The effect of high-frequency oscillatory ventilation combined with tracheal gas insufflation on extravascular lung water in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome: A randomized, crossover, physiologic study

Purpose: High-frequency oscillation combined with tracheal gas insufflation (HFO-TGI) improves oxygenation in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). There are limited physiologic data regarding the effects of HFO-TGI on hemodynamics and pulmonary edema during ARDS. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of HFO-TGI on extravascular lung water (EVLW). Materials and methods: We conducted a prospective, randomized, crossover study. Consecutive eligible patients with ARDS received sessions of conventional mechanical ventilation with recruitment maneuvers (RMs), followed by HFO-TGI with RMs, or vice versa. Each ventilatory technique was administered for 8 hours. The order of administration was randomly assigned. Arterial/central venous blood gas analysis and measurement of hemodynamic parameters and EVLW were performed at baseline and after each 8-hour period using the single-indicator thermodilution technique. Results: Twelve patients received 32 sessions. Pao2/fraction of inspired oxygen and respiratory system compliance were higher (P < .001 for both), whereas extravascular lung water index to predicted body weight and oxygenation index were lower (P = .021 and .029, respectively) in HFO-TGI compared with conventional mechanical ventilation. There was a significant correlation between Pao2/fraction of inspired oxygen improvement and extravascular lung water index drop during HFO-TGI (Rs = -0.452, P = .009). Conclusions: High-frequency oscillation combined with tracheal gas insufflation improves gas exchange and lung mechanics in ARDS and potentially attenuates EVLW accumulation. © 2014 Elsevier Inc

Vasopressin and glucocorticoids for in-hospital cardiac arrest: A systematic review and meta-analysis of individual participant data

Aim: To perform a systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis of vasopressin and glucocorticoids for the treatment of cardiac arrest. Methods: The PRISMA-IPD guidelines were followed. We searched Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for randomized trials comparing vasopressin and glucocorticoids to placebo during cardiac arrest. The population included adults with cardiac arrest in any setting. Pairs of investigators reviewed studies for relevance, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias. Meta-analyses were conducted using individual participant data. A Bayesian framework was used to estimate posterior treatment effects assuming various prior beliefs. The certainty of evidence was evaluated using GRADE. Results: Three trials were identified including adult in-hospital cardiac arrests only. Individual participant data were obtained from all trials yielding a total of 869 patients. There was some heterogeneity in post-cardiac arrest interventions between the trials. The results favored vasopressin and glucocorticoids for return of spontaneous circulation (odds ratio: 2.09, 95%CI: 1.54 to 2.84, moderate certainty). Estimates for survival at discharge (odds ratio: 1.39, 95%CI: 0.90 to 2.14, low certainty) and favorable neurological outcome (odds ratio: 1.64, 95%CI, 0.99 to 2.72, low certainty) were more uncertain. The Bayesian estimates for return of spontaneous circulation were consistent with the primary analyses, whereas the estimates for survival at discharge and favorable neurological outcome were more dependent on the prior belief. Conclusions: Among adults with in-hospital cardiac arrest, vasopressin and glucocorticoids compared to placebo, improved return of spontaneous circulation. Larger trials are needed to determine whether there is an effect on longer-term outcomes. © 2021 The Author(s

Comparison of high-frequency oscillation and tracheal gas insufflation versus standard high-frequency oscillation at two levels of tracheal pressure

Purpose: In acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), combined high-frequency oscillation (HFO) and tracheal gas insufflation (TGI) may improve oxygenation through a TGI-induced increase in mean tracheal pressure (P tr). We compared standard HFO and HFO-TGI matched for P tr, in order to determine whether TGI affects gas exchange independently from P tr. Methods: We conducted a prospective, randomized, crossover, physiological study in a 37-bed intensive care unit. Twenty-two patients with early acute lung injury (ALI) or ARDS were enrolled. On day 1, patients were ventilated with HFO, without (60 min) and combined with TGI (60 min) in random order. HFO/HFO-TGI sessions were repeated in inverse order within 7 h. HFO/HFO-TGI mean airway pressure (P aw) was titrated to a P tr that was either equal to (low P aw) or 3 cmH2O higher than (high P aw) the P tr of the preceding conventional mechanical ventilation. On day 2, the protocol was repeated at the alternative P tr level relative to day 1. Results: Gas exchange and hemodynamics were determined before, during, and after HFO/HFO-TGI sessions. HFO-TGI-high P aw versus HFO-high P aw resulted in significantly higher PaO2/inspired O 2 fraction (FiO2) [mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM): 281.6 ± 15.1 versus 199.0 ± 15.0 mmHg; mean increase: 42%; P < 0.001]. HFO-TGI-low P aw, versus HFO-low P aw, resulted in significantly higher PaO2/FiO2 (222.8 ± 14.6 versus 141.3 ± 8.7 mmHg; mean increase: 58%; P < 0.001). PaCO2 was significantly lower during HFO-TGI-high P aw versus HFO-high Paw (45.3 ± 1.6 versus 53.7 ± 1.9 mmHg; mean decrease: 16%; P = 0.037). Conclusions: At the same P tr level, HFO-TGI results in superior gas exchange compared with HFO. © 2010 Copyright jointly held by Springer and ESICM

High flow oxygen therapy at two initial flow settings versus conventional oxygen therapy in cardiac surgery patients with postextubation hypoxemia: A single-center, unblinded, randomized, controlled trial

In cardiac surgery patients with pre-extubation PaO2 /inspired oxygen fraction (FiO2 ) < 200 mmHg, the possible benefits and optimal level of high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) support are still unclear; therefore, we compared HFNC support with an initial gas flow of 60 or 40 L/min and conventional oxygen therapy. Ninety nine patients were randomly allocated (respective ratio: 1:1:1) to I = intervention group 1 (HFNC initial flow = 60 L/min, FiO2 = 0.6), intervention group 2 (HFNC initial flow = 40 L/min, FiO2 = 0.6), or control group (Venturi mask, FiO2 = 0.6). The primary outcome was occurrence of treatment failure. The baseline characteristics were similar. The hazard for treatment failure was lower in intervention group 1 vs. control (hazard ratio (HR): 0.11, 95% CI: 0.03–0.34) and intervention group 2 vs. control (HR: 0.30, 95% CI: 0.12–0.77). During follow-up, the probability of peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2 ) > 92% and respiratory rate within 12–20 breaths/min was 2.4–3.9 times higher in intervention group 1 vs. the other 2 groups. There was no difference in PaO2 /FiO2, patient comfort, intensive care unit or hospital stay, or clinical course complications or adverse events. In hypoxemic cardiac surgery patients, postextubation HFNC with an initial gas flow of 60 or 40 L/min resulted in less frequent treatment failure vs. conventional therapy. The results in terms of SpO2 /respiratory rate targets favored an initial HFNC flow of 60 L/min. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Vasopressin, epinephrine, and corticosteroids for in-hospital cardiac arrest

Background: Animal data on cardiac arrest showed improved long-term survival with combined vasopressin-epinephrine. In cardiac arrest, cortisol levels are relatively low during and after cardiopulmonary resuscitation. We hypothesized that combined vasopressin-epinephrine and corticosteroid supplementation during and after resuscitation may improve survival in refractory in-hospital cardiac arrest. Methods: We conducted a single-center, prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial. We enrolled 100 consecutive patients with cardiac arrest requiring epinephrine according to current resuscitation guidelines. Patients received either vasopressin (20 IU per cardiopulmonary resuscitation cycle) plus epinephrine (1 mg per resuscitation cycle) (study group; n=48) or isotonic sodium chloride solution placebo plus epinephrine (1 mg per resuscitation cycle) (control group; n=52) for the first 5 resuscitation cycles after randomization, followed by additional epinephrine if needed. On the first resuscitation cycle, study group patients received methylprednisolone sodium succinate (40 mg) and controls received saline placebo. Postresuscitation shock was treated with stress-dose hydrocortisone sodium succinate (300 mg daily for 7 days maximum, with gradual taper) (27 patients in the study group) or saline placebo (15 patients in the control group). Primary end points were return of spontaneous circulation for 15 minutes or longer and survival to hospital discharge. Results: Study group patients vs controls had more frequent return of spontaneous circulation (39 of 48 patients [81%] vs 27 of 52 [52%]; P=.003) and improved survival to hospital discharge (9 [19%] vs 2 [4%]; P=.02). Study group patients with postresuscitation shock vs corresponding controls had improved survival to hospital discharge (8 of 27 patients [30%] vs 0 of 15 [0%]; P=.02), improved hemodynamics and central venous oxygen saturation, and more organ failure-free days. Adverse events were similar in the 2 groups. Conclusion: In this single-center trial, combined vasopressin-epinephrine and methylprednisolone during resuscitation and stress-dose hydrocortisone in postresuscitation shock improved survival in refractory inhospital cardiac arrest. Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00411879. ©2009 American Medical Association. All rights reserved