-square test. Collection of data under the SMACORE database was approved with protocol number 20200046877.

Results

We included 2169 patients. NLR and PLR were higher in severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Both ratios were able to distinguish the outcomes at each timepoint. For NLR, the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) ranged between 0.59 and 0.81, and for PLR between 0.53 and 0.67. From each ROC curve we computed an optimal cutoff value.

Conclusion

NLR and PLR cutoffs are able to distinguish severity grades and mortality at different timepoints during the course of disease, and, as such, they allow a tailored approach. Future prospects include validating our cutoffs in a prospective cohort and comparing their performance against other COVID-19 scores.
  Open Access full text here

The mental health toll of COVID-19: significant increase in admissions to ICU for voluntary self-inflicted injuries after the beginning of the pandemic

31

Jul 23


Int J Ment Health Syst. 2023 Jul 15;17(1):22. doi: 10.1186/s13033-023-00590-x. Silvia Mongodi, Giulia Salve, Marta Ravasi, Damiano Rizzi, Matteo Mangiagalli, Valeria Musella, Catherine Klersy, Luca Ansaloni, Francesco Mojoli

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 outbreak deeply impacted on mental health, with high rate of psychological distress in healthcare professionals, patients and general population. Current literature on trauma showed no increase in ICU admissions for deliberate self-inflicted injuries in the first weeks after the beginning of COVID-19. Objectives: We tested the hypothesis that self-inflicted injuries/harms of any method requiring ICU admission increased in the year following COVID-19 outbreak. Methods: Retrospective cohort single-center study comparing admissions to ICU the year before and the year after the pandemic start. All patients admitted to polyvalent ICUs-Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico S. Matteo, Pavia, Italy from February 21st, 2019 to February 21st, 2020 (pre-COVID) and from February 22nd, 2020 to February 22nd, 2021 (post-COVID) were enrolled. Results: We enrolled 1038 pre-COVID and 854 post-COVID patients. In post-COVID, the incidence of self-inflicted injuries was 32/854 (3.8% [2.5-5.1]), higher than in pre-COVID (23/1038, 2.2%-p = 0.0014-relative increase 72.7%). The increase was more relevant when excluding COVID-19 patients (suicide attempts 32/697 (4.6% [3.0-6.2])-relative increase 109.1%; p < 0.0001). Both in pre-COVID and post-COVID, the most frequent harm mean was poisoning [15 (65.2%) vs. 25 (78.1%), p = 0.182] and the analysed population was younger than general ICU population (p = 0.0015 and < 0.0001, respectively). The distribution of admissions for self-inflicted injuries was homogeneous in pre-COVID along the year. In post-COVID, no admissions were registered during the lockdown; an increase was observed in summer with pandemic curve at minimal levels. Conclusions: An increase in ICU admissions for self-inflicted injuries/harms was observed in the year following COVID-19 outbreak.
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Tidal lung hysteresis to interpret PEEP-induced changes in compliance in ARDS patients

screenshot-2023-06-14-at-21-46-30

15

Jun 23


Lung hysteresis in a decremental PEEP trial helps identifying tidal recruitment and optimise the setting of PEEP in a personalised mechanical ventilation.
Full test on Critical Care here

Abstract

Background

In ARDS, the PEEP level associated with the best respiratory system compliance is often selected; however, intra-tidal recruitment can increase compliance, falsely suggesting improvement in baseline mechanics. Tidal lung hysteresis increases with intra-tidal recruitment and can help interpreting changes in compliance. This study aims to assess tidal recruitment in ARDS patients and to test a combined approach, based on tidal hysteresis and compliance, to interpret decremental PEEP trials.

Methods

A decremental PEEP trial was performed in 38 COVID-19 moderate to severe ARDS patients. At each step, we performed a low-flow inflation-deflation manoeuvre between PEEP and a constant plateau pressure, to measure tidal hysteresis and compliance.

Results

According to changes of tidal hysteresis, three typical patterns were observed: 10 (26%) patients showed consistently high tidal-recruitment, 12 (32%) consistently low tidal-recruitment and 16 (42%) displayed a biphasic pattern moving from low to high tidal-recruitment below a certain PEEP. Compliance increased after 82% of PEEP step decreases and this was associated to a large increase of tidal hysteresis in 44% of cases. Agreement between best compliance and combined approaches was accordingly poor (K = 0.024). The combined approach suggested to increase PEEP in high tidal-recruiters, mainly to keep PEEP constant in biphasic pattern and to decrease PEEP in low tidal-recruiters. PEEP based on the combined approach was associated with lower tidal hysteresis (92.7 ± 20.9 vs. 204.7 ± 110.0 mL; p < 0.001) and lower dissipated energy per breath (0.1 ± 0.1 vs. 0.4 ± 0.2 J; p < 0.001) compared to the best compliance approach. Tidal hysteresis ≥ 100 mL was highly predictive of tidal recruitment at next PEEP step reduction (AUC 0.97; p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Assessment of tidal hysteresis improves the interpretation of decremental PEEP trials and may help limiting tidal recruitment and energy dissipated into the respiratory system during mechanical ventilation of ARDS patients.

Ventilatory associated barotrauma in COVID-19 patients: A multicenter observational case control study (COVI-MIX-study)

3

Apr 23


In this retrospective case-control study, barotrauma was recorded in 1.00% of patients, affecting mainly patients with more severe COVID-19 disease. It was independently associated with mortality.   Free full text here on Pulmonology   1-s2-0-s2531043722002604-gr2_lrg

Abstract

Background

The risk of barotrauma associated with different types of ventilatory support is unclear in COVID-19 patients. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the different respiratory support strategies on barotrauma occurrence; we also sought to determine the frequency of barotrauma and the clinical characteristics of the patients who experienced this complication.

Methods

This multicentre retrospective case-control study from 1 March 2020 to 28 February 2021 included COVID-19 patients who experienced barotrauma during hospital stay. They were matched with controls in a 1:1 ratio for the same admission period in the same ward of treatment. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression (OR) were performed to explore which factors were associated with barotrauma and in-hospital death.

Results

We included 200 cases and 200 controls. Invasive mechanical ventilation was used in 39.3% of patients in the barotrauma group, and in 20.1% of controls (p<0.001). Receiving non-invasive ventilation (C-PAP/PSV) instead of conventional oxygen therapy (COT) increased the risk of barotrauma (OR 5.04, 95% CI 2.30 - 11.08, p<0.001), similarly for invasive mechanical ventilation (OR 6.24, 95% CI 2.86-13.60, p<0.001). High Flow Nasal Oxygen (HFNO), compared with COT, did not significantly increase the risk of barotrauma. Barotrauma frequency occurred in 1.00% [95% CI 0.88-1.16] of patients; these were older (p=0.022) and more frequently immunosuppressed (p=0.013). Barotrauma was shown to be an independent risk for death (OR 5.32, 95% CI 2.82-10.03, p<0.001).

Conclusions

C-PAP/PSV compared with COT or HFNO increased the risk of barotrauma; otherwise HFNO did not. Barotrauma was recorded in 1.00% of patients, affecting mainly patients with more severe COVID-19 disease. Barotrauma was independently associated with mortality.

   

Impact of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron and Delta variants in patients requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission for COVID-19, Northern Italy, December 2021 to January 2022

27

Mar 23


Abstract

This multicenter observational study included 171 COVID-19 adult patients hospitalized in the ICUs of nine hospitals in Lombardy (Northern Italy) from December, 1st 2021, to February, 9th 2022. During the study period, the Delta/Omicron variant ratio of cases decreased with a delay of two weeks in ICU patients compared to that in the community; a higher proportion of COVID-19 unvaccinated patients was infected by Delta than by Omicron whereas a higher rate of COVID-19 boosted patients was Omicron-infected. A higher number of comorbidities and a higher comorbidity score in ICU critically COVID-19 inpatients was positively associated with the Omicron infection as well in vaccinated individuals. Although people infected by Omicron have a lower risk of severe disease than those infected by Delta variant, the outcome, including the risk of ICU admission and the need for mechanical ventilation due to infection by Omicron versus Delta, remains uncertain. The continuous monitoring of the circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants remains a milestone to counteract this pandemic. Respir Med Res. 2023 Mar 3;83:100990. doi: 10.1016/j.resmer.2023.100990.
FREE FULL TEXT HERE

Mechanical ventilation in patients with cardiogenic pulmonary edema: a sub-analysis of the LUNG SAFE study

25

Feb 23


An insight from the Lung Safe study focused on mechanical ventilation in cardiogenic edema: higher airway pressure seems to be associated with mortality.   Free full text here on the Journal of Intensive Care screenshot-2023-01-24-at-10-26-05

Abstract

Background

Patients with acute respiratory failure caused by cardiogenic pulmonary edema (CPE) may require mechanical ventilation that can cause further lung damage. Our aim was to determine the impact of ventilatory settings on CPE mortality.

Methods

Patients from the LUNG SAFE cohort, a multicenter prospective cohort study of patients undergoing mechanical ventilation, were studied. Relationships between ventilatory parameters and outcomes (ICU discharge/hospital mortality) were assessed using latent mixture analysis and a marginal structural model.

Results

From 4499 patients, 391 meeting CPE criteria (median age 70 [interquartile range 59–78], 40% female) were included. ICU and hospital mortality were 34% and 40%, respectively. ICU survivors were younger (67 [57–77] vs 74 [64–80] years, p < 0.001) and had lower driving (12 [8–16] vs 15 [11–17] cmH2O, p < 0.001), plateau (20 [15–23] vs 22 [19–26] cmH2O, p < 0.001) and peak (21 [17–27] vs 26 [20–32] cmH2O, p < 0.001) pressures. Latent mixture analysis of patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation on ICU day 1 revealed a subgroup ventilated with high pressures with lower probability of being discharged alive from the ICU (hazard ratio [HR] 0.79 [95% confidence interval 0.60–1.05], p = 0.103) and increased hospital mortality (HR 1.65 [1.16–2.36], p = 0.005). In a marginal structural model, driving pressures in the first week (HR 1.12 [1.06–1.18], p < 0.001) and tidal volume after day 7 (HR 0.69 [0.52–0.93], p = 0.015) were related to survival.

Conclusions

Higher airway pressures in invasively ventilated patients with CPE are related to mortality. These patients may be exposed to an increased risk of ventilator-induced lung injury.

Mid-term follow-up chest CT findings in recovered COVID-19 patients with residual symptoms

14

Feb 23


Slow radiological recovery with persistent residual lung alterations is frequent in patients recovering from COVID-19 - a collaboration with our radiology department on the British journal or radiology Free full text here images_medium_bjr-20220012-g004

Abstract

Objectives

More than a year has passed since the initial outbreak of SARS-CoV-2, which caused many hospitalizations worldwide due to COVID-19 pneumonia and its complications. However, there is still a lack of information detailing short- and long-term outcomes of previously hospitalized patients. The purpose of this study is to analyze the most frequent lung CT findings in recovered COVID-19 patients at mid-term follow-ups.

Methods

A total of 407 consecutive COVID-19 patients who were admitted to the Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia and discharged between February 27, 2020, and June 26, 2020 were recruited into this study. Out of these patients, a subset of 108 patients who presented with residual asthenia and dyspnea at discharge, altered spirometric data, positive lung ultrasound and positive chest X-ray was subsequently selected, and was scheduled to undergo a mid-term chest CT study, which was evaluated for specific lung alterations and morphological patterns.

Results

The most frequently observed lung CT alterations, in order of frequency, were ground-glass opacities (81%), linear opacities (74%), bronchiolectases (64.81%), and reticular opacities (63.88%). The most common morphological pattern was the non-specific interstitial pneumonia pattern (63.88%). Features consistent with pulmonary fibrosis were observed in 32 patients (29.62%).

Conclusions

Our work showed that recovered COVID-19 patients who were hospitalized and who exhibited residual symptoms after discharge had a slow radiological recovery with persistent residual lung alterations.

Advances in knowledge

This slow recovery process should be kept in mind when determining the follow-up phases in order to improve the long-term management of patients affected by COVID-19.
 

Quality of Life in COVID-Related ARDS Patients One Year after Intensive Care Discharge (Odissea Study): A Multicenter Observational Study

2

Feb 23


Here the results of the national multicenter study on the quality of life of COVID-19 patients one year after ICU discharge: around 20% of the enrolled patients were from Pavia!   Full text here on the Journal of Clinical Medicine jcm-12-01058-ag  

Abstract

Background: Investigating the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) after intensive care unit (ICU) discharge is necessary to identify possible modifiable risk factors. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the HRQoL in COVID-19 critically ill patients one year after ICU discharge. Methods: In this multicenter prospective observational study, COVID-19 patients admitted to nine ICUs from 1 March 2020 to 28 February 2021 in Italy were enrolled. One year after ICU discharge, patients were required to fill in short-form health survey 36 (SF-36) and impact of event-revised (IES-R) questionnaire. A multivariate linear or logistic regression analysis to search for factors associated with a lower HRQoL and post-traumatic stress disorded (PTSD) were carried out, respectively. Results: Among 1,003 patients screened, 343 (median age 63 years [57–70]) were enrolled. Mechanical ventilation lasted for a median of 10 days [2–20]. Physical functioning (PF 85 [60–95]), physical role (PR 75 [0–100]), emotional role (RE 100 [33–100]), bodily pain (BP 77.5 [45–100]), social functioning (SF 75 [50–100]), general health (GH 55 [35–72]), vitality (VT 55 [40–70]), mental health (MH 68 [52–84]) and health change (HC 50 [25–75]) describe the SF-36 items. A median physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores were 45.9 (36.5–53.5) and 51.7 (48.8–54.3), respectively, considering 50 as the normal value of the healthy general population. In all, 109 patients (31.8%) tested positive for post-traumatic stress disorder, also reporting a significantly worse HRQoL in all SF-36 domains. The female gender, history of cardiovascular disease, liver disease and length of hospital stay negatively affected the HRQoL. Weight at follow-up was a risk factor for PTSD (OR 1.02, p = 0.03). Conclusions: The HRQoL in COVID-19 ARDS ( C-ARDS ) patients was reduced regarding the PCS, while the median MCS value was slightly above normal. Some risk factors for a lower HRQoL have been identified, the presence of PTSD is one of them. Further research is warranted to better identify the possible factors affecting the HRQoL in C-ARDS.

Automated detection and classification of patient–ventilator asynchrony by means of machine learning and simulated data

24

Jan 23


Collecting the results of international fellows coming to Pavia from Eindhoven Technical University for research on respiratory patients: machine learning for detection and classification of patient-ventilator asynchronies. Free full text here on Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine 1-s2-0-s0169260722007143-gr1

Abstract

Background and objective

Mechanical ventilation is a lifesaving treatment for critically ill patients in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) or during surgery. However, one potential harm of mechanical ventilation is related to patient–ventilator asynchrony (PVA). PVA can cause discomfort to the patient, damage to the lungs, and an increase in the length of stay in the ICU and on the ventilator. Therefore, automated detection algorithms are being developed to detect and classify PVAs, with the goal of optimizing mechanical ventilation. However, the development of these algorithms often requires large labeled datasets; these are generally difficult to obtain, as their collection and labeling is a time-consuming and labor-intensive task, which needs to be performed by clinical experts.

Methods

In this work, we aimed to develop a computer algorithm for the automatic detection and classification of PVA. The algorithm employs a neural network for the detection of the breath of the patient. The development of the algorithm was aided by simulations from a recently published model of the patient-ventilator interaction.

Results

The proposed method was effective, providing an algorithm with reliable detection and classification results of over 90% accuracy. Besides presenting a detection and classification algorithm for a variety of PVAs, here we show that using simulated data in combination with clinical data increases the variability in the training dataset, leading to a gain in performance and generalizability.

Conclusions

In the future, these algorithms can be utilized to gain a better understanding of the clinical impact of PVAs and help clinicians to better monitor their ventilation strategies.

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