Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) in Non-Apneic Asthma: A Clinical Review of Current Evidence.

The use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in asthma has been a point of debate over the past several years. Various studies, including those on animals and humans have attempted to understand the role and pathophysiology of CPAP in patients with either well controlled or poorly controlled asthma. The aim of this manuscript is to review the currently available literature on the physiologic and clinical effects of CPAP in animal models of asthma and on humans with stable asthma.

Revised protocol of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy in severe ARDS. Recommendations of the Veno-venous ECMO Expert Panel appointed in February 2016 by the national consultant on anesthesiology and intensive care.

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) has become well established technique of the treatment of severe acute respiratory failure (Veno-Venous ECMO) or circulatory failure (Veno-Arterial ECMO) which enables effective blood oxygenation and carbon dioxide removal for several weeks. Veno-Venous ECMO (V-V ECMO ) is a lifesaving treatment of patients in whom severe ARDS makes artificial lung ventilation unlikely to provide satisfactory blood oxygenation for preventing further vital organs damage and progression to death. The protocol below regards exclusively veno-venous ECMO treatment as a support for blood gas conditioning by means of extracorporeal circuit in adult patients with severe ARDS. V-V ECMO does not provide treatment for acutely and severely diseased lungs, but it enables patient to survive the critical phase of severe ARDS until recovery of lung function. Besides avoiding patients death from hypoxemia, this technique can also prevent further progression of the lung damage due to artificial ventilation. Recent experience of ECMO treatment since the outbreak of AH1N1 influenza pandemic in 2009, along with technical progress and advancement in understanding pathophysiology of ventilator-induced lung injury, have contributed to significant improvement of the results of ECMO treatment. Putative factors related to increased survival include patients retrieval after connecting them to ECMO, and less intensive anticoagulation protocols. The aim of presenting this revised protocol was to improve the effects of ECMO treatment in patients with severe ARDS, to enhance ECMO accessibility for patients who might possibly benefit from this treatment, to reduce time until patient's connection to ECMO, and to avoid ECMO treatment in futile cases. The authors believe that this protocol, based on recent papers and their own experience, can provide help and advice both for the centers which develop V-V ECMO program, and for doctors who will refer their patients for the treatment in an ECMO center.

The evolution of home mechanical ventilation in poland between 2000 and 2010.

BACKGROUND: Home mechanical ventilation (HMV) is a routine method of treatment for patients with chronic ventilatory failure. Over the last 20 y, a marked development in HMV has been noted in terms of its prevalence and the changing proportion of patients with various indications. However, data on HMV come exclusively from the developed countries of Europe and North America. Nowadays, we can see the emergence of HMV in less developed countries. This study aimed to describe the development of HMV in Poland. METHODS: Data from the largest HMV centers were retrospectively evaluated with regard to cause of respiratory failure, ventilation technique, and characteristics of the HMV-implementing institution. RESULTS: The number of subjects treated with HMV increased from 8 in 2000 to 928 in 2010. Neuromuscular diseases remained the main indication. However, their relative contribution decreased from 100 to 51% in favor of pulmonary diseases (an increase from 0 to 21%) and hypoventilation syndromes (0% in 2000 and 11% in 2010). The majority of the HMV population treated between 2000 between 2008 was ventilated by tracheostomy; however, since 2007, the percentage of subjects on noninvasive ventilation significantly increased and was equal to the number of tracheostomized subjects. HMV was initiated mainly in ICUs. However, their role systematically diminished, and an increasing number of subjects were recruited in respiratory departments. CONCLUSIONS: The prescription pattern of HMV in Poland has evolved, and there is a clear shift from neuromuscular to respiratory diseases. The prevalence of ventilation via tracheostomy still remains very high in comparison with other European countries. The Polish experience could be useful for countries with emerging HMV care systems.

Occurrence of gastrointestinal side effects associated with early use of commercial diets in ITU patients.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this retrospective study was to analyse the occurrence of gastrointestinal side effects in enterally fed ITU patients. METHODS: We analysed the records of 195 ITU patients fed enterally, over at least five days, with commercial mixtures administered as 20-h infusions. Gastric retention, the number of defecations, and incidents requiring discontinuation of enteral feeding, were noted during the first 3 days of nutrition. RESULTS: Enteral nutrition was usually started during the first week of treatment (median 4, range: 1-33). In 118 patients receiving parenteral nutrition, the median day of implementing enteral feeding was day 5; some received enteral mixtures much earlier (day 2). The mean infusion rates of enteral mixtures were: 33 mL h-1 on day 1, 58 mL h-1 on day 2, and 68 mL h-1 on day 3. Gastric retention was observed in 49 (25.1%) patients during the first day, in 37 (19.0%) on day 2, and in 25 (12.8%) on day 3. Discontinuation of enteral nutrition was necessary in 6 patients due to: surgery (1), high gastric retention (4), gastrointestinal bleeding (1). A statistically significant correlation was found between the occurrence of gastric retention, infusion rates and CRP, and between the number of defecations and infusion rates. CONCLUSIONS: Enteral feeding with commercial diets is well tolerated when implemented gradually. Intolerance and the need for the discontinuation of enteral feeding were usually associated with a worsening of the patient's general condition and progression of the underlying disease.

Analysis of nutrition mixtures in ITU patients.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to analyse the composition of parenteral nutrition (PN) mixtures used in the ITU. METHODS: Restrospective analysis involved 2124 prescriptions for individual PN bags. They were administered over an 18-month period, to 160 ITU patients with the mean APACHE II score of 26 points (range: 5-61), calculated on admission. The mortality rate was 40%. Nutrition programs were prepared individually following the 2009 ESPEN guidelines. The prescription was modified according to the individual patient's clinical condition. One hundred and sixty prescriptions were analysed on the first day of PN (T1), 139 - on the second day (T2) and 1825 on the third and subsequent days (T3). RESULTS: The mean energy supplies were: 1381 kcal/day (range: 456-2612) on T1, 1467 kcal/day (range: 524-2860) on T2, and 1654 kcal/day (range: 390-2969) on T3. The mean supplies of amino acids, glucose and lipids were as follows: amino acids 68.3 g/day (range:20-120) on T1; 71.6 g/ day (range:27.5-125) on T2; 88.0 g/day (range:11-196) on T3; glucose 210.25 g/day (range: 120- 400) on T1; 218.34 g/day (range: 65-480) on T2; 278.5 g/day (range: 18-520) on T3; lipids 34.9 g/ day (range: 0-100) on T1; 38.7 g/day (range: 0-100) on T2; 52.66 g/day (range: 0-117) on T3. The percentages of non-protein energy from lipids were: 29.25 (0-73) on T1; 31.58 (range: 0-60) on T2; 33.5 (0-60) on T3. The following statistically significant differences were found: T2-T3- (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The compositions of nutrition bags prepared for ITU patients were consistent with the ESPEN guidelines. The composition varied on different days of nutrition. The differences in the supply of nutrition components indirectly confirm the need for individual prescriptions for ITU patients.

[Prevalence of home mechanical ventilation in Poland]. / Rozpowszechnienie wentylacji mechanicznej w warunkach domowych w Polsce.

INTRODUCTION: Home mechanical ventilation (HMV) is increasingly used in the treatment of chronic respiratory failure thanks to rapid technological development, increasing number of elderly people and extension of indications. The aim of the study was to assess: prevalence of HMV in Poland, the proportions of lung disease and neuromuscular patients using HMV and the type of interface (invasive v. non-invasive). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The questionnaire was send to all institutions providing HMV in Poland and to regional departments of National Health System (NHS). RESULTS: All NHS departments responded. They reported 846 HMV users, 31% of children. The prevalence of HMV in Poland was assessed as 2,2 patient per 100.000 population without striking differences between provinces. Among 39 HMV centers in Poland 12 (31%) answered. They reported 206 patients (24% of all HMV users). Proportion of ventilation mode consisted of 59% (122 pts) treated via a tracheostomy and 41% (84 pts) with non invasive ventilation (NIV). 168 patients (82%) had neuromuscular diseases (ND), majority of them muscular dystrophy - 57 patients ( 34% of ND) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis - 39 patients (23% of ND). There were only 38 patients (18%) with lung and thoracic cage diseases: 17 with COPD and 10 with kyphoscoliosis. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of HMV treatment in Poland has developed dramatically in the last decade, but is still very low comparing to other European countries, especially due to very low number of patients with lung and chest wall diseases. The prevalence of invasive mode of ventilation is extremely high. The most important factors which inhibit development of HMV in Poland are: omission of respiratory physicians in the process of qualification, lack of national guidelines, sophisticated demands for HMV providers. The awareness of the need of HMV especially in patients with respiratory failure due to obesity hypoventilation syndrome and restrictive lung diseases should be increased among chest physicians.

Bilevel positive airway pressure ventilation: factors influencing carbon dioxide rebreathing.

PURPOSE: Use of bilevel positive airway pressure (BLPAP) ventilators for noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is an established treatment for both acute and chronic ventilatory failure. Although BLPAP ventilator circuits are simpler than those of conventional ventilators, one drawback to their use is that they allow variable amounts of rebreathing to occur. The aim of this work is to measure the amount of CO(2) reinsufflated in relation to the BLPAP ventilator circuit in patients, and to determine predictive factors for rebreathing. METHODS: Eighteen adult patients were ventilated on pressure support, either by intubation or with mask ventilation, during a weaning period. The mean inspiratory fraction of CO(2) (tidal FiCO(2)) reinsufflated from the circuit between the intentional leak and the ventilator was measured for each breath. The influence of end-tidal CO(2) concentration (ETCO(2)), respiratory rate (RR), percentage of inspiratory time (T (i)/T (TOT)), application of expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP), and inspiratory tidal volume on magnitude of tidal FiCO(2), as well as the influence of intubation versus NIV, were studied by univariate comparisons and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: In a total of 11,107 cycles, tidal FiCO(2) was 0.072 +/- 0.173%. Of fractions measured, 8,976 (81%) were under 0.10% and 2,131 (19%) were over 0.10%, with mean values of 0.026 +/- 0.027% and 0.239 +/- 0.326%, respectively. ETCO(2), EPAP, NIV versus intubation, and RR had significant predictive value for tidal FiCO(2) >0.10%. CONCLUSIONS: BLPAP ventilators present a specific rebreathing risk to patients. However, that risk remains modest, even in intubated patients, provided that EPAP is applied.

[Iatrogenic pleuropneumonia as a complication of nutritional treatment of preterm-delivery newborn]. / Jatrogenna pleuropneumonia jako powiklanie leczenia zywieniowego u noworodka urodzonego przedwczesnie.

Our study presents a case of pleuropneumonia caused by a leak of nutritional formula to pleural cavity, which was caused by perforation of the oesophagus. The child was born in 28 hbd with 1400 g birth weight and was fed with mother's milk by a nasogastric tube. From day 11 of life general state of the neonate worsened and on chest X-ray the contrast showed leaking into the right pleural cavity and the end of gastric tube was seen in the right lung area. With this diagnosis the child was admitted to the University Hospital in Bydgoszcz. The child was conservatively treated and in two contrast X-ray examinations there was no pathology of the oesophagus. CT of chest showed pleural empyema which was repeatedly punctured. On the 19th day of hospitalization thoracotomy with resection of interior pulmomery lobe was performed. From the 14th day after surgery, the child was again enterally fed and in good general state. He was discharged on the 51st day of hospitalization. This case should pay our attention to the fact that respiratory distress syndrome of preterm-delivery newborns may be caused by iatrogenic proceedings not only infections and lack of surfactant. Some complications can be accomplished with the nutrition treatment in every dimension.

[Multiple organ failure in a severely malnourished patient with chromosome aberration]. / Skrajne niedoiywienie jako przyczyna niewydolnosci wielonarzadowej u chorej z aberracja chromosomalna.

BACKGROUND: Pneumonia and malnutrition are two of the biggest killers in childhood, as defined by the World Health Organisation. Although common in the developing world, these conditions can also be observed in more advanced countries, as a result of negligence and lack of proper care in disabled children. We describe a case in which severe malnutrition resulted in multiple organ failure. CASE REPORT: A 16-yr-old retarded girl with +14q chromosome aberration, was admitted to hospital because of severe anaemia and dyspnea. She was extremely malnourished. Her body weight was 32 kg with a height of 152 cm (BMI 13.9). Her Hb concentration was 1.12 mmol L(-1), Ht 7%, and RBC 0.93 T L(-1). RBC transfusion resulted in transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) and multiple organ failure. She was treated with mechanical ventilation, inotropic support and parenteral nutrition, complicated by the refeeding syndrome and gastrointestinal haemorrhage. After recovery, a gastrostomy was performed, but due to gastric retention she required a laparotomy for adhesiolysis.The girl recovered and remains under home care. DISCUSSION: In a case of a girl with retardation, multiple organ failure resulting from ten years of malnutrition was observed. She was especially difficult to treat because of a prolonged dysfunction of homeostasis, hypoproteinemia, hypophosphatemia and SIRS. Such patients require careful treatment in ICU settings.

[Iatrogenic pleuropneumonia complicating central venous cannulation in a very low birth weight infant]. / Jatrogenna pleuropneumonia jako powilkanie cewnikowania zyl centralnych u noworodka.

BACKGROUND: Central venous cannulation is necessary for long-term parenteral nutrition in premature infants. Peripherally inserted long catheters are commonly used in these patients but even this relatively simple technique can end in serious complications. We present a case in which perforation of the vena cava and migration of the catheter to the intrapleural space resulted in multiple organ failure and death. CASE REPORT: A 700 g bw. infant, born at 28 weeks of gestation, was referred to our centre because of suspected bowel perforation. In the referring hospital, the infant had a central venous catheter inserted peripherally. The catheter migrated to the right intrapleural space, and parenteral formula was delivered over several hours to the right pleura, resulting in hydrothorax with serious compression of the lung and atelectasis. Emergency laparotomy did not reveal any pathology and a chest tube was inserted into the right pleura; the effusion fluid contained a large number fat particles. The child's condition worsened and he died 16 days after surgery because of multiple organ failure and sepsis. CONCLUSION: Accidental migrations of central venous catheters to the pleural space have been described by many authors. It can result in severe pneumonia, cardiac tamponade or sepsis and is often fatal. We conclude that central venous catheters in premature infants should be inserted under ultrasonography or fluoroscopy. Catheters should never be forced along vessels; their size ought to be adjusted to age, and a free outflow of blood should be obtained before they are used.