Pressure injuries in mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients utilising different prone positioning techniques - A prospective observational study.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the incidence and distribution of pressure injuries (PIs) with two approaches to prone positioning for mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients, and to determine the prevalence of these PIs on intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital discharge. DESIGN: A prospective observational study. SETTING: Adult patients admitted to a quaternary ICU with COVID-19-associated acute lung injury, between September 2021 and February 2022. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence and anatomical distribution of PIs during ICU stay for "Face Down" and "Swimmers Position" as well as on ICU and hospital discharge. RESULTS: We investigated 206 prone episodes in 63 patients. In the Face Down group, 26 of 34 patients (76 %) developed at least one PI, compared to 10 of 22 patients (45 %) in the Swimmers Position group (p = 0.02). Compared to the Swimmers Position group, the Face Down group developed more pressure injuries per patient (median 1 [1, 3] vs 0 [0, 2], p = 0.04) and had more facial PIs (p = 0.002). In a multivariate logistic regression model, patients were more likely to have at least one PI with Face Down position (OR 4.67, 95 % CI 1.28, 17.04, p = 0.02) and greater number of prone episodes (OR 1.75, 95 % CI 1.12, 2.74, p = 0.01). Over 80 % of all PIs were either stage 1 or stage 2. By ICU discharge, 29 % had healed and by hospital discharge, 73 % of all PIs had healed. CONCLUSION: Swimmers Position had a significantly lower incidence of PIs compared to the Face Down approach. One-quarter of PIs had healed by time of ICU discharge and three-quarters by time of hospital discharge. IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE: There are differences in incidence of PIs related to prone positioning approaches. This study validates and helps better inform current prone position guidelines recommending the use of Swimmers Position. The low prevalence of PIs at hospital discharge is reassuring.

Magnitude and time to peak oxygenation effect of prone positioning in ventilated adults with COVID-19 related acute hypoxemic respiratory failure.

BACKGROUND: Prone positioning may improve oxygenation in acute hypoxemic respiratory failure and was widely adopted in COVID-19 patients. However, the magnitude and timing of its peak oxygenation effect remain uncertain with the optimum dosage unknown. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the magnitude of the peak effect of prone positioning on the PaO2 :FiO2 ratio during prone and secondly, the time to peak oxygenation. METHODS: Multi-centre, observational study of invasively ventilated adults with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure secondary to COVID-19 treated with prone positioning. Baseline characteristics, prone positioning and patient outcome data were collected. All arterial blood gas (ABG) data during supine, prone and after return to supine position were analysed. The magnitude of peak PaO2 :FiO2 ratio effect and time to peak PaO2 :FIO2 ratio effect was measured. RESULTS: We studied 220 patients (mean age 54 years) and 548 prone episodes. Prone positioning was applied for a mean (±SD) 3 (±2) times and 16 (±3) hours per episode. Pre-proning PaO2 :FIO2 ratio was 137 (±49) for all prone episodes. During the first episode. the mean PaO2 :FIO2 ratio increased from 125 to a peak of 196 (p < .001). Peak effect was achieved during the first episode, after 9 (±5) hours in prone position and maintained until return to supine position. CONCLUSIONS: In ventilated adults with COVID-19 acute hypoxemic respiratory failure, peak PaO2 :FIO2 ratio effect occurred during the first prone positioning episode and after 9 h. Subsequent episodes also improved oxygenation but with diminished effect on PaO2 :FIO2 ratio. This information can help guide the number and duration of prone positioning episodes.

Neuromuscular blockade and oxygenation changes during prone positioning in COVID-19.

PURPOSE: Neuromuscular blockers (NMBs) are often used during prone positioning to facilitate mechanical ventilation in COVID-19 related ARDS. However, their impact on oxygenation is uncertain. METHODS: Multi-centre observational study of invasively ventilated COVID-19 ARDS adults treated with prone positioning. We collected data on baseline characteristics, prone positioning, NMB use and patient outcome. We assessed arterial blood gas data during supine and prone positioning and after return to the supine position. RESULTS: We studied 548 prone episodes in 220 patients (mean age 54 years, 61% male) of whom 164 (75%) received NMBs. Mean PaO2:FiO2 (P/F ratio) during the first prone episode with NMBs reached 208 ± 63 mmHg compared with 161 ± 66 mmHg without NMBs (Δmean = 47 ± 5 mmHg) for an absolute increase from baseline of 76 ± 56 mmHg versus 55 ± 56 mmHg (padj < 0.001). The mean P/F ratio on return to the supine position was 190 ± 63 mmHg in the NMB group versus 141 ± 64 mmHg in the non-NMB group for an absolute increase from baseline of 59 ± 58 mmHg versus 34 ± 56 mmHg (padj < 0.001). CONCLUSION: During prone positioning, NMB is associated with increased oxygenation compared to non-NMB therapy, with a sustained effect on return to the supine position. These findings may help guide the use of NMB during prone positioning in COVID-19 ARDS.

Responsiveness of Critically Ill Adults With Multimorbidity to Rehabilitation Interventions: A Patient-Level Meta-Analysis Using Individual Pooled Data From Four Randomized Trials.

OBJECTIVE: To explore if patient characteristics (pre-existing comorbidity, age, sex, and illness severity) modify the effect of physical rehabilitation (intervention vs control) for the coprimary outcomes health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and objective physical performance using pooled individual patient data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs). DATA SOURCES: Data of individual patients from four critical care physical rehabilitation RCTs. STUDY SELECTION: Eligible trials were identified from a published systematic review. DATA EXTRACTION: Data sharing agreements were executed permitting transfer of anonymized data of individual patients from four trials to form one large, combined dataset. The pooled trial data were analyzed with linear mixed models fitted with fixed effects for treatment group, time, and trial. DATA SYNTHESIS: Four trials contributed data resulting in a combined total of 810 patients (intervention n = 403, control n = 407). After receiving trial rehabilitation interventions, patients with two or more comorbidities had HRQoL scores that were significantly higher and exceeded the minimal important difference at 3 and 6 months compared with the similarly comorbid control group (based on the Physical Component Summary score (Wald test p = 0.041). Patients with one or no comorbidities who received intervention had no HRQoL outcome differences at 3 and 6 months when compared with similarly comorbid control patients. No patient characteristic modified the physical performance outcome in patients who received physical rehabilitation. CONCLUSIONS: The identification of a target group with two or more comorbidities who derived benefits from the trial interventions is an important finding and provides direction for future investigations into the effect of rehabilitation. The multimorbid post-ICU population may be a select population for future prospective investigations into the effect of physical rehabilitation.

The PhLIP team: Feasibility of a physiotherapy-led intensive prone positioning team initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic resulted in a surge of patients with refractory hypoxaemic respiratory failure being admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Prone positioning can improve oxygenation but requires a team of skilled personnel to complete safely. Critical care physiotherapists (PTs) are ideally suited to lead proning teams, due to their expertise in moving critically unwell, invasively ventilated patients. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to describe the feasibility of implementing a physiotherapy-led intensive proning (PhLIP) team to support the critical care team during surges. METHODS: This study involves descriptive evaluation of feasibility and implementation of the PhLIP team, a novel model of care, during the Delta wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, through a retrospective, observational audit of PhLIP team activity, ICU clinical activity, and a description of clinical outcomes. RESULTS: Between 17 September and 19 November 2021, 93 patients with COVID-19 were admitted to the ICU. Fifty-one patients (55%) were positioned prone, a median [interquartile range] 2 [2, 5] times, for a mean (±standard deviation) duration of 16 (±2) h, across 161 episodes. Twenty-three PTs were upskilled and deployed to the PhLIP team, adding 2.0 equivalent full time to the daily service. Ninety-four percent of prone episodes (154) were led by the PhLIP PTs with a median 4 [interquartile range: 2, 8] turns per day. Potential airway adverse events occurred on three occasions (1.8%) and included an endotracheal tube leak, displacement, and obstruction. Each incident was promptly managed without prolonged impact on the patient. No manual handling injuries were reported. CONCLUSION: The implementation of a physiotherapy-led proning team was safe and feasible and can release critical care-trained medical and nursing staff to other duties in the ICU.

Measuring Adherence to Long-Term Noninvasive Ventilation.

BACKGROUND: Obtaining benefits from long-term noninvasive ventilation (NIV) relies on achieving adequate adherence to treatment. Reported adherence to NIV is variable and could be influenced by high-volume users and attrition of nonusers and those who die. This observational study aimed to describe patterns of use and adherence rates in new unselected users of NIV. METHODS: All adults (> 18 y old) commencing long-term NIV were consecutively enrolled and followed for 6 months. Ventilator data were manually downloaded from devices and usage (minutes per day) was collected. Subjects were categorized into adherent users (≥ 4 h/d) and nonadherent users (< 4 h/d). RESULTS: Data were obtained from 86 subjects. Most (65%) had motor neuron disease, and most commenced NIV in an out-patient setting (72%). At one month after NIV implementation, overall average daily use was 302.1 min/d and categorical adherence was 57%. At 6 months or prior to death, overall average daily use increased (388.7 min/d), but categorical adherence was similar (62%). The majority of subjects (84%) remained in the same adherence category from their first month to their sixth month of use or death. Individuals with motor neuron disease demonstrated significantly lower rates of adherence compared to the rest of the cohort at 1 month (48% vs 73%, P = .03). In those who died within the study period (n = 19, all with motor neuron disease), this difference persisted to death (42% at death vs 73% at 6 months, P = .032). CONCLUSIONS: Average daily usage may conceal true prevalence of adherence or nonadherence to NIV within a population. Reporting both average daily use data and categorical adherence rates (using a threshold of 4 h/d) may improve transparency of reported outcomes from clinical trials and identifies a therapeutic target for home mechanical ventilation services for quality improvement.

Searching for the Responder, Unpacking the Physical Rehabilitation Needs of Critically Ill Adults: A REVIEW.

Survivors of critical illness can experience persistent deficits in physical function and poor health-related quality of life and utilize significant health care resources. Short-term improvements in these outcomes have been reported following physical rehabilitation. Safety and feasibility of delivering physical rehabilitation are established; however, low physical activity levels are observed throughout the recovery of patients. We provide examples on how physical activity may be increased through interdisciplinary models of service delivery. Recently, however, there has been an emergence of large randomized controlled trials reporting no effect on long-term patient outcomes. In this review, we use a proposed theoretical construct to unpack the findings of 12 randomized controlled trials that delivered physical rehabilitation during the acute hospital stay. We describe the search for the responder according to modifiers of treatment effect for physical function, health-related quality of life, and health care utilization outcomes. In addition, we propose tailoring and timing physical rehabilitation interventions to patient subgroups that may respond differently based on their impairments and perpetuating factors that hinder recovery. We examine in detail the timing, components, and dosage of the trial intervention arms. We also describe facilitators and barriers to physical rehabilitation implementation and factors that are influential in recovery from critical illness. Through this theoretical construct, we anticipate that physical rehabilitation programs can be better tailored to the needs of survivors to deliver appropriate interventions to patients who derive greatest benefit optimally timed in their recovery trajectory.

Response to physical rehabilitation and recovery trajectories following critical illness: individual participant data meta-analysis protocol.

INTRODUCTION: The number of inconclusive physical rehabilitation randomised controlled trials for patients with critical illness is increasing. Evidence suggests critical illness patient subgroups may exist that benefit from targeted physical rehabilitation interventions that could improve their recovery trajectory. We aim to identify critical illness patient subgroups that respond to physical rehabilitation and map recovery trajectories according to physical function and quality of life outcomes. Additionally, the utilisation of healthcare resources will be examined for subgroups identified. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This is an individual participant data meta-analysis protocol. A systematic literature review was conducted for randomised controlled trials that delivered additional physical rehabilitation for patients with critical illness during their acute hospital stay, assessed chronic disease burden, with a minimum follow-up period of 3 months measuring performance-based physical function and health-related quality of life outcomes. From 2178 records retrieved in the systematic literature review, four eligible trials were identified by two independent reviewers. Principal investigators of eligible trials were invited to contribute their data to this individual participant data meta-analysis. Risk of bias will be assessed (Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomised trials). Participant and trial characteristics, interventions and outcomes data of included studies will be summarised. Meta-analyses will entail a one-stage model, which will account for the heterogeneity across and the clustering between studies. Multiple imputation using chained equations will be used to account for the missing data. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This individual participant data meta-analysis does not require ethical review as anonymised participant data will be used and no new data collected. Additionally, eligible trials were granted approval by institutional review boards or research ethics committees and informed consent was provided for participants. Data sharing agreements are in place permitting contribution of data. The study findings will be disseminated at conferences and through peer-reviewed publications. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42019152526.