Role of Sedation and Analgesia during Noninvasive Ventilation: Systematic Review of Recent Evidence and Recommendations.

Aim: This systematic review aimed to investigate the drugs used and their potential effect on noninvasive ventilation (NIV). Background: NIV is used increasingly in acute respiratory failure (ARF). Sedation and analgesia are potentially beneficial in NIV, but they can have a deleterious impact. Proper guidelines to specifically address this issue and the recommendations for or against it are scarce in the literature. In the most recent guidelines published in 2017 by the European Respiratory Society/American Thoracic Society (ERS/ATS) relating to NIV use in patients having ARF, the well-defined recommendation on the selective use of sedation and analgesia is missing. Nevertheless, some national guidelines suggested using sedation for agitation. Methods: Electronic databases (PubMed/Medline, Google Scholar, and Cochrane library) from January 1999 to December 2019 were searched systematically for research articles related to sedation and analgosedation in NIV. A brief review of the existing literature related to sedation and analgesia was also done. Review results: Sixteen articles (five randomized trials) were analyzed. Other trials, guidelines, and reviews published over the last two decades were also discussed. The present review analysis suggests dexmedetomidine as the emerging sedative agent of choice based on the most recent trials because of better efficacy with an improved and predictable cardiorespiratory profile. Conclusion: Current evidence suggests that sedation has a potentially beneficial role in patients at risk of NIV failure due to interface intolerance, anxiety, and pain. However, more randomized controlled trials are needed to comment on this issue and formulate strong evidence-based recommendations. How to cite this article: Karim HMR, Sarc I, Calandra C, Spadaro S, Mina B, Ciobanu LD, et al. Role of Sedation and Analgesia during Noninvasive Ventilation: Systematic Review of Recent Evidence and Recommendations. Indian J Crit Care Med 2022;26(8):938-948.

Ocular disorders in non-invasive ventilation and CPAP therapy-A case report.

BACKGROUND: The benefits of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in the treatment of several chronic and acute disorders are well documented. However, the side effects associated with this type of treatment must always be taken into account. Patients often fail to mention ocular symptoms. CLINICAL CASE: A male, 80 years old, autonomous in activities of daily living, with a personal history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic hypercapnic respiratory failure was admitted to the emergency room due to dyspnea and a depressed level of consciousness. The patient deteriorated to severe respiratory acidosis and was started on NIV. On the third day of admission there was note of significant ocular irritation in addition to a dermal lesion on the bridge of the nose. Ophthalmology reported a corneal ulcer and bilateral conjunctivitis and prescribed topical antibiotic and steroids, with improvement of the symptoms. DISCUSSION: Ocular disorders in relation with NIV are more common than documented in clinical practice. It's essential that every professional that deals with this type of therapy is sensitive to the recognition and early diagnosis of this secondary effect, motivating timely evaluation. This case exemplifies the rapid onset of this type of complication, especially if the staff is poorly trained in NIV application and in patients with a decreased level of consciousness. Centers need to develop protocols to evaluate patients under NIV for ocular symptoms, with the goal of early therapeutic intervention. The creation and divulgation of these procedures will drastically improve the quality of care to acute and chronic patients in need of NIV.

Reduction of Need for Treatment and Length of Hospital Stay Following Institution of a Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Rooming-In Program in Ontario, Canada.

PURPOSE: To assess the impact of a rooming-in program for babies at risk of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) in one community hospital centre, in Belleville, Ontario. DESIGN AND METHODS: This retrospective chart review was conducted at Belleville General Hospital. The hospital developed a rooming-in program for newborns at risk of NAS in July 2015. Charts on all infants born to mothers using opioids in the 24 months prior to and after the implementation of our program, who met the inclusion criteria, were examined. RESULTS: The study consisted of 15 babies in the Special Care Nursery (SCN) group and 19 babies in the rooming-in group. Rooming-in is associated with a reduction in the need for treatment with morphine [rooming-in group (1/19, 5.3%), SCN group (14/15, 93.3%), p < 0.01], shorter length of stay in hospital [rooming-in group (days = 5), SCN group (days = 20), p < 0.01], improved exclusive breast and/or breast milk-feeding rates [rooming-in group (17/19,89.5%), SCN group (1/15,6.7%), p < 0.01] and lower total hospital cost [rooming-in group ($6458.00), SCN group ($17,851.00), p < 0.01]. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrates that rooming-in programs for babies born to mothers using opioids has benefits in terms of quality of care and health care resource utilization. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: These findings show that rooming-in can be successfully implemented in a community hospital.

Intracerebral hemorrhage after kratom ingestion.

ABSTRACT: Mitragyna speciosa, a tropical tree also known as kratom, is an emerging substance of abuse with dose-dependent stimulant and opioid-like effects. Kratom may be purchased legally in the United States and is marketed online as a safe alternative to opioids and a cheap alternative to opioid replacement therapy. However, adverse reactions to ingestion are largely unknown and may pose a significant public health risk. This article describes a man with an intracerebral hemorrhage possibly secondary to kratom ingestion.

Pre-operative patient optimization to prevent postoperative pulmonary complications-Insights and roles for the respiratory therapist: A narrative review.

BACKGROUND: The preoperative period has gained recognition as a crucial time to identify and manage preoperative medical conditions for preventing perioperative complications. Consequently, preoperative clinics have now become an essential component of perioperative care at many large hospitals. As the prevalence of preoperative clinics continues to grow, and the field of perioperative medicine progresses, respiratory therapists (RTs) will inevitably find a growing role to participate in preoperative patient optimization to mitigate pulmonary complications. METHODS: Keyword searches on perioperative pulmonary complications were conducted on the Medline database via PubMed and identified over 2000 candidate articles for review. Articles were included if they were English only and resulted with one or more of the following search terms; pulmonary complications, postoperative complications, postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs), prehabilitation, incentive spirometry, smoking cessation, noninvasive ventilation. Preference was given for meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, and systematic reviews. Publications within the past two decades were given additional preference toward final inclusion. The authors discussed eligible articles in group meetings over the span of multiple years to assess relevance and quality of data for narrowing eligible articles to the final selection of publications for the review. FINDINGS: The following narrative review examines preoperative optimization strategies to prevent PPCs and highlight areas where RTs may play a key role. After examining challenges in defining PPCs, the review examines key risk models available to predict PPCs and their implications for subsequent discussion on preventive measures that RTs may assist with in a multidisciplinary team. CONCLUSION: RTs can reduce the health care burden of PPCs by assisting fellow perioperative clinicians in providing respiratory care for patients with premorbid conditions. While much of our review focused on pre-existing pulmonary pathologies and both the pharmacological and nonpharmacological optimization of these pathologies, there are other factors contributing to PPCs deserving future exploration.

Malignant hyperthermia in a trauma patient.

Malignant hyperthermia is a life-threatening disorder caused by exposure to certain anesthetics. Prompt recognition and intervention is crucial. This article focuses on preoperative patient screening as well as perioperative and postoperative recognition and management.

Clinical review: Helmet and non-invasive mechanical ventilation in critically ill patients.

Non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIV) has proved to be an excellent technique in selected critically ill patients with different forms of acute respiratory failure. However, NIV can fail on account of the severity of the disease and technical problems, particularly at the interface. The helmet could be an alternative interface compared to face mask to improve NIV success. We performed a clinical review to investigate the main physiological and clinical studies assessing the efficacy and related issues of NIV delivered with a helmet. A computerized search strategy of MEDLINE/PubMed (January 2000 to May 2012) and EMBASE (January 2000 to May 2012) was conducted limiting the search to retrospective, prospective, nonrandomized and randomized trials. We analyzed 152 studies from which 33 were selected, 12 physiological and 21 clinical (879 patients). The physiological studies showed that NIV with helmet could predispose to CO2 rebreathing and increase the patients' ventilator asynchrony. The main indications for NIV were acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema, hypoxemic acute respiratory failure (community-acquired pneumonia, postoperative and immunocompromised patients) and hypercapnic acute respiratory failure. In 9 of the 21 studies the helmet was compared to a face mask during either continous positive airway pressure or pressure support ventilation. In eight studies oxygenation was similar in the two groups, while the intubation rate was similar in four and lower in three studies for the helmet group compared to face mask group. The outcome was similar in six studies. The tolerance was better with the helmet in six of the studies. Although these data are limited, NIV delivered by helmet could be a safe alternative to the face mask in patients with acute respiratory failure.

Weaning failure: my heart is not up to it.

Weaning patients from mechanical ventilation has been compared to a cardiac stress test. Weaning failure (WF) from a cardiac origin can be common in patients with limited cardiac reserve. Diuretic and vasodilator therapies are indicated for WF due to excessive preload, afterload, or myocardial ischemia. Alteration in intrathoracic pressure and lung volumes may also impact weaning process in a patient with poor cardiac function. Noninvasive ventilation decreases cardiac stress load and should be utilized in weaning patients with poor cardiac reserves. In fact, positive pressure therapy is now the standard of care for treating a patient with acute pulmonary edema and to decrease afterload (Frazier et al. Biol Res Nurs 2000; 1(4): 253-264; Pinsky MR. Chest 2005; 128(5 Suppl 2): 592S-597S.). Recently, biomarkers and echocardiography have been utilized to assess weaning success during spontaneous breathing trials. In this article, we describe the physiological alterations in cardiac and pulmonary systems during the weaning process and its impact on weaning outcome.

Respiratory complications in the postanesthesia care unit: A review of pathophysiological mechanisms.

General anesthesia and mechanical ventilation impair pulmonary function, even in normal individuals, and result in decreased oxygenation in the postanesthesia period. They also cause a reduction in functional residual capacity of up to 50% of the preanesthesia value. It has been shown that pulmonary atelectasis is a common finding in anesthetized individuals because it occurs in 85% to 90% of healthy adults. Furthermore, there is substantial evidence that atelectasis, in combination with alveolar hypoventilation and ventilation-perfusion mismatch, is the core mechanism responsible for postoperative hypoxemic events in the majority of patients in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU). Many concomitant factors also must be considered, such as respiratory depression from the type and anatomical site of surgery altering lung mechanics, the consequences of hemodynamic impairment and the residual effects of anesthetic drugs, most notably residual neuromuscular blockade. The appropriate use of anesthetic and analgesic techniques, when combined with meticulous postoperative care, clearly influences pulmonary outcomes in the PACU. The present review emphasizes the major pathophysiological mechanisms and treatment strategies of critical respiratory events in the PACU to provide health care workers with the knowledge needed to prevent such potentially adverse outcomes from occurring.

L'anesthésie générale et la ventilation mécanique nuisent à la fonction pulmonaire, même chez des personnes en santé, et entraînent une diminution de l'oxygénation pendant la période postanesthésique. Elles provoquent également une réduction de la capacité fonctionnelle résiduelle pouvant atteindre 50 % de la valeur obtenue avant l'anesthésie. Il a été démontré que l'atélectasie pulmonaire est courante chez les personnes anesthésiées. En effet, elle se produit chez 85 % à 90 % des adultes en santé. De plus, il est clairement démontré que l'atélectasie, associée à l'hypoventilation alvéolaire et à la discordance entre la ventilation et la perfusion, est le principal mécanisme responsable d'événements hypoxémiques postopératoires chez la majorité des patients de l'unité de soins postanesthésiques (USPA). Il faut également tenir compte de nombreux facteurs concomitants, tels que la dépression respiratoire causée par le type et le foyer anatomique des mécaniques pulmonaires modifiées par chirurgie, les conséquences d'une atteinte hémodynamique et les effets résiduels des médicaments anesthésiques, notamment le blocage neuromusculaire résiduel. Le recours pertinent aux techniques anesthésiques et analgésiques, associé à des soins postopératoires méticuleux, influe clairement sur les issues pulmonaires à l'USPA. La présente analyse fait ressortir les principaux mécanismes physiopathologiques et stratégies thérapeutiques d'événements respiratoires critiques à l'USPA pour transmettre aux dispensateurs de soins les connaissances nécessaires en vue d'éviter la survenue d'issues indésirables.

Non-invasive Ventilation and High-Flow Nasal Cannula in Head/Brain Injury with Risk of Pneumocephalus: Is There a Potential Application?

Non-invasive ventilation application in neurocritical care with risk of pneumocephalus is controversial. Non-invasive ventilation-related increased intrathoracic pressure increases intracranial pressure via direct transmission of intrathoracic pressure to the intracranial cavity. In addition, increased thoracic pressure decreases venous return to the heart and increases vena jugularis interna pressure, thereby increasing cerebral blood volume. Pneumocephalus is one of the major concerns after non-invasive ventilation application in head/brain trauma patients. Non-invasive mechanical ventilation may be performed in limited conditions in head trauma/brain surgery with appropriate and close monitoring. High-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy can provide higher FiO2 as manifested by a larger increase in PaO2/FiO2 ratio and provide the theoretical basis in pneumocephalus because augmenting the PaO2 more effectively would accelerate nitrogen (N2) washout. As a result, non-invasive mechanical ventilation may be performed in limited manner in head trauma/ brain surgery with appropriate and close monitoring.

Acute respiratory failure complicating advanced liver disease.

Advanced liver disease is associated with hypoxemia and respiratory failure by various mechanisms. Patients with cirrhosis are especially prone to episodes of decompensation requiring intensive care unit admission and management. Such patients may already be in acute liver failure or have decompensated due to a concurrent illness such as spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, sepsis, encephalopathy, varices, or hepatorenal syndrome. Acute respiratory distress syndrome is one of the main reasons for intensive care unit admission and mortality. Overall, critically ill cirrhotic patients frequently progress to multiorgan failure requiring mechanical ventilation. Caring for such patients is therefore understandably complex and extremely challenging. Patients with end-stage liver disease are especially at risk for developing acute respiratory failure and hypoxemia secondary to hepatopulmonary syndrome, portopulmonary hypertension, and hepatic hydrothorax. They should therefore be screened for these conditions because failure to recognize and adequately treat these serious complications of cirrhosis may have devastating consequences. This article is based on a review of the current literature on how to approach and manage acute respiratory failure in advanced liver disease, which is important to intensivists, anesthesiologists, and physicians as a whole.

Intracranial monitoring in traumatic brain injury.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review focuses on the role of various intracranial monitoring technologies in the diagnosis and therapy of traumatic brain injury injury. RECENT FINDINGS: There exist many controversial points as to the utility of different intracranial monitoring with regard to improvement of outcomes from severe traumatic brain injury. Most recent studies are confirming that the use of multiple modalities in the neurological ICU setting may offer promising results. SUMMARY: Increased adherence to guideline-based and protocol-driven neurointensive care utilizing multimodality in monitoring technology for patients with severe traumatic brain injury is likely to give clinicians increased insight into the elusive mechanisms underlying the complex pathophysiology of this disease process and may further improve outcomes in this patient population.

Ozone therapy for patients with COVID-19 pneumonia: Preliminary report of a prospective case-control study.

BACKGROUND: There is still no specific treatment strategies for COVID-19 other than supportive management. DESIGN: A prospective case-control study determined by admittance to the hospital based on bed availability. PARTICIPANTS: Eighteen patients with COVID-19 infection (laboratory confirmed) severe pneumonia admitted to hospital between 20th March and 19th April 2020. Patients admitted to the hospital during the study period were assigned to different beds based on bed availability. Depending on the bed the patient was admitted, the treatment was ozone autohemotherapy or standard treatment. Patients in the case group received ozonated blood twice daily starting on the day of admission for a median of four days. Each treatment involved administration of 200 mL autologous whole blood enriched with 200 mL of oxygen-ozone mixture with a 40 µg/mL ozone concentration. MAIN OUTCOMES: The primary outcome was time from hospital admission to clinical improvement. RESULTS: Nine patients (50%) received ozonated autohemotherapy beginning on the day of admission. Ozonated autohemotherapy was associated with shorter time to clinical improvement (median [IQR]), 7 days [6-10] vs 28 days [8-31], p = 0.04) and better outcomes at 14-days (88.8% vs 33.3%, p = 0.01). In risk-adjusted analyses, ozonated autohemotherapy was associated with a shorter mean time to clinical improvement (-11.3 days, p = 0.04, 95% CI -22.25 to -0.42). CONCLUSION: Ozonated autohemotherapy was associated with a significantly shorter time to clinical improvement in this prospective case-control study. Given the small sample size and study design, these results require evaluation in larger randomized controlled trials. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04444531.

Respiratory failure and hypoxemia in the cirrhotic patient including hepatopulmonary syndrome.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension present with three unique pulmonary complications that are the subject of ongoing clinical research: hepatopulmonary syndrome, portopulmonary hypertension (POPH), and hepatic hydrothorax. The present article is based on a review of the current literature on how to manage these disorders, which are highly important to both anesthesiologists and intensive care physicians. RECENT FINDINGS: Hepatopulmonary syndrome leads to progressive hypoxemia through diffuse vasodilatation of the pulmonary microcirculation. Liver transplantation, although associated with increased mortality, is the only viable treatment. POPH occurs when vascular remodeling triggers an increase in pulmonary artery pressure and resistance. The role of liver transplantation in POPH is controversial given the excessive mortality in patients with moderate to severe POPH. Medical treatment is able to decrease pulmonary artery pressures, though multicenter randomized controlled trials showing improved outcome are lacking to date. Ultrasound plays an increasingly important role in the diagnosis of all three conditions. SUMMARY: Patients with end-stage liver disease are at risk for respiratory failure and hypoxemia and need to be screened for hepatopulmonary syndrome, POPH, and hepatic hydrothorax. Failure to timely recognize and adequately treat these complications of cirrhosis may have severe consequences.

Mechanical ventilation in trauma.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this review is to evaluate new concepts in mechanical ventilation in trauma. We begin with the keystone of physiology prior to embarking on a discussion of several new modes of mechanical ventilation. We will discuss the use of noninvasive ventilation as a mode to prevent intubation and then go on to airway pressure release ventilation, high-frequency oscillatory ventilation, and computer-based, closed loop ventilation. RECENT FINDINGS: The importance of preventing further injury in mechanical ventilation lies at the heart of the introduction of several new strategies of mechanical ventilation. New modes of ventilation have been developed to provide lung recruitment and alveolar stabilization at the lowest possible pressure. SUMMARY: The old modes of continuous positive airway pressure and bilevel positive airway pressure have been actively introduced in clinical practice in the case of trauma patients. Used with proper pain management protocols, there has been a decrease in the incidence of intubation in blunt thoracic trauma. Airway pressure release ventilation has been gaining a role in the management of thoracic injury and may lead to less incidence of physiologic trauma to mechanically ventilated patients. High-frequency oscillatory ventilation has been shown to be effective in patient care by its ability to open and recruit the lung in trauma patients and in those with acute respiratory distress syndrome but it may not have a role in patients with inhalational injury. Closed loop ventilation is a technology that may better control major pulmonary parameters and lead to more rapid titration from the ventilator to spontaneous breathing.