Respiratory care
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Review Meta Analysis
Chlorhexidine-Related Mortality Rate in Critically Ill Subjects in Intensive Care Units: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
This meta-analysis aimed to explore the chlorhexidine-related mortality rate for subjects on mechanical ventilation and in an ICU when compared with subjects who received standard ICU care. ⋯ The prophylactic administration of chlorhexidine among patients who were critically ill and in an ICU setting reduced the occurrence of ventilator-associated pneumonia with no significant impact on associated mortality.
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Multicenter Study
Exertional Desaturation and Prescription of Ambulatory Oxygen Therapy in Interstitial Lung Disease.
Exertional desaturation is an important predictor of mortality in patients with interstitial lung disease. We evaluated the prevalence of exertional desaturation in subjects with interstitial lung disease and determined its relationship with the prescription of ambulatory oxygen therapy. ⋯ Exertional desaturation is common in subjects with interstitial lung disease. More severely impaired exercise capacity and worse lung function are associated with the prescription of ambulatory oxygen therapy in interstitial lung disease.
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Comparative Study
Comparison of Two Cough-Augmentation Techniques Delivered by Home Ventilator in Subjects With Neuromuscular Disease.
Breath-stacking, which consists of taking 2 or more consecutive ventilator insufflations without exhaling, is a noninvasive and inexpensive cough-assistance technique for patients with neuromuscular disease. Volumetric cough mode (VCM) is a recently introduced ventilator mode consisting of a programmable intermittent deep breath equal to a set percentage of the baseline tidal volume. Here, our objective was to compare VCM to breath-stacking during volume-control continuous mandatory ventilation in subjects on long-term noninvasive mechanical ventilation at home. ⋯ Our results indicate that both breath-stacking and VCM are useful cough-augmentation techniques. Displaying insufflated volumes on the ventilator screen is a simple and accessible method for selecting the most efficient cough-augmentation technique delivered by a home ventilator.