Noninvasive respiratory support after extubation: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The effect of noninvasive respiratory support (NRS), including high-flow nasal oxygen, bi-level positive airway pressure and continuous positive airway pressure (noninvasive ventilation (NIV)), for preventing and treating post-extubation respiratory failure is still unclear. Our objective was to assess the effects of NRS on post-extubation respiratory failure, defined as re-intubation secondary to post-extubation respiratory failure (primary outcome). Secondary outcomes included the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), discomfort, intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital mortality, ICU and hospital length of stay (LOS), and time to re-intubation. Subgroup analyses considered "prophylactic" versus "therapeutic" NRS application and subpopulations (high-risk, low-risk, post-surgical and hypoxaemic patients). METHODS: We undertook a systematic review and network meta-analysis (Research Registry: reviewregistry1435). PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL, Scopus and Web of Science were searched (from inception until 22 June 2022). Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the use of NRS after extubation in ICU adult patients were included. RESULTS: 32 RCTs entered the quantitative analysis (5063 patients). Compared with conventional oxygen therapy, NRS overall reduced re-intubations and VAP (moderate certainty). NIV decreased hospital mortality (moderate certainty), and hospital and ICU LOS (low and very low certainty, respectively), and increased discomfort (moderate certainty). Prophylactic NRS did not prevent extubation failure in low-risk or hypoxaemic patients. CONCLUSION: Prophylactic NRS may reduce the rate of post-extubation respiratory failure in ICU patients.

Serratus anterior plane block for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: A meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: The serratus anterior plane block (SAPb) is a promising interfascial plane technique able to provide profound thoracic analgesia. As only a few studies with quite small patient samples are presently available, the analgesic efficacy of adding SAPb to general anaesthesia in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), compared with general anaesthesia only, remains unclear. OBJECTIVES: Our primary aim was to assess the analgesic efficacy of SAPb for VATS peri-operative pain control. The secondary aims were to evaluate differences in postoperative opioid use, intra-operative hypotension, postoperative side-effects and complications, time to chest tube removal, length of hospital stay. DESIGN: Systematic review of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) with meta-analyses.DATA SOURCES PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar and the Cochrane Library, searched up to 6 December 2019.ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA RCTs including adult patients undergoing VATS who received single shot SAPb (cases), compared with general anaesthesia (controls). RESULTS: Seven RCTs, with a total of 489 patients were included. SAPb reduced pain scores peri-operatively, compared with controls: 6 h [mean difference -1.86, 95% confidence interval (CI) -2.35 to -1.37, P < 0.001]; 12 h (mean difference -1.45, 95% CI -1.66 to -1.25, P < 0.001); 24 h (mean difference -0.98, 95% CI -1.40 to -0.56, P < 0.001). SAPb also reduced the use of postoperative opioids (mean difference: -4.81 mg of intravenous morphine equivalent, 95% CI -8.41 to -1.22, P < 0.03) and decreased the incidence of nausea and vomiting (risk ratio 0.53, 95% CI 0.36 to 0.79, P < 0.002). CONCLUSION: Compared with general anaesthesia only and if no other locoregional techniques are used, SAPb significantly reduces postoperative pain and nausea and vomiting in patients undergoing VATS. Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation rating are, nonetheless, quite low, due to high heterogeneity. Well designed and properly powered RCTs are necessary to confirm these preliminary findings.

Are thromboelastometric and thromboelastographic parameters associated with mortality in septic patients? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Thromboelastometry/elastography (ROTEM/TEG) showed promising results for diagnosis of sepsis-induced coagulopathy, but their association with the outcome is unclear. Our aim was to assess any difference in ROTEM/TEG measurements between septic survivors and non-survivors. METHODS: Pubmed, Web of Science, Embase and Cochrane Library databases were investigated. The research aimed to include any randomized or observational study: i) on septic adult patients admitted to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) or Emergency Department (ED); ii) including ROTEM/TEG; iii) assessing mortality. RESULTS: Seven prospective and four retrospective observational studies (952 patients) were included. According to the INTEM/kaolin-assay, clotting time (CT)/R (standardized mean difference(SMD) -0.29, 95% CI -0.49 to -0.09, p = 0.004) and clot formation time (CFT)/K (SMD -0.42, 95% CI -0.78 to -0.06, p = 0.02) were shorter in survivors. According to the EXTEM-assay, CT was shorter (MD -11.66 s, 95% CI -22.59 to -0.73, p = 0.04), while MCF was higher (MD 3.49 mm, 95% CI 0.43 to 6.55, p = 0.03) in survivors. A hypocoagulable profile was more frequent in non-survivors (OR 0.31, 95%CI 0.18 to 0.55, p < 0.0001). Overall, the risk of bias of the included studies was moderate and the quality of evidence low. CONCLUSIONS: Hypocoagulability and lower MCF in EXTEM may be associated with higher mortality in sepsis.