Early Tracheostomy May Reduce the Length of Hospital Stay.

Introduction: There is evidence that prolonged invasive mechanical ventilation has negative consequences for critically ill patients and that performing tracheostomy (TQT) could help to reduce these consequences. The ideal period for performing TQT is still not clear in the literature since few studies have compared clinical aspects between patients undergoing early or late TQT. Objective: To compare the mortality rate, length of stay in the intensive care unit, length of hospital stay, and number of days free of mechanical ventilation in patients undergoing TQT before or after ten days of orotracheal intubation. Methods: A retrospective cohort study carried out by collecting data from patients admitted to an intensive care unit between January 2008 and December 2017. Patients who underwent TQT were divided into an early TQT group (i.e., time to TQT ≤ 10 days) or late TQT (i.e., time to TQT > 10 days) and the clinical outcomes of the two groups were compared. Results: Patients in the early TQT group had a shorter ICU stay than the late TQT group (19 ± 16 vs. 32 ± 22 days, p < 0.001), a shorter stay in the hospital (42 ± 32 vs. 52 ± 50 days, p < 0.001), a shorter duration of mechanical ventilation (17 ± 14 vs. 30 ± 18 days, p < 0.001), and a higher proportion of survivors in the ICU outcome (57% vs. 46%, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Tracheostomy performed within 10 days of mechanical ventilation provides several benefits to the patient and should be considered by the multidisciplinary team as a part of their clinical practice.

Can the six-minute walk distance predict the occurrence of acute exacerbations of COPD in patients in Brazil?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether a six-minute walk distance (6MWD) of < 80% of the predicted value can predict the occurrence of acute exacerbations of COPD in patients in Brazil over a 2-year period. METHODS: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study involving 50 COPD patients in Brazil. At enrollment, anthropometric data were collected and patients were assessed for pulmonary function (by spirometry) and functional exercise capacity (by the 6MWD). The patients were subsequently divided into two groups: 6MWD ≤ 80% of predicted and 6MWD > 80% of predicted. The occurrence of acute exacerbations of COPD over 2 years was identified by analyzing medical records and contacting patients by telephone. RESULTS: In the sample as a whole, there was moderate-to-severe airflow obstruction (mean FEV1 = 41 ± 12% of predicted) and the mean 6MWD was 469 ± 60 m (86 ± 10% of predicted). Over the 2-year follow-up period, 25 patients (50%) experienced acute exacerbations of COPD. The Kaplan-Meier method showed that the patients in whom the 6MWD was ≤ 80% of predicted were more likely to have exacerbations than were those in whom the 6MWD was > 80% of predicted (p = 0.01), whereas the Cox regression model showed that the former were 2.6 times as likely to have an exacerbation over a 2-year period as were the latter (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: In Brazil, the 6MWD can predict acute exacerbations of COPD over a 2-year period. The risk of experiencing an acute exacerbation of COPD within 2 years is more than twice as high in patients in whom the 6MWD is ≤ 80% of predicted.

Can the six-minute walk distance predict the occurrence of acute exacerbations of COPD in patients in Brazil? / A distância percorrida no teste de caminhada de seis minutos pode predizer a ocorrência de exacerbações agudas da DPOC em pacientes brasileiros?

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate whether a six-minute walk distance (6MWD) of < 80% of the predicted value can predict the occurrence of acute exacerbations of COPD in patients in Brazil over a 2-year period. Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study involving 50 COPD patients in Brazil. At enrollment, anthropometric data were collected and patients were assessed for pulmonary function (by spirometry) and functional exercise capacity (by the 6MWD). The patients were subsequently divided into two groups: 6MWD ≤ 80% of predicted and 6MWD > 80% of predicted. The occurrence of acute exacerbations of COPD over 2 years was identified by analyzing medical records and contacting patients by telephone. Results: In the sample as a whole, there was moderate-to-severe airflow obstruction (mean FEV1 = 41 ± 12% of predicted) and the mean 6MWD was 469 ± 60 m (86 ± 10% of predicted). Over the 2-year follow-up period, 25 patients (50%) experienced acute exacerbations of COPD. The Kaplan-Meier method showed that the patients in whom the 6MWD was ≤ 80% of predicted were more likely to have exacerbations than were those in whom the 6MWD was > 80% of predicted (p = 0.01), whereas the Cox regression model showed that the former were 2.6 times as likely to have an exacerbation over a 2-year period as were the latter (p = 0.02). Conclusions: In Brazil, the 6MWD can predict acute exacerbations of COPD over a 2-year period. The risk of experiencing an acute exacerbation of COPD within 2 years is more than twice as high in patients in whom the 6MWD is ≤ 80% of predicted.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar se a distância percorrida no teste de caminhada de seis minutos (DTC6) < 80% do valor previsto pode predizer a ocorrência de exacerbações agudas da DPOC ao longo de 2 anos em pacientes brasileiros. Métodos: Estudo transversal, retrospectivo, com 50 pacientes brasileiros com diagnóstico de DPOC. Após a admissão, os pacientes foram submetidos à coleta de dados antropométricos, avaliação da função pulmonar (resultados espirométricos) e da capacidade funcional de exercício (DTC6), sendo posteriormente divididos em dois grupos: DTC6 ≤ 80% do predito e DTC6 > 80% do predito. A ocorrência de exacerbações agudas da DPOC ao longo de 2 anos foi identificada por meio de registros de prontuários e contato telefônico. Resultados: A amostra geral apresentou obstrução moderada/grave ao fluxo aéreo (média de VEF1 = 41 ± 12% do predito) e média de DTC6 de 469 ± 60 m (86 ± 10% do predito). Nos 2 anos de seguimento após a realização do teste, 25 pacientes (50%) apresentaram exacerbação aguda da DPOC. O método de Kaplan-Meier mostrou que os pacientes com DTC6 ≤ 80% do predito apresentaram exacerbação mais frequentemente que pacientes com desempenho > 80% do predito (p = 0,01), enquanto o modelo de regressão de Cox mostrou que os pacientes no primeiro grupo apresentavam 2,6 mais chances de apresentar exacerbação em 2 anos em comparação ao segundo grupo (p = 0,02). Conclusões: A DTC6 é capaz de predizer exacerbações agudas da DPOC em pacientes brasileiros ao longo de 2 anos. Pacientes com DTC6 ≤ 80% do valor predito têm mais que o dobro de chances de apresentar exacerbação em 2 anos.