Mechanical Ventilation for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome during Extracorporeal Life Support. Research and Practice.

Ventilator-induced lung injury remains a key contributor to the morbidity and mortality of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Efforts to minimize this injury are typically limited by the need to preserve adequate gas exchange. In the most severe forms of the syndrome, extracorporeal life support is increasingly being deployed for severe hypoxemia or hypercapnic acidosis refractory to conventional ventilator management strategies. Data from a recent randomized controlled trial, a post hoc analysis of that trial, a meta-analysis, and a large international multicenter observational study suggest that extracorporeal life support, when combined with lower Vt and airway pressures than the current standard of care, may improve outcomes compared with conventional management in patients with the most severe forms of ARDS. These findings raise important questions not only about the optimal ventilation strategies for patients receiving extracorporeal support but also regarding how various mechanisms of lung injury in ARDS may potentially be mitigated by ultra-lung-protective ventilation strategies when gas exchange is sufficiently managed with the extracorporeal circuit. Additional studies are needed to more precisely delineate the best strategies for optimizing invasive mechanical ventilation in this patient population.

Organizational responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in Victoria, Australia: A qualitative study across four healthcare settings.

Objective: Organizational responses that support healthcare workers (HCWs) and mitigate health risks are necessary to offset the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to understand how HCWs and key personnel working in healthcare settings in Melbourne, Australia perceived their employing organizations' responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: In this qualitative study, conducted May-July 2021 as part of the longitudinal Coronavirus in Victorian Healthcare and Aged Care Workers (COVIC-HA) study, we purposively sampled and interviewed HCWs and key personnel from healthcare organizations across hospital, ambulance, aged care and primary care (general practice) settings. We also examined HCWs' free-text responses to a question about organizational resources and/or supports from the COVIC-HA Study's baseline survey. We thematically analyzed data using an iterative process. Results: We analyzed data from interviews with 28 HCWs and 21 key personnel and free-text responses from 365 HCWs, yielding three major themes: navigating a changing and uncertain environment, maintaining service delivery during a pandemic, and meeting the safety and psychological needs of staff . HCWs valued organizational efforts to engage openly and honesty with staff, and proactive responses such as strategies to enhance workplace safety (e.g., personal protective equipment spotters). Suggestions for improvement identified in the themes included streamlined information processes, greater involvement of HCWs in decision-making, increased investment in staff wellbeing initiatives and sustainable approaches to strengthen the healthcare workforce. Conclusions: This study provides in-depth insights into the challenges and successes of organizational responses across four healthcare settings in the uncertain environment of a pandemic. Future efforts to mitigate the impact of acute stressors on HCWs should include a strong focus on bidirectional communication, effective and realistic strategies to strengthen and sustain the healthcare workforce, and greater investment in flexible and meaningful psychological support and wellbeing initiatives for HCWs.

Protocol and statistical analysis plan for the mega randomised registry trial research program comparing conservative versus liberal oxygenation targets in adults receiving unplanned invasive mechanical ventilation in the ICU (Mega-ROX).

Background: The effect of conservative versus liberal oxygen therapy on 90-day in-hospital mortality in patients who require unplanned invasive mechanical ventilation in an intensive care unit (ICU) is uncertain and will be evaluated in the mega randomised registry trial research program (Mega-ROX). Objective: To summarise the protocol and statistical analysis plan for Mega-ROX. Design, setting and participants: Mega-ROX is a 40 000-patient parallel-group, registry-embedded clinical trial in which adults who require unplanned invasive mechanical ventilation in an ICU will be randomly assigned to conservative or liberal oxygen therapy. Within this overarching trial research program, three nested parallel randomised controlled trials will be conducted. These will include patients with suspected hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) following resuscitation from a cardiac arrest, patients with sepsis, and patients with non-HIE acute brain injuries or conditions. Main outcome measures: The primary outcome is in-hospital allcause mortality up to 90 days from the date of randomisation. Secondary outcomes include duration of survival, duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU length of stay, hospital length of stay, and proportion of patients discharged home. Results and conclusions: Mega-ROX will compare the effect of conservative versus liberal oxygen therapy on 90-day in-hospital mortality in critically ill adults who receive unplanned invasive mechanical ventilation in an ICU. The protocol and a pre-specified approach to analyses are reported here to mitigate analysis bias. Trial registration: Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTRN 12620000391976).

Defining patient-centered recovery after critical illness - A qualitative study.

PURPOSE: To explore perspectives of adult critical illness survivors and identify important aspects to care and recovery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive, qualitative study of adult survivors of prolonged critical illness, six-months after Intensive Care Unit (ICU) discharge, using semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis. The study was undertaken in an academic, tertiary, regional hospital in Victoria, Australia. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients participated in the study. Most were male (69%) with median age 64 years. Admissions were predominantly medical (51%), followed by cardiothoracic (26%) and general surgical (23%). Median ICU and hospital length of stay were 5 and 17 days respectively. Qualitative analysis revealed two key theme categories, recovery status and care experience. Three recovery states were identified based on physical and neuropsychological recovery. Care experiences varied across recovery states, including care encounters, communication, support and impact on family and friends, and use of community health services. CONCLUSION: Critical illness survivors frame their recovery in terms of recovery status and care experience, reflecting existing qualitative domains of physical health, psychological health, cognitive function, social health and life satisfaction. Theme content varied with recovery status, raising the possibility that modifying care experiences or patient perceptions could change recovery outcomes.

Physiotherapy management of intensive care unit-acquired weakness.

[Hodgson CL, Tipping CJ (2016) Physiotherapy management of intensive care unit-acquired weakness.Journal of Physiotherapy63: 4-10].