The use of prone position ventilation in Danish patients with COVID-19-induced severe acute respiratory distress syndrome treated with veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: A nationwide cohort study with focus on pulmonary effects.

BACKGROUND: Prone position ventilation (PPV) is recommended for patients with COVID-19 induced severe Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) and is used for patients supported with V-V ECMO as well. The purpose of this study was to describe the use of PPV in these patients focusing on physiological effects with the hypothesis that PPV could reduce oxygen need and improve dynamic compliance. METHODS: This study was a nationwide retrospective analysis of all COVID-19 patients in Denmark from March 2020 - December 2021 with severe ARDS and need of V-V ECMO support. Data on the number of patients treated with PPV, number of PPV sessions, timing, the time spent in prone position, pulmonary physiological response types with analysis of variables affecting the response are reported. RESULTS: Out of 68 patients 44 were treated with 220 PPV sessions and a positive clinical response was observed in 80% of patients but only in 45% of sessions. On a single session level, increased compliance was observed in 38% and increased oxygenation in only 15% of 220 sessions, with within-patient heterogeneity. Higher dynamic compliance at the beginning of a PPV session was associated with a lower delta change in dynamic compliance during PPV. The response to a PPV session could not be predicted by the response in the prior session. Dynamic compliance did not change during the ECMO course. CONCLUSION: Eighty percent of patients responded positively during a PPV session, but this was not associated with overall pulmonary improvement. On a single patient level, responses were heterogenous and only 45% of sessions resulted in clinical improvement. Response in dynamic compliance was associated with starting values of compliance.

Use of prone position ventilation in patients with COVID-19 induced severe ARDS supported with V-V ECMO: A danish cohort study with focus on adverse events.

INTRODUCTION: Prone position ventilation (PPV) of patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) supported with veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-V ECMO) may improve oxygenation and alveolar recruitment and is recommended when extensive dorsal consolidations are present, but only few data regarding adverse events (AE) related to PPV in this group of patients have been published. METHODS: Nationwide retrospective analysis of 68 COVID-19 patients admitted from March 2020 - December 2021 with severe ARDS and need of V-V ECMO support. The number of patients treated with PPV, number of PPV-events, timing, the time spent in prone position, number and causes of AE are reported. Causes to stop the PPV regimen and risk factors for AE were explored. RESULTS: 44 out of 68 patients were treated with PPV, and 220 PPV events are evaluated. AE were identified in 99 out of 220 (45%) PPV events and occurred among 31 patients (71%). 1 fatal PPV related AE was registered. Acute supination occurred in 19 events (9%). Causes to stop the PPV regimen were almost equally distributed between effect (weaned from ECMO), no effect, death (of other reasons) and AE. Frequent causes of AE were pressures sores and ulcers, hypoxia, airway related and ECMO circuit related. Most AE occurred during patients first or second PPV event. CONCLUSIONS: PPV treatment was found to carry a high incidence of PPV related AE in these patients. Causes and preventive measures to reduce occurrence of PPV related AE during V-V ECMO support need further exploration.

[Checklist for training and evaluation of consultants can work in a clinical setting]. / Kompetencekort til uddannelse og vurdering af speciallæger kan fungere i en klinisk dagligdag.

Formalised educational programmes for consultants are uncommon in Denmark. Our objective was to introduce a checklist for training and formative evaluation for consultants to see if this was a feasible method. Sixteen anaesthesiologists participated. A checklist for the use of a difficult airway device was developed. The consultants observed an experienced colleague use the device and then did the procedure themselves supervised in the clinical setting, and finally taught a fellow consultant how to do the procedure. Afterwards they were interviewed about the training method. Checklists seem a promising method for consultants and may be applied in the future.

[Tranexamic acid reduces blood loss after major elective orthopaedic operations]. / Tranexamsyre reducerer blodtabet efter større elektive ortopædkirurgiske operationer.

Anaemia in surgical patients has been proven to increase morbidity and mortality. Due to the risk of adverse effects and the cost of blood transfusions it is important to reduce the need for transfusions by pre- and intra-operative interventions. Tranexamic acid has long been used in orthopaedic surgery as an antifibrinolytic agent. Several studies within the orthopaedic fields have underlined the effect of the drug in reducing blood loss and need for transfusions. However, more studies are needed to examine the optimal dosage and administration along with the risks associated with the drug.