Respiratory care
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Review Meta Analysis
Effectiveness of Intraoral Chlorhexidine Protocols in the Prevention of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia: Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review.
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is common in critical patients and related with increased morbidity and mortality. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis, with intention-to-treat analysis, of randomized controlled clinical trials that assessed the effectiveness of different intraoral chlorhexidine protocols for the prevention of VAP. ⋯ We found that oral care with chlorhexidine is effective in reducing VAP incidence in the adult population if administered at 2% concentration or 4 times/d.
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Obstructive fibrinous tracheal pseudomembrane (OFTP) is an uncommon complication that results after tracheal intubation. Herein, we perform a systematic review of the PubMed and EmBase databases for all the cases describing OFTP. The systematic search yielded 28 citations describing 53 subjects with OFTP. ⋯ OFTP is a complication of tracheal intubation and presents with respiratory failure. The diagnosis can be confirmed by flexible bronchoscopy. Treatment involves removal of the obstructing membrane with either flexible or rigid bronchoscopy.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
High-Flow Nasal Cannula Oxygen Versus Bag-Valve-Mask for Preoxygenation Before Intubation in Subjects With Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure.
Critically ill patients with respiratory failure undergoing intubation have an increased risk of hypoxemia-related complications. Delivering oxygen via a high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) has theoretical advantages and is increasingly used. This study was conducted to compare HFNC with bag-valve-mask (BVM) for preoxygenation and to assess oxygenation during intubation in subjects with hypoxemic respiratory failure. ⋯ Preoxygenation using HFNC before intubation was feasible and safe compared with BVM in critically ill subjects with acute, mild to moderate hypoxemic respiratory failure. There was no significant difference in the mean lowest SpO2 during intubation between the HFNC and the BVM group. There was also no significant difference in SpO2 between the 2 groups at any of the predefined time points. However, on continuous monitoring, there was a significant decrease in SpO2 during the apnea phase before intubation in the BVM group, which was not seen in the HFNC group. (ClinicalTrials.gov registration NCT01994928.).
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The lung diffusion capacity (DLCO) determined by the single-breath technique greatly helps in the differential diagnosis and classification of severity of common lung diseases. However, widespread use of single-breath DLCO tests in Latin America has been limited, in part, by the lack of appropriate reference values. Our objective was to derive robust reference equations for single-breath DLCO from healthy Hispanic adults, using the most recent guidelines and taking into account altitude above sea level and hemoglobin. ⋯ We recommend these new single-breath DLCO reference equations to predict single-breath DLCO in Latin America performed with current instruments and procedures and including as a predictor altitude above sea level.