High-Flow Nasal Cannula May Not Reduce the Re-Intubation Rate Compared With a Large-Volume Nebulization-Based Humidifier.

BACKGROUND: High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) therapy may reduce the re-intubation rate compared with conventional oxygen therapy. However, HFNC has not been sufficiently compared with conventional oxygen therapy with a heated humidifier, even though heated humidification is beneficial for facilitating airway clearance. METHODS: This study was a single-center, open-label, randomized controlled trial. We randomized subjects with respiratory failure after extubation to either HFNC group or to a large-volume humidified nebulization-based nebulizer. The primary end point was the re-intubation rate within 7 d after extubation. RESULTS: We could not recruit enough subjects for the sample size we designed, therefore, we analyzed 69 subjects (HFNC group, 30 subjects; nebulizer group, 39 subjects). The re-intubation rate within 7 d was not significantly different between the HFNC and nebulizer groups (5/30 subjects [17%] and 6/39 subjects [15%], respectively; P > .99). [Formula: see text]/set [Formula: see text] at 24 h after extubation was also not significantly different between the respective groups (264 ± 105 mm Hg in the HFNC group vs 224 ± 53 mm Hg in the nebulizer group; P = .07). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with a large-volume nebulization-based humidifier, HFNC may not reduce the re-intubation rate within 7 d. However, because of insufficient statistical power, further studies are needed to reach a conclusion.

Study protocol for single-center, open-label, randomized controlled trial to clarify the preventive efficacy of electrical stimulation for muscle atrophy after trauma.

BACKGROUND: Management of trauma involves long-term bed rest even when muscle strength in the lower extremities is preserved. Prolonged bed rest reduces muscle mass and causes muscle atrophy. A recent study reported the efficacy of rehabilitation using electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) for muscle strength maintenance in intensive care unit patients with disturbance of consciousness. However, despite the expected benefits of EMS in maintaining muscle strength, little is known about its efficacy in trauma patients. METHODS/DESIGN: A single-center, open-label, randomized controlled trial of 40 patients with pelvic fracture to test the effectiveness of 14 days of EMS. The primary outcome will be change in cross-sectional area of the thigh muscle between pre and post intervention, as measured on computed tomography images. We will analyze the primary endpoint by analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and analyze the secondary endpoints in an exploratory manner. CONCLUSION: If our hypothesis is confirmed, this study will provide evidence that the use of EMS can be effective in preventing muscle atrophy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: UMIN registration number: UMIN000030190 . Registered on 1 December 2017.

Using fibrin degradation products level to facilitate diagnostic evaluation of potential acute aortic dissection.

This study evaluated whether degradation products of plasma fibrin and fibrinogen (FDP) level can be used to differentiate acute aortic dissection (AAD) from acute myocardial infarction (AMI), angina pectoris, acute cerebral infarction, or transient cerebral ischemic attack (TIA). Ninety-six consecutive patients with definitive diagnosis of AAD by contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan underwent measurement of FDP on admission. Of these patients, 45 had a patent false lumen (patent-type), and 51 had complete thrombosis of the false lumen (thrombosed-type). Control groups were patients admitted during the same period for whom a diagnosis of either AMI (n = 187), angina pectoris (n = 142), cerebral infarction (n = 353), or TIA (n = 94) was confirmed. FDP was significantly higher in patients with patent-type AAD (median, 210 µg/mL; interquartile range, 70-358 µg/mL) than in those with thrombosed-type AAD (16.5, 7.2-50.1). Patients with patent-type AAD or thrombosed-type AAD had a significantly higher FDP than patients in any of the control groups. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that FDP ≥ 12.6 µg/mL was the cutoff value that best differentiated patients with patent-type AAD from patients in any of the control groups (sensitivity, 100%; negative predictive value [NPV], 100%). And, this FDP cutoff level was associated with a high positive predictive value (PPV) (80-92%). The cutoff value to differentiate patients with thrombosed-type AAD from patients in any of the control groups was FDP ≥ 5.6 µg/mL (sensitivity, 100%; NPV, 100%). However, this FDP cutoff level was associated with a low PPV (36-81%). FDP and D-dimer were measured at the same time on admission in 30 patients with AAD and 41 patients in control groups. A simple liner regression, calculated using FDP and D-dimer values from a total of 71 patients, yielded a correlation coefficient (R2) of 0.95, indicating a strong correlation. In symptomatic patients with suspected AAD, a diagnosis of patent-type AAD should be considered if FDP ≥ 12.6 µg/mL. Patients with FDP ≥ 5.6 µg/mL have the possibility of thrombosed-type AAD.