Impact of exposure time in awake prone positioning on clinical outcomes of patients with COVID-19-related acute respiratory failure treated with high-flow nasal oxygen: a multicenter cohort study.

BACKGROUND: In patients with COVID-19-related acute respiratory failure (ARF), awake prone positioning (AW-PP) reduces the need for intubation in patients treated with high-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO). However, the effects of different exposure times on clinical outcomes remain unclear. We evaluated the effect of AW-PP on the risk of endotracheal intubation and in-hospital mortality in patients with COVID-19-related ARF treated with HFNO and analyzed the effects of different exposure times to AW-PP. METHODS: This multicenter prospective cohort study in six ICUs of 6 centers in Argentine consecutively included patients > 18 years of age with confirmed COVID-19-related ARF requiring HFNO from June 2020 to January 2021. In the primary analysis, the main exposure was awake prone positioning for at least 6 h/day, compared to non-prone positioning (NON-PP). In the sensitivity analysis, exposure was based on the number of hours receiving AW-PP. Inverse probability weighting-propensity score (IPW-PS) was used to adjust the conditional probability of treatment assignment. The primary outcome was endotracheal intubation (ETI); and the secondary outcome was hospital mortality. RESULTS: During the study period, 580 patients were screened and 335 were included; 187 (56%) tolerated AW-PP for [median (p25-75)] 12 (9-16) h/day and 148 (44%) served as controls. The IPW-propensity analysis showed standardized differences < 0.1 in all the variables assessed. After adjusting for other confounders, the OR (95% CI) for ETI in the AW-PP group was 0.36 (0.2-0.7), with a progressive reduction in OR as the exposure to AW-PP increased. The adjusted OR (95% CI) for hospital mortality in the AW-PP group ≥ 6 h/day was 0.47 (0.19-1.31). The exposure to prone positioning ≥ 8 h/d resulted in a further reduction in OR [0.37 (0.17-0.8)]. CONCLUSION: In the study population, AW-PP for ≥ 6 h/day reduced the risk of endotracheal intubation, and exposure ≥ 8 h/d reduced the risk of hospital mortality.

Recomendaciones para el manejo respiratorio de los pacientes con atrofia muscular espinal / Recommendations for respiratory management of patients with spinal muscular atrophia / Recomendações para a manipulação respiratória de pacientes com atrofia muscular espinhal

Resumen: La atrofia muscular espinal (AME) es una enfermedad del asta anterior de la médula espinal, genéticamente determinada y causada por síntesis insuficiente de la proteína de supervivencia de la motoneurona. La debilidad muscular lleva a una disminución progresiva de la capacidad vital y de flujos medibles durante la tos. La intensidad y precocidad de la expresión motora se vincula con los grados de afectación de los grupos musculares respiratorios, determinando la meseta en la capacidad vital y progresión a la insuficiencia ventilatoria, como también el compromiso de los músculos inervados bulbares. Las formas clínicas más severas de AME, en especial aquellas con presentaciones más tempranas y respiración paradojal, tienen capacidades vitales y flujos pico tosidos menores. La evaluación secuencial de estos parámetros es esencial para el pronóstico funcional y vital de estos pacientes. La subclasificación de AME tipo 1 y 2 se relaciona con momentos deseables para la realización de cuidados respiratorios no invasivos en la infancia temprana y en la edad escolar, que mejoran la sobrevida y calidad de vida. Este documento sintetiza dichas recomendaciones con especial referencia a intervenciones guiadas por etapas que incluyan apilamiento de aire (air stacking), protocolos de tos asistida y soporte ventilatorio no invasivo con alta intensidad de presiones de soporte, incluso en aquellos pacientes con pérdida de la autonomía respiratoria, minimizando el riesgo de traqueotomía. La no consideración de estas recomendaciones en la valoración regular de los pacientes resta la oferta de tratamientos oportunos.

Summary: Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a disease of the anterior horn of the spinal cord, genetically determined, and caused by deficiency of survival motor neuron (SMN) protein. Muscle weakness leads to a progressive decrease in vital capacity and to diminished cough flows. Respiratory morbidity and mortality are a function of respiratory and bulbar-innervated muscle impairment. It can be measured by the sequential evaluation of vital capacity to determine the life time maximum (plateau) and its subsequent rate of decline, progressing to ventilatory failure. Bulbar-innervated muscle impairment can also be monitored and measured by spirometry. The more severe clinical forms of SMA, especially those with earlier onsets and paradoxical breathing, have lower vital capacities and cough peak flows. The sequential assessment of these parameters is key for the vital and functional prognosis of these patients. SMA sub-classification types 1 and 2 of SMA involve appropriate times for non-invasive respiratory interventions in early childhood and school age and improve afterlife and quality of life. This document summarizes these recommendations, as a function of SMA type, with special reference to interventions that include air stacking, manually and mechanically assisted coughing protocols and noninvasive ventilatory support techniques, even for patients who have no ventilator-free breathing ability to minimize or eliminate the need to resort to tracheotomy. Failure to properly evaluate these patients regularly reduces their survival and chances to avoid invasive airway tubes.

Resumo: A Atrofia Muscular Espinhal (SMA) é uma doença do corno anterior da medula espinhal, geneticamente determinada e causada pela síntese insuficiente da proteína de sobrevivência dos neurônios motores. A fraqueza muscular leva a uma diminuição progressiva da capacidade vital e fluxos mensuráveis durante a tosse. A intensidade e a precocidade da expressão motora estão relacionadas aos graus de envolvimento dos grupos musculares respiratórios, determinando o platô da capacidade vital e a progressão para insuficiência ventilatória, bem como o envolvimento dos músculos inervados do bulbar. As formas clínicas mais graves de SMA, especialmente aquelas com apresentações anteriores e respiração paradoxal, têm capacidades vitais mais baixas e fluxos de tosse mais baixos. A avaliação sequencial desses parâmetros é essencial para o prognóstico funcional e vital desses pacientes. A subclassificação de SMA tipo 1 e 2 está relacionada aos momentos desejáveis para cuidados respiratórios não invasivos na primeira infância e idade escolar, que melhoram a sobrevida e a qualidade de vida. Este documento resume essas recomendações com referência especial às intervenções guiadas por etapas que incluem empilhamento de ar, protocolos de tosse assistida e suporte ventilatório não invasivo com suporte pressórico de alta intensidade, mesmo em pacientes com perda de autonomia respiratória, minimizando o risco de traqueostomia. A não consideração dessas recomendações na avaliação regular dos pacientes reduz a oferta de tratamentos oportunos.