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.

Decanular. Factores predictores de dificultad para la decanulación: Estudio de cohorte multicéntrico / DecanulAR. Predictors of Decannulation Difficulty. A Multicenter Cohort Study

Introducción: La traqueostomía (TQT) se ha convertido, quizás, en la intervención quirúrgica más frecuente dentro de la UCI. El uso prolongado de la cánula de TQT puede exponer a los pacientes a un mayor riesgo de complicaciones. Cada vez se da más importancia al tiempo de decanulación de la traqueostomía tras la recuperación de una enfermedad crítica. No existe hasta el momento en nuestro país ningún estudio multicéntrico y prospectivo que analice a los pacientes traqueostomizados como población de estudio. Además, los factores asociados a la dificultad para la decanulación no es un tópico comúnmente estudiado. Objetivo: Describir las características epidemiológicas de la población estudiada, reportar la incidencia de la falla de decanulación, analizar si existen factores de riesgo independientes asociados a la imposibilidad de decanulación y analizar la mortalidad relacionada al tiempo en lograr la decanulación. Método: Estudio de cohorte prospectivo, multicéntrico que incluyó pacientes que fueron traqueostomizados en unidades de cuidados intensivos (UCI) y aquellos que ingresaron con TQT a los centros de desvinculación de la ventilación mecánica y rehabilitación (CDVMR). Se registraron variables epidemiológicas previas a la internación, y variables durante la internación. La duración total del estudio fue de un año. Se estimó un tamaño muestral de 200 pacientes para encontrar una proporción del 5% (valor esperado para la falla de decanulación) estableciendo la posibilidad de incurrir en un error alfa de 5% y en un error beta de 20%. Resultados: Se reclutaron inicialmente 48 centros de diferentes ciudades del país y finalmente aportaron pacientes 36 centros (31 UCI y 5 CDVMR). Inicialmente se incluyeron 576 pacientes de los cuales fueron eliminados 238 pacientes por no lograr la desvinculación de la ventilación mecánica. El promedio de edad fue de 55 años (SD± 18,3) y con una mediana de 58 años (RIQ 43-70). Hubo mayor cantidad pacientes de género masculino (59%; IC 95% 53,8-64,2). Se lograron decanular 193 pacientes desvinculados (57%; IC95% 51,7-62,2). La incidencia acumulada en a falla de decanulación fue de 3,1% en 7 meses (IC 95% 1,4-6,6). En el análisis multivariado de regresión logística se halló como predictores independientes para la no decanulación al estrato de edad de mayores de 70 años (OR 3,40; IC95% 1,51-7,66) y TQT por procedimiento quirúrgico (OR 1,74; IC95% 1,08-2,79). Además, ser paciente proveniente de la UCI versus ser de CDVMR se comportó como factor protectivo (OR 0,29; IC95% 0,15-0,56). Se analizó también, la mortalidad a los 90 días mediante una curva de supervivencia de Kaplan Meier y se observó una diferencia significativa (log-rank p < 0,05) el grupo de pacientes que no se decanularon con respecto a aquellos que sí pudieron ser decanulados. Conclusión: La cantidad de pacientes que lograron su decanulación es similar a lo descrito en la bibliografía y lo mismo sucedió con la recanulación. La edad fue un factor predictor de no decanulación y esto, posiblemente, está relacionado a un peor estado general. No se hallaron comorbilidades que se relacionen a la no decanulación. Es importante el retiro de la cánula de traqueostomía ya que los pacientes que se decanulan obtienen con más frecuencia el alta domiciliaria que aquellos que no son decanulados. Si bien no podemos afirmar que la decanulación sea el factor clave para el alta o es parte de un mejor estado general del paciente es un hito relevante en el pronóstico del paciente.

DecanulAR. Predictors of Decannulation Difficulty: A Multicenter Cohort Study

Introduction: Tracheostomy (TQT) is perhaps the most common surgical intervention in the ICU. A prolonged use of a TQT cannula may subject patients to an increased risk of complications. Decannulation time in tracheostomies is becoming increasingly important during the recovery process after critical illnesses. At present, there is no prospective, multicenter study in our country that assesses tracheostomized patients as the population of the study. In addition, factors associated with decannulation difficulty are not usually analyzed. Objective: To describe the epidemiological characteristics of the study population, to report the rate of decannulation failure, to analyze the existence of independent risk factors associated with the impossibility of decannulation and to evaluate time-related mortality while achieving decannulation. Method: A prospective, multicenter cohort study that included patients who were tracheostomized at Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and patients who were admitted to Mechanical Ventilation Weaning and Rehabilitation Centers (MVWRCs) with TQTs. Epidemiological variables were recorded prior and during their hospitalization. The total duration of the study was one year. A sample size of 200 patients was calculated in order to draw a 5% rate (expected value for decannulation failure), determining the possibility to incur in a 5% alpha error and in a 20% beta error. Results: Initially, 48 centers from different cities around the country were recruited, and 36 centers contributed patients (31 from ICUs and 5 from MVWRCs). Five hundred and seventy-six patients were included, of whom 238 were removed since they could not be weaned from mechanical ventilation. The average age was 55 years (SD± 18.3), with a median of 58 years (IQR 43-70). There were more male patients (59%; 95% CI 53.8 - 64.2). One hundred and ninety-three patients who were weaned could be decannulated (57%; 95% CI 51.7-62.2). Cumulative incidence regarding decannulation failure was 3.1% in 7 months (95% CI 1.4 - 6.6). In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, the age group of patients over 70 years old (OR 3.40; 95% CI 1.51-7.66) and TQTs connected to surgical procedures (OR 1.74; 95% CI 1.08-2.79) were found as independent predictors contraindicating decannulation. Additionally, being a patient from an ICU versus being a patient from a MVWRC acted as a protective factor (OR 0.29; 95% CI 0.15-0.56). Likewise, the 90-day mortality rate was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier survival curve and a significant difference was observed (log-rank p<0.05) in the group of patients who were not decannulated compared to those who could be decannulated. Conclusion: The number of patients who achieved decannulation is similar to that described in the bibliography and the same happened with recannulation. Age was a predictor contraindicating decannulation, which is potentially connected with a worse general condition of the patient. There were no comorbidities linked to contraindications for decannulation. It is important to remove the tracheostomy cannula since decannulated patients are more likely to be discharged home than those who did not undergo decannulation. Although it is not possible to confirm that decannulation is a key factor for discharges or if it is part of a better general condition of the patient, it constitutes a relevant milestone in the patient’s prognosis.