Adjunctive granulocyte colony-stimulating factor for treatment of septic shock due to melioidosis

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Wean Earlier and Automatically with New technology (the WEAN study): a protocol of a multicentre, pilot randomized controlled trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Weaning is the process during which mechanical ventilation is withdrawn and the work of breathing is transferred from the ventilator back to the patient. Prolonged weaning is associated with development of ventilator-related complications and longer stays in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Computerized or Automated Weaning is a novel weaning strategy that continuously measures and adapts ventilator support (by frequently measuring and averaging three breathing parameters) and automatically conducts Spontaneous Breathing Trials to ascertain whether patients can resume autonomous breathing. Automated Weaning holds promise as a strategy to reduce the time spent on the ventilator, decrease ICU length of stay, and improve clinically important outcomes.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>A pilot weaning randomized controlled trial (RCT) is underway in the ICUs of 8 Canadian hospitals. We will randomize 90 critically ill adults requiring invasive ventilation for at least 24 hours and identified at an early stage of the weaning process to either Automated Weaning (SmartCare™) or Protocolized Weaning. The results of a National Weaning Survey informed the design of the Protocolized Weaning arm. Both weaning protocols are operationalized in Pressure Support mode, include opportunities for Spontaneous Breathing Trials, and share a common sedation protocol, oxygen titration parameters, and extubation and reintubation criteria. The primary outcome of the WEAN study is to evaluate compliance with the proposed weaning and sedation protocols. A key secondary outcome of the pilot RCT is to evaluate clinician acceptance of the weaning and sedation protocols. Prior to initiating the WEAN Study, we conducted a run-in phase, involving two patients per centre (randomizing the first participant to either weaning strategy and assigning the second patient to the alternate strategy) to ensure that participating centres could implement the weaning and sedation protocols and complete the detailed case report forms.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>Mechanical ventilation studies are difficult to implement; requiring protocols to be operationalized continuously and entailing detailed daily data collection. As the first multicentre weaning RCT in Canada, the WEAN Study seeks to determine the feasibility of conducting a large scale future weaning trial and to establish a collaborative network of ICU clinicians dedicated to advancing the science of weaning.</p> <p>Trial Registration Number</p> <p>ISRCTN43760151</p

Recommendations on basic requirements for intensive care units: structural and organizational aspects

OBJECTIVE: To provide guidance and recommendations for the planning or renovation of intensive care units (ICUs) with respect to the specific characteristics relevant to organizational and structural aspects of intensive care medicine. METHODOLOGY: The Working Group on Quality Improvement (WGQI) of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) identified the basic requirements for ICUs by a comprehensive literature search and an iterative process with several rounds of consensus finding with the participation of 47 intensive care physicians from 23 countries. The starting point of this process was an ESICM recommendation published in 1997 with the need for an updated version. RESULTS: The document consists of operational guidelines and design recommendations for ICUs. In the first part it covers the definition and objectives of an ICU, functional criteria, activity criteria, and the management of equipment. The second part deals with recommendations with respect to the planning process, floorplan and connections, accommodation, fire safety, central services, and the necessary communication systems. CONCLUSION: This document provides a detailed framework for the planning or renovation of ICUs based on a multinational consensus within the ESIC

Quantas medidas de pressões respiratórias são necessárias para se obterem medidas máximas em pacientes com tetraplegia? ¿Cuántas maniobras son necesarias para llegar a las presiones máximas en pacientes con tetraplejía? How many maneuvers of respiratory pressures are required to obtain maximal values in patients with quadriplegia?

INTRODUÇÃO: pressões inspiratórias (PImax) ou expiratórias (PEmax) máximas constituem um método simples e não-invasivo para avaliação da força de músculos respiratórios e auxiliam na identificação de fraqueza dos músculos respiratórios, presente em diversas doenças e situações clínicas, como a tetraplegia. OBJETIVO: avaliar o número de manobras necessárias para atingir as pressões máximas em pacientes com tetraplegia. MÉTODOS: oito pacientes com tetraplegia (sete homens), média de idade de 37,8±11,96 anos, com diagnóstico de lesão raquimedular cervical completa realizaram 10 medidas de PImax e PEmax nas posições sentada e deitada, totalizando 320 medidas. Os dados foram comparados pelo teste de Wilcoxon (p<0,05). RESULTADOS: os valores obtidos na primeira e na décima medida de PImax na posição sentada variaram de 74,1±15,1 a 74,8±19,8 cmH2O e de PEmax de 32,4±6,8 a 32,4±9,0 cmH2O; na posição deitada, de 76,5±18,6 a 91,1±13,3 cmH2O (p<0,05) e de 32,5±5,8 a 32,9±5,1 cmH2O, respectivamente. Os resultados das 3 e 5 primeiras medidas com 10 medidas de PImax na posição sentada foram 81,1±19,5; 81,5±18,8 e 83,0±18,9 cmH2O e de PEmax 35,0±8,2; 35,3±7,9 e 36,8±8,0 cmH2O. A PImax na posição deitada foi 90,3±17,8; 94,6±16,0 e 97,4±17,8 cmH2O (p<0,05) e a PEmax 33,3±5,8; 35,6±5,4 e 36,9±4,9 cmH2O. O maior valor ocorreu a partir da 6ª medida em 40% dos testes. CONCLUSÕES: para obtenção de valores máximos de pressões respiratórias em pacientes com tetraplegia, é necessária a repetição de ao menos 10 medidas em cada avaliação.<br>INTRODUCCIÓN: las presiones inspiratorias (PImax) y espiratorias (PEmax) máximas constituyen un método simple y no invasivo para evaluar la fuerza de los músculos respiratorios, y ayudan a identificar la debilidad de los músculos respiratorios presente en diferentes enfermedades y situaciones clínicas, como la tetraplejía. OBJETIVO: evaluar el número de maniobras necesarias para llegar a las presiones máximas en pacientes con tetraplejía. MÉTODOS: fueron incluidos ocho pacientes con tetraplejía (siete hombres), con edad media de 37,8±11,96 años y diagnóstico de lesión cervical raquis medular completa, a lo que se le realizaron 10 mediciones de PImax y PEmax en posición sentado y acostado, totalizando 320 mediciones. Los datos fueron comparados por el test de Wilcoxon (p<0,05). RESULTADOS: las medidas obtenidas en la primera y decima medición en posición sentada variaron de 74,1±15,1cmH2O a 74,8±19,8 cmH2O para PImax y de 32,4±6,8 cmH2O a 32,4±9,0 cmH2O para PEmax; y en posición acostada de 76,5±18,6 cmH2O a 91,1±13,3 cmH2O (p<0,05) y de 32,5±5,8 cmH2O a 32,9±5,1 cmH2O, respectivamente. Los resultados en posición sentada de PImax de las 3 y 5 primeras mediciones de las 10 mediciones fueron 81,1±19,5 cmH2O; 81,5±18,8 cmH2O y 83,0±18,9 cmH2O; y de PEmax 35,0±8,2 cmH2O; 35,3±7,9 cmH2O e 36,8±8,0 cmH2O. La PImax en posición acostada fue de 90,3±17,8 cmH2O; 94,6±16,0 cmH2O y 97,4±17,8 cmH2O (p<0,05) y la PEmax fue de 33,3±5,8 cmH2O; 35,6±5,4 cmH2O y 36,9±4,9 cmH2O. El mayor valor ocurrió a partir de la sexta medida en el 40% de los testes. CONCLUSIONES: para obtener valores máximos de presiones respiratorios en pacientes con tetraplejía, es necesario repetir por lo menos 10 veces las mediciones en cada evaluación.<br>INTRODUCTION: maximum inspiratory (IPmax) and expiratory (EPmax) pressures constitute a simple noninvasive method for evaluation of respiratory muscle strength which helps in the identification of muscle weakness usually present in several diseases and clinical situations, such as quadriplegia. OBJECTIVE: to assess the number of maneuvers needed to achieve maximum pressures in patients with quadriplegia. METHODS: eight quadriplegic patients (seven men) with mean age of 37.8 ± 11.96 years old and presenting with diagnosis of complete spinal cord lesion were submitted to 10 measurements of IPmax and EPmax in both seated and supine positions, totalizing 320 measurements. Data were compared by using the Wilcoxon's test (p<0.05). RESULTS: the 1st and 10th measurements of IPmax and EPmax for seated position ranged from 74.1±15.1 to 74.8±19.8 cmH2O and 32.4±6.8 to 32.4±9.0 cmH2O, respectively; whereas for supine position such measurements ranged from 76.5±18.6 to 91.1±13.3 cmH2O (p<0.05) and 32.5±5.8 to 32.9±5.1 cmH2O, respectively. The results regarding the 3rd and 5th measurements of IPmax for seated position were 81.1±19.5, 81.5±18.8, and 83.0±18.9 cmH2O; whereas EPmax had 35.0±8.2; 35.3±7.9, and 36.8±8.0 cmH2O. IPmax values for seated position were 90.3±17.8, 94.6±16.0, and 97.4±17.8 cmH2O (p<0.05), whereas EPmax had 33.3±5.8, 35.6±5.4, and 36.9±4.9 cmH2O. The highest value occurred from the 6th measurement in 40% of the tests. CONCLUSIONS: To obtain maximum values for respiratory pressures in quadriplegic patients, it is necessary to repeat the measurements at least 10 times for each evaluation