Epidemiology of Tracheostomized Adult Patients Admitted to Specialized Weaning Centers After Acute COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological data on patients with COVID-19 referred to specialized weaning centers (SWCs) are sparse, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Our aim was to describe clinical features, epidemiology, and outcomes of subjects admitted to SWCs in Argentina. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, multi-center, observational study between July 2020-December 2021 in 12 SWCs. We collected demographic characteristics, laboratory results, pulmonary function, and dependence on mechanical ventilation at admission, decannulation, weaning from mechanical ventilation, and status at discharge. A multiple logistic model was built to predict home discharge. RESULTS: We enrolled 568 tracheostomized adult subjects after the acute COVID-19 phase who were transferred to SWCs. Age was 62 [52-71], males 70%, Charlson comorbidity index was 2 [0-3], and length of stay in ICU was 42 [32-56] d. Of the 315 ventilator-dependent subjects, 72.4% were weaned, 427 (75.2%) were decannulated, and 366 subjects (64.5%) were discharged home. The mortality rate was 6.0%. In multivariate analysis, age (odds ratio 0.30 [95% CI 0.16-0.56], P < .001), Charlson comorbidity index (odds ratio 0.43 [95% CI 0.22-0.84], P < .01), mechanical ventilation duration in ICU (odds ratio 0.80 [95% CI 0.72-0.89], P < .001), renal failure (odds ratio 0.40 [95% CI 0.22-0.73], P = .003), and expiratory muscle weakness (odds ratio 0.35 [95% CI 0.19-0.62], P < .001) were independently associated with home discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Most subjects with COVID-19 transferred to SWCs were weaned, achieved decannulation, and were discharged to home. Age, high-comorbidity burden, prolonged mechanical ventilation in ICU, renal failure at admission, and expiratory muscle weakness were inversely associated with home discharge.

Fisioterapia respiratoria en sujetos adultos cursando internación por neumonía adquirida en la comunidad. Revisión bibliográfica

Introducción: La neumonía adquirida en la comunidad (NAC) es una infección respiratoria en la cual es frecuente observar la indicación de fisioterapia respiratoria (FR). Sin embargo, en la actualidad las recomendaciones respecto a su uso en NAC son controvertidas, no existiendo evidencia que respalde su uso y permita conocer su real alcance. Objetivos: Revisar la evidencia respecto al impacto de la FR en pacientes adultos que cursan internación por NAC. Resultados: 5 estudios cumplieron los criterios de inclusión de esta revisión. Las maniobras de FR incluyeron ejercicios respiratorios, drenaje postural, percusión, vibración, espirometría incentivada, resistencia espiratoria, asistencia torácica durante movimientos respiratorios, tos dirigida y presión positiva intermitente. En los estudios incluidos la FR no disminuyó la mortalidad ni mejoró los valores espirométricos en los pacientes con NAC, así como tampoco los días hasta la curación ni la estadía hospitalaria. Respecto a los costos, el uso de FR en pacientes con NAC presentó un incremento significativo de los mismos. Conclusión: No hay evidencia que respalde el uso de manera rutinaria de FR en los pacientes adultos con NAC. Consideramos que se requieren de futuras investigaciones que permitan conocer el impacto de la FR en pacientes adultos con NAC, así como establecer consensos respecto a su indicación, selección de maniobras, estandarización de técnicas, tiempos y dosificación.

Introduction: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a respiratory infection in which the indication for respiratory physiotherapy (RF) is frequently observed. However, currently the recommendations regarding its use in CAP are controversial, and there is no evidence to support its use and allow us to know its real scope. Objectives: To review the evidence regarding the impact of RF in adult patients who are hospitalized for CAP. Results: 5 studies met the inclusion criteria of this review. RF maneuvers included breathing exercises, postural drainage, percussion, vibration, incentive spirometry, expiratory resistance, chest support during respiratory movements, directed cough, and intermittent positive pressure. In the included studies, RF did not reduce mortality or improve spirometric values in patients with CAP, nor did it improve days to cure or hospital stay. Regarding costs, the use of RF in patients with CAP presented a significant increase in costs. Conclusion: There is no evidence to support the routine use of RF in adult patients with CAP. We believe that future research is required to determine the impact of RF in adult patients with CAP, as well as to establish consensus regarding its indication, selection of maneuvers, standardization of techniques, times, and dosage.

Fisioterapia respiratoria en sujetos adultos cursando internación por neumonía adquirida en la comunidad. Revisión bibliográfica / Respiratory physiotherapy in adult subjects hospitalized for community-acquired pneumonia. Literature review

Introducción: La neumonía adquirida en la comunidad (NAC) es una infección respiratoria en la cual es frecuente observar la indicación de fisioterapia respiratoria (FR). Sin embargo, en la actualidad las recomendaciones respecto a su uso en NAC son controvertidas, no existiendo evidencia que respalde su uso y permita conocer su real alcance. Objetivos: Revisar la evidencia respecto al impacto de la FR en pacientes adultos que cursan internación por NAC. Resultados: 5 estudios cumplieron los criterios de inclusión de esta revisión. Las maniobras de FR incluyeron ejercicios respiratorios, drenaje postural, percusión, vibración, espirometría incentivada, resistencia espiratoria, asistencia torácica durante movimientos respiratorios, tos dirigida y presión positiva intermitente. En los estudios incluidos la FR no disminuyó la mortalidad ni mejoró los valores espirométricos en los pacientes con NAC, así como tampoco los días hasta la curación ni la estadía hospitalaria. Respecto a los costos, el uso de FR en pacientes con NAC presentó un incremento significativo de los mismos. Conclusión: No hay evidencia que respalde el uso de manera rutinaria de FR en los pacientes adultos con NAC. Consideramos que se requieren de futuras investigaciones que permitan conocer el impacto de la FR en pacientes adultos con NAC, así como establecer consensos respecto a su indicación, selección de maniobras, estandarización de técnicas, tiempos y dosificación.

Introduction: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a respiratory infection in which the indication for respiratory physiotherapy (RF) is frequently observed. However, currently the recommendations regarding its use in CAP are controversial, and there is no evidence to support its use and allow us to know its real scope. Objectives: To review the evidence regarding the impact of RF in adult patients who are hospitalized for CAP. Results: 5 studies met the inclusion criteria of this review. RF maneuvers included breathing exercises, postural drainage, percussion, vibration, incentive spirometry, expiratory resistance, chest support during respiratory movements, directed cough, and intermittent positive pressure. In the included studies, RF did not reduce mortality or improve spirometric values in patients with CAP, nor did it improve days to cure or hospital stay. Regarding costs, the use of RF in patients with CAP presented a significant increase in costs. Conclusion: There is no evidence to support the routine use of RF in adult patients with CAP. We believe that future research is required to determine the impact of RF in adult patients with CAP, as well as to establish consensus regarding its indication, selection of maneuvers, standardization of techniques, times, and dosage.