Is EIT-guided positive end-expiratory pressure titration for optimizing PEEP in ARDS the white elephant in the room? A systematic review with meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis.

Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) is a novel real-time lung imaging technology for personalized ventilation adjustments, indicating promising results in animals and humans. The present study aimed to assess its clinical utility for improved ventilation and oxygenation compared to traditional protocols. Comprehensive electronic database screening was done until 30th November, 2023. Randomized controlled trials, controlled clinical trials, comparative cohort studies, and assessments of EIT-guided PEEP titration and conventional methods in adult ARDS patients regarding outcome, ventilatory parameters, and P/F ratio were included. Our search retrieved five controlled cohort studies and two RCTs with 515 patients and overall reduced risk of mortality [RR = 0.68; 95% CI: 0.49 to 0.95; I2 = 0%], better dynamic compliance [MD = 3.46; 95% CI: 1.59 to 5.34; I2 = 0%] with no significant difference in PaO2/FiO2 ratio [MD = 6.5; 95%CI -13.86 to 26.76; I2 = 74%]. The required information size except PaO2/FiO2 was achieved for a power of 95% based on the 50% reduction in risk of mortality, 10% improved compliance as the cumulative Z-score of the said outcomes crossed the alpha spending boundary and did not dip below the inner wedge of futility. EIT-guided individualized PEEP titration is a novel modality; further well-designed studies are needed to substantiate its utility.

Comparative evaluation of the analgesic efficacy of ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block versus intrathecal morphine in patients undergoing percutaneous nephrolithotomy surgery: A prospective randomized pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: Existing research on erector spinae plane block and intrathecal morphine in patients undergoing percutaneous nephrolithotomy surgery is limited. METHODS: In this prospective, randomized study, 60 patients aged between 18 and 60 years were randomized into two groups (erector spinae plane block and intrathecal morphine). In the erector spinae plane block group, ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane block was performed, following which a mixture of 20 mL of 0.375% ropivacaine and 0.5 mcg/kg of clonidine was injected. In the intrathecal morphine group, 150 mcg preservative-free morphine with 2 mL of normal saline was administered intrathecally. The primary outcome was to evaluate the perioperative opioid consumption in the first 24 h. The secondary outcomes were to evaluate hemodynamic response to surgical stimulus, visual analogue scale score, time to first analgesic requirement, postoperative nausea and vomiting, postoperative opioid consumption, urethral irritation, and incidence of drug-related adverse effects. RESULTS: Total perioperative opioid consumption in the erector spinae plane block group was 355.0 (265.0, 485.0) µg and 240.0 (145.0, 370.0) µg in the intrathecal morphine group (P = 0.09). However, the patients in the erector spinae plane block group had significantly greater postoperative fentanyl consumption (235.0 [120.0, 345.0] µg) compared with those in the intrathecal morphine group (105.0 [30.0, 225.0] µg). There were no statistically significant differences noted for intraoperative opioid consumption, postoperative visual analogue scale score, time to first analgesic request, postoperative nausea and vomiting, and catheter irritation between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Although no statistically significant difference in intraoperative opioid consumption was seen between the erector spinae plane block and intrathecal morphine groups, postoperative opioid consumption was significantly higher in the erector spinae plane block group than in the intrathecal morphine group in patients undergoing percutaneous nephrolithotomy surgery.

Effect of awake prone positioning in COVID-19 patients- A systematic review.

Background: Prone positioning is known to reduce mortality in intubated non-COVID-19 patients suffering from moderate to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). However, studies highlighting the effect of awake proning in COVID-19 patients are lacking. We aim to conduct a systematic review of the available literature to highlight the effect of awake proning on the need for intubation, improvement in oxygenation and mortality rates in COVID-19 patients with ARDS. Method: - A systematic search of 2 medical databases (PubMed, Google Scholar) was performed until July 5, 2020. Thirteen studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria, and 210 patients were included for the final analysis. Result: -Majority of the patients were above 50 years of age with a male gender predominance (69%). Face mask (26%) was the most common interface used for oxygen therapy. The intubation and mortality rates were 23.80% (50/210) and 5.41% (5/203) respectively. Awake proning resulted in improvement in oxygenation (reported by 11/13 studies): improvement in SpO2, P/F ratio, PO2 and SaO2 reported by 7/13 (54%), 5/13 (38%), 2/13 (15%) and 1/13 (8%) of the studies. No major complications associated with prone positioning were reported by the included studies. Conclusion: Awake prone positioning demonstrated an improvement in oxygenation of the patients suffering from COVID-19 related respiratory disease. Need for intubation was observed in less than 30% of the patients. Thus, we recommend early and frequent proning in patients suffering from COVID-19 associated ARDS, however, randomized controlled trials are needed before any definite conclusions are drawn.