Outcomes and predictors of failure of non-invasive ventilation in patients with community acquired pneumonia in the ED.

OBJECTIVE: We set out to describe the use and analyze the predictors of non-invasive ventilation failure in patients with community-acquired pneumonia who receive non-invasive ventilation as first line ventilatory therapy in the emergency department. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted among consecutive patients with community acquired pneumonia requiring ventilator support presenting to two tertiary care university-affiliated emergency departments. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to determine predictors of non-invasive ventilation failure at initiation of non-invasive ventilation and at two hours of non-invasive ventilation use; RESULT: After excluding patients with a do not resuscitate order status, 163 (74.8%) patients with community acquired pneumonia were initially treated with non-invasive ventilation on initial presentation to the emergency department. Non-invasive ventilation failure occurred in 50% of patients and was found to be associated with the absence of chronic obstructive airway disease, APACHE II score, the need for hemodynamic support and the number of CXR quadrants involved. Two-hour physiological parameters associated with non-invasive ventilation failure included higher respiratory rate, lower serum pH and the ongoing need of hemodynamic support. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the use of non-invasive ventilation to support patients presenting to the emergency department with respiratory failure and community acquired pneumonia is common and is associated with a significant failure rate. Hemodynamic support is a strong predictor of failure. The selection of the appropriate patient and monitoring of physiological parameters while on NIV is crucial to ensure successful treatment.

The Impact of Implementation of an ICU Consult Service on Hospital-Wide Outcomes and ICU-Specific Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Rapid response teams (RRTs) were developed to promote assessment of and early intervention for clinically deteriorating hospitalized patients. Although the ideal composition of RRTs is not known, their implementation does require significant resources. OBJECTIVE: To test the effectiveness of a dedicated daytime/weekday intensive care unit (ICU) consult service without formal training of ward teams. METHODS: Pre- and postintervention study with weekends/nights during implementation period acting as a concurrent control. SETTING: An adult tertiary care university center in Montreal without an RRT. INTERVENTION: A daytime/weekday ICU consult service with a dedicated intensivist. RESULTS: Total hospital mortality rate did not differ between the control and the implementation period (6.65% vs 6.60%; P = .84). The hospital code blue rates also did not differ (1.21/1000 vs 1.14/1000 patient days; P = .58). In contrast, 30-day mortality of patients admitted to the ICU following an ICU consult decreased (39% vs 24% P = .01). Multivariate analysis confirmed this effect on 30-day mortality (odds ratio for implementation period: 0.53 [95% confidence interval: 0.33-0.85] P = .009). The 14-day ICU readmission rate was reduced with the intervention (5.1% vs 4.1%; P < .001). The effect on 30-day mortality and ICU readmissions were only present during daytime/weekdays. CONCLUSION: Implementation of an ICU consult service without any formal afferent limb training was associated with decreased mortality and 14-day readmission rates of patients admitted to the ICU. In contrast, hospital-wide mortality and code blue rates were unaffected.

Microscopic polyangiitis associated with pleuropericarditis, pulmonary embolism and pulmonary hemorrhage as a complication of silicosis.

Silica (silicon dioxide) occupational exposure has been linked to both pulmonary and extra-pulmonary toxicity. Silicosis is the major pulmonary toxicity, which has also been associated with the development of collagen-vascular disease and with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-positive vasculitis, especially perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (P-ANCA). The most common pulmonary manifestations of microscopic polyangitis (MPA) are interstitial fibrosis and alveolar hemorrhage. We describe a patient who had unusual presentation of microscopic polyangitis, characterized by lung hemorrhage, rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis, pleuropericarditis and pulmonary embolism that was associated with a history of silica exposure and radiologic evidence for silicosis.