Characteristics and outcomes of patients infected with nCoV19 requiring invasive mechanical ventilation in Argentina. / Características y resultados de los pacientes infectados con nCoV19 con requerimiento de ventilación mecánica invasiva en la Argentina.

OBJECTIVE: A novel coronavirus emerged this year as a cause of viral pneumonia. The main characteristics of the virus are rapid transmission, high contagion capacity and potential severity. The objective of this case series study is to describe the clinical characteristics of patients with confirmed coronavirus disease (COVID-19) admitted to different intensive care units in Argentina for mechanical ventilation. METHODS: A descriptive, prospective, multicenter case series study was conducted between April 1 and May 8, 2020. Data from patients older than 18 years who were admitted to the intensive care unit for mechanical ventilation for acute respiratory failure with a positive diagnosis of COVID-19 were included. RESULTS: The variables for 47 patients from 31 intensive care units were recorded: 78.7% were men (median age of 61 years), with a SAPS II score of 43 and a Charlson index score of 3. The initial ventilatory mode was volume control - continuous mandatory ventilation with a tidal volume less than 8mL/kg in 100% of cases, with a median positive end-expiratory pressure of 10.5cmH2O. At the end of the study, 29 patients died, 8 were discharged, and 10 remained hospitalized. The SAPS II score was higher among patients who died (p = 0.046). Charlson comorbidity index was associated with higher mortality (OR = 2.27, 95% CI 1.13 - 4.55, p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Patients with COVID-19 and on mechanical ventilation in this series presented clinical variables similar to those described to date in other international reports. Our findings provide data that may predict outcomes.

OBJETIVO: El coronavirus ha emergido este año como causa de neumonía viral. Una de las principales características es su rápida transmisión y su potencial severidad. El objetivo de este estudio de serie de casos es describir las características clínicas de los pacientes con confirmación de enfermedad por coronavirus (COVID-19) admitidos en diferentes unidades de cuidados intensivos de la Argentina con requerimiento de ventilación mecánica. MÉTODOS: Estudio de serie de casos, descriptivo-prospectivo, multicéntrico realizado entre el 01 de abril y el 08 de mayo de 2020. Se incluyeron los datos de los pacientes mayores a 18 años, que ingresaron a la unidad de cuidados intensivos con requerimiento de ventilación mecánica por falla respiratoria aguda con diagnóstico positivo de COVID-19. RESULTADOS: Se registraron las variables de 47 pacientes de 31 unidades cuidados intensivos, 78.7% hombres de una mediana de edad de 61 años, con un SAPS II de 43, un índice de Charlson de 3. El modo ventilatorio inicial fue volume control - continuous mandatory ventilation con volumen corriente menor a 8mL/kg en el 100% de los casos, con una mediana de presión positiva al final de la espiración de 10,5cmH2O. A la fecha de cierre del estudio, 29 pacientes fallecieron, 8 alcanzaron el alta, y 10 pacientes continúan internados al cierre del estudio. El SAPS II fue mayor entre los fallecidos (p = 0.046). El índice de Charlson se asoció con mayor mortalidad (OR = 2,27 IC95% 1,13 - 4,55; p = 0,02). CONCLUSIÓN: Los pacientes con COVID-19 y ventilación mecánica de esta serie presentan variables clínicas similares a las descriptas a la fecha en otros reportes internacionales. Nuestros hallazgos proporcionan datos que permitirían de alguna manera predecir los resultados.

Características y resultados de los pacientes infectados con nCoV19 con requerimiento de ventilación mecánica invasiva en la Argentina / Characteristics and outcomes of patients infected with nCoV19 requiring invasive mechanical ventilation in Argentina

RESUMEN Objetivo: El coronavirus ha emergido este año como causa de neumonía viral. Una de las principales características es su rápida transmisión y su potencial severidad. El objetivo de este estudio de serie de casos es describir las características clínicas de los pacientes con confirmación de enfermedad por coronavirus (COVID-19) admitidos en diferentes unidades de cuidados intensivos de la Argentina con requerimiento de ventilación mecánica. Métodos: Estudio de serie de casos, descriptivo-prospectivo, multicéntrico realizado entre el 01 de abril y el 08 de mayo de 2020. Se incluyeron los datos de los pacientes mayores a 18 años, que ingresaron a la unidad de cuidados intensivos con requerimiento de ventilación mecánica por falla respiratoria aguda con diagnóstico positivo de COVID-19 Resultados: Se registraron las variables de 47 pacientes de 31 unidades cuidados intensivos, 78.7% hombres de una mediana de edad de 61 años, con un SAPS II de 43, un índice de Charlson de 3. El modo ventilatorio inicial fue volume control - continuous mandatory ventilation con volumen corriente menor a 8mL/kg en el 100% de los casos, con una mediana de presión positiva al final de la espiración de 10,5cmH2O. A la fecha de cierre del estudio, 29 pacientes fallecieron, 8 alcanzaron el alta, y 10 pacientes continúan internados al cierre del estudio. El SAPS II fue mayor entre los fallecidos (p = 0.046). El índice de Charlson se asoció con mayor mortalidad (OR = 2,27 IC95% 1,13 - 4,55; p = 0,02). Conclusión: Los pacientes con COVID-19 y ventilación mecánica de esta serie presentan variables clínicas similares a las descriptas a la fecha en otros reportes internacionales. Nuestros hallazgos proporcionan datos que permitirían de alguna manera predecir los resultados.

Abstract Objective: A novel coronavirus emerged this year as a cause of viral pneumonia. The main characteristics of the virus are rapid transmission, high contagion capacity and potential severity. The objective of this case series study is to describe the clinical characteristics of patients with confirmed coronavirus disease (COVID-19) admitted to different intensive care units in Argentina for mechanical ventilation. Methods: A descriptive, prospective, multicenter case series study was conducted between April 1 and May 8, 2020. Data from patients older than 18 years who were admitted to the intensive care unit for mechanical ventilation for acute respiratory failure with a positive diagnosis of COVID-19 were included. Results: The variables for 47 patients from 31 intensive care units were recorded: 78.7% were men (median age of 61 years), with a SAPS II score of 43 and a Charlson index score of 3. The initial ventilatory mode was volume control - continuous mandatory ventilation with a tidal volume less than 8mL/kg in 100% of cases, with a median positive end-expiratory pressure of 10.5cmH2O. At the end of the study, 29 patients died, 8 were discharged, and 10 remained hospitalized. The SAPS II score was higher among patients who died (p = 0.046). Charlson comorbidity index was associated with higher mortality (OR = 2.27, 95% CI 1.13 - 4.55, p = 0.02). Conclusion: Patients with COVID-19 and on mechanical ventilation in this series presented clinical variables similar to those described to date in other international reports. Our findings provide data that may predict outcomes.

Effect of applying positive pressure with or without endotracheal suctioning during extubation: a laboratory study.

BACKGROUND: During invasive mechanical ventilation, secretions accumulate in the subglottic space; consequently, there is a risk of aspiration of these secretions into the airway during cuff deflation and extubation. To minimize this risk, 2 extubation methods are used. The first consists of introducing a suction catheter into the endotracheal tube (ETT) and the trachea. After initiating suctioning, the cuff is deflated and the ETT is removed together with the suction catheter. The second technique involves applying positive pressure to the ETT using a resuscitation bag. Once the manual breath is delivered, the ETT cuff is deflated and the ETT is removed without suction. The aim of this laboratory study is to determine the existence and magnitude of differences in leak volume during cuff deflation and extubation using various combinations of positive pressure with or without endotracheal suctioning. METHODS: An ETT connected to a ventilator was placed in a model trachea. Colored water was instilled in the space above the cuff. To measure the leak volume, a collection chamber was attached to the distal end of the model. Nine procedures were defined, based on the delivery of different positive pressure levels with or without endotracheal suctioning during extubation. The volume of leakage, in milliliters, was the unit of analysis. Procedures yielding values lower than 1 mL were assessed by the Friedman test, and a P value of less than .05 was considered significant. Post hoc comparisons were performed with a Wilcoxon test, followed by a Bonferroni correction. RESULTS: The application of CPAP 15, pressure support ventilation (PSV)15/10, and PSV 20/5 produced 0.4, 0.2, and 0.1 mL of leak volume, respectively. Statistically significant differences were found between CPAP 15 and PSV 15/10 (P = .003) and between CPAP 15 and PSV 20/5 (P = .01), but not between PSV 15/10 and PSV 20/5 (P = .30). The addition of suctioning increased leak volume, with statistically significant differences between CPAP 15 and CPAP 15 + endotracheal suctioning (P = .001) and between PSV 15/10 and PSV 15/10 + endotracheal suctioning (P = .001). CONCLUSIONS: Endotracheal suctioning during cuff deflation and extubation produced greater leakage. Application of CPAP 15, PSV 15/10, and PSV 20/5 resulted in the lowest leak values, with the best results being obtained with the use of PSV 15/10 and PSV 20/5.