Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia

Background Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the most frequent infection in patients intubated for longer than 48 hours. There is a great interest in determining the factors influencing the outcome of VAP, as it may help in reducing the associated morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to determine the impact of appropriate antibiotic therapy based on endotracheal aspirate cultures on the outcome of VAP. We have also studied the other factors that may influence the outcome of VAP. Method  A cohort study was conducted in the intensive care units of a tertiary care hospital in South India over a period of 15 months. The outcome of VAP was assessed by prolongation of the duration of mechanical ventilation and/ or death of the patient. Results The duration of mechanical ventilation was significantly prolonged in patients with VAP (16.61 ± 8.2 d vs. 8.21 ± 5.9 d, P 2 days in administering the first dose of appropriate antibiotic therapy significantly prolonged the duration of ventilation (P < 0.0001). Infection by multi-drug resistant pathogens, polymicrobial infection and time of onset of VAP did not have significant impact on the outcome of VAP. Conclusion Early administration of appropriate antibiotic therapy, based on the antibiogram of the VAP pathogens identified by quantitative culture of endotracheal aspirate, could lead to an improved outcome of patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia

Optimal external laryngeal manipulation versus McCoy blade in active position in patients with poor view of glottis on direct laryngoscopy

Successful endotracheal intubation requires a clear view of glottis. Optimal external laryngeal manipulation may improve the view of glottis on direct laryngoscopy with Macintosh blade, but it requires another trained hand. Alternatively, McCoy laryngoscope with elevated tip may be useful. This study has been designed to compare the two techniques in patients with poor view of glottis. Two hundred patients with ′Grade 2 or more′ view of glottis on direct laryngoscopy with Macintosh blade are included in the study. Optimal external laryngeal manipulation was applied, followed by laryngoscopy with McCoy blade in activated position; and the view was noted in both situations. The two interventions were compared using Chi-square test. The overall changes, in the views, were analyzed with Wilcoxon signed rank test. Both the techniques improved the view of glottis significantly (P< 0.05). Optimal external laryngeal manipulation was significantly better than McCoy laryngoscope in active position, especially in patients with Grade 3 or 4 baseline view, poor oropharyngeal class, decreased head extension and decreased submandibular space (odds ratio = 2.36, 3.17, 3.22 and 26.48 respectively). To conclude, optimal external laryngeal manipulation is a better technique than McCoy laryngoscope in patients with poor view of glottis on direct laryngoscopy with Macintosh blade

Attenuation of the haemodynamic responses to tracheal intubation with gabapentin, fentanyl and a combination of both: A randomised controlled trial

Background and Aims: We conducted a prospective, randomised, double-blind, controlled clinical trial to examine (1) whether a single preoperative dose of 800 mg gabapentin would be as effective as 2 μg/kg of intravenous (IV) fentanyl in blunting the haemodynamic response to tracheal intubation and (2) whether a combination of both would be more effective in this regard. Methods: Seventy-five patients (American Society of Anaesthesiologists physical status I), aged 20-50 years were allocated into one of three groups: 2 μg/kg IV fentanyl, 800 mg oral gabapentin or a combination of both. Gabapentin was administered 2 h and fentanyl 5 min before induction of anaesthesia, which was achieved with 5 mg/kg thiopentone, and tracheal intubation facilitated with 0.1 mg/kg vecuronium. Laryngoscopy lasting a maximum of 30 s was attempted 3 min after administration of the induction agents. Serial values of mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were compared among the three groups and with the respective preinduction measurements. Results : Patients receiving gabapentin 800 mg alone showed remarkable increases in HR and MAP in response to tracheal intubation (P < 0.05). The increases were similar for the other two regimens. These haemodynamic changes were lesser in patients receiving fentanyl and the combination of gabapentin and fentanyl. Conclusion: Oral gabapentin does not produce significant reduction in laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation induced sympathetic responses as compared to IV fentanyl or the combination of gabapentin and fentanyl

incidence and

in India

Ventilator-associated pneumonia: role of colonizers and value of routine endotracheal aspirate cultures

SummaryObjectivesTo determine the role of colonizers in the causation of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and the value of routine pre-VAP endotracheal aspirate (EA) cultures in appropriately treating VAP.MethodsA prospective observational cohort study was conducted over a period of 15 months. Two hundred patients on mechanical ventilation for>48h were studied.ResultsAcinetobacter spp (33.7%) and Pseudomonas spp (29.8%) were the most common colonizers. Of the 200 patients, 36 developed VAP. In 20 VAP patients, the pre-VAP EA culture-based strategy was not useful. However, in the remaining 16 VAP patients, a pre-VAP EA culture-based strategy would have appropriately treated 13 (81%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 62–100%), in comparison to only nine (56%; 95% CI 32–80%) by the American Thoracic Society (ATS) strategy. The seven patients in whom the ATS guidelines were inappropriate had Acinetobacter spp and Pseudomonas spp resistant to the higher antibiotics recommended by the ATS for multidrug-resistant pathogens. The positive predictive values of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolated from pre-VAP EA cultures were 88%, 83%, and 100%, respectively.ConclusionVAP patients should be treated based on ATS guidelines, but whenever P. aeruginosa, A. baumannii, and MRSA are isolated from pre-VAP EA cultures, the initial antibiotic therapy should be extended to treat these

Comparison of i-gel supraglottic airway and LMA-ProSeal™ in pediatric patients under controlled ventilation

Background: i-gel™ and the ProSeal™ laryngeal mask airway (PLMA) are two supraglottic airway devices with gastric channel used for airway maintenance in anesthesia. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of i-gel compared with PLMA for airway maintenance in pediatric patients under general anesthesia with controlled ventilation. Materials and Methods: A total of 60 American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status 1 and 2 patients were included in the study and randomized to either i-gel or PLMA group. After induction of anesthesia using a standardized protocol for all the patients, one of supraglottic airway devices was inserted. Insertion parameters, ease of gastric tube insertion and fiber-optic scoring of the glottis were noted. Airway parameters such as end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO 2 ), peak airway pressures and leak airway pressures were noted. Patients were observed for any complications in the first 12 h of the post-operative period. Results: Both groups were comparable in terms of ease of insertion, number of attempts and other insertion parameters. Ease of gastric tube insertion, EtCO 2 , airway pressures (peak and leak airway pressure) and fiber-optic view of the glottis were comparable in both groups. There were no clinically significant complications in the first 12 h of the post-operative period. Conclusion: i-gel is as effective as PLMA in pediatric patients under controlled ventilation

Diagnosing Ventilator Associated Pneumonia

Background Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is an important nosocomial infection among patients on mechanical ventilation. Modified clinical pulmonary infection score (CPIS) is used widely for diagnosis of VAP. There is a need for a non-invasive microbiological technique for diagnosis of VAP. Therefore, we performed a prospective study to determine the diagnostic value of semi-quantitative and quantitative cultures of endotracheal aspirates (EA) in VAP. Method During a period of 15 months from October 2006 to December 2007, a prospective observational cohort study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital. Semi-quantitative and quantitative cultures of EA were performed for patients with VAP. Results A total of 200 patients were prospectively evaluated, of whom 42 (21%) developed VAP. The semi-quantitative culture had 100% sensitivity, 58.2% specificity, 38.9% positive predictive value and 100% negative predictive value. Quantitative EA culture had 88.1% sensitivity, 84.2% specificity, 59.7% positive predictive value and 96.4% negative predictive value. The Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of quantitative EA cultures showed an area under the curve of 0.861 ± 0.034. ConclusionThe semi-quantitative EA culture had a good negative predictive value and therefore it may be useful for excluding VAP. The quantitative EA culture with a good sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values can be considered as an acceptable tool for diagnosis of VAP. In addition, the quantitative EA cultures can also guide the selection of appropriate antibiotics for treatment of VAP cases

A survey of a population of anaesthesiologists from South India regarding practices for rapid sequence intubation in patients with head injury

Background and Aims: Evidence and utility of the individual steps of the rapid sequence induction and tracheal intubation protocols have been debated, especially in the setting of traumatic brain injury. The purpose of this survey was to determine preferences in the current approach to rapid sequence intubation ( RSI) in head injury patients among a population of anaesthesiologists from South India. Methods: A questionnaire was E-mailed to all the members of the Indian Society of Anaesthesiologists′ South Zone Chapter to ascertain their preferences, experience and comfort level with regard to their use of rapid sequence intubation techniques in adult patients with head injury. Participants were requested to indicate their practices for RSI technique for a head-injured patient upon arrival at the Emergency Medical Services department of their hospital. Results: The total response rate was 56.9% (530/932). Of the total respondents, 35% of the clinicians used cricoid pressure routinely, most respondents (68%) stated that they pre-oxygenate the patients for about 3 min prior to RSI, thiopentone (61%) and propofol (34%) were commonly used prior to intubation. Rocuronium was the muscle relaxant of choice for RSI among the majority (44%), compared to succinylcholine (39%). Statistical analyses were performed after the initial entry onto a spreadsheet. Data were summarised descriptively using frequency distribution. Conclusion: In a rapid sequence intubation situation, the practice differed significantly among anaesthesiologists. Owing to disagreements and paucity of evidence-based data regarding the standards of RSI, it is apparent that RSI practice still has considerable variability in clinical practice