The association between airflow limitation and blood eosinophil levels with treatment outcomes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and prolonged mechanical ventilation.

The clinical implications of airflow limitation severity and blood eosinophil level in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) are unknown. Thus, this study aimed to identify whether or not these two indicators were significantly associated with short-term in-respiratory care center (RCC) treatment outcomes in this population. Of all participants (n = 181) in this retrospective cross-sectional study, 41.4%, 40.9%, 8.3%, and 52.5% had prolonged RCC admission (RCC length of stay >21 days), failed weaning, death, and any adverse outcomes of interest, respectively. Compared to participants without any adverse outcomes of interest, moderate (the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) II) and/or severe (GOLD III) airflow limitation were significantly associated with short-term in-RCC adverse outcomes in terms of failed weaning (for III versus I, OR = 15.06, p = 0.003) and having any adverse outcomes of interest (for II versus I, OR = 17.66, p = 0.002; for III versus I, OR = 37.07, p = 0.000) though the severity of airflow limitation did not have associations with prolonged RCC admission and death after adjustment. Meanwhile, blood eosinophilia defined by various cut-off values was not associated with any adverse outcomes. The findings have significant clinical implications and are useful in the management of patients with COPD and PMV.

High-frequency chest wall oscillation in prolonged mechanical ventilation patients: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Patients with prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV) often retain airway secretions, which may be cleared with the assistance of high-frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO). This study aimed to determine the effectiveness, safety and tolerance/comfort of HFCWO after extubation in PMV patients. METHODS: This parallel-designed, randomized controlled trial enrolled subjects with both intra-tracheal intubation and mechanical ventilator support continuously for at least 21 days between January 2011 and December 2012. Upon extubation, the participants were randomly assigned to either receive HFCWO for 5 days or not. The effectiveness [based on weaning success rates, daily clearance volume of sputum, serial changes in sputum coloration and chest X-ray (CXR) improvement rates], safety (by physiologic parameters) and tolerance/comfort [using the Modified Borg Scale (MBS) and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAS)] of HFCWO were investigated. RESULTS: There were 43 PMV subjects, including 23 in the HFCWO group and 20 in the non-HFCWO group. The weaning success rates were 82.6% (19/23) and 85% (17/20) in the HFCWO and non-HFCWO groups, respectively (P = 1.000). The HFCWO group had persistently greater numbers of daily sputum suctions and higher CXR improvement rates compared with the non-HFCWO group. There was significant sputum coloration lightening in the HFCWO group only. There was no significant difference in the MBS and HAS between the two groups and between pre- and post-HFCWO physiologic parameters. CONCLUSION: In PMV patients, HFCWO was safe, comfortable and effective in facilitating airway hygiene after removal of endotracheal tubes, but had no positive impact on weaning success.