Respiratory care
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The ratio of end-tidal CO2 pressure to arterial partial pressure of CO2 ([Formula: see text]) was recently suggested for monitoring pulmonary gas exchange in patients with ARDS associated with COVID-19, yet no evidence was offered supporting that claim. Therefore, we evaluated whether [Formula: see text] might be relevant in assessing ARDS not associated with COVID-19. ⋯ Using [Formula: see text] as a surrogate for VD/VT may be a useful and practical measurement for both management and ongoing research into the nature of ARDS.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Comparing Noninvasive Ventilation Delivered Using Neurally-Adjusted Ventilatory Assist or Pressure Support in Acute Respiratory Failure.
The use of neurally-adjusted ventilatory assist (NAVA) during noninvasive ventilation (NIV) results in better patient-ventilator interaction. Whether this improves clinical outcomes lacks dedicated study. ⋯ The use of NAVA during NIV did not improve NIV failure rate or 28-d mortality in subjects with acute respiratory failure. However, patient-ventilator asynchrony and NIV-related complications were reduced with NAVA.
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Test-retest reproducibility of the 6-min step test (6MST) is controversial in patients with COPD because the decision to perform a second test is influenced by interruptions, physiological overload, and the patient's exercise tolerance. The aim of this study was to analyze the reproducibility of performance on the 6MST (ie, number of steps climbed and interruptions) and physiological variables in subjects with COPD, with and without poor exercise tolerance, and with and without interruptions during the test. ⋯ Performance and physiological variables in the 6MST were reproducible, and a second test did not impose greater physiological overload. Two tests were essential for patients with poor exercise tolerance.
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The majority of prescriptions for supplemental oxygen are written when patients are discharged to home from the hospital and the evaluation of these patients is inconsistent. Respiratory Therapists receive training in the evaluation and management of patients needing oxygen. The primary goal of the study was to estimate the frequency with which respiratory therapists (RTs) evaluate the need for home oxygen in patients hospitalized for COPD exacerbations before discharge. ⋯ RTs do not consistently evaluate patients hospitalized for COPD exacerbations for home oxygen prior to discharge, and only a minority of RTs are involved in selecting home oxygen equipment.
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The unifying goal of lung-protective ventilation strategies in ARDS is to minimize the strain and stress applied by mechanical ventilation to the lung to reduce ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). The relative contributions of the magnitude and frequency of mechanical stress and the end-expiratory pressure to the development of VILI is unknown. Consequently, it is uncertain whether the risk of VILI is best quantified in terms of tidal volume (VT), driving pressure (ΔP), or mechanical power. ⋯ In trials of lung-protective ventilation strategies, VT, ΔP, Powerelastic, Powerdynamic, and Powerdriving exhibited similar moderation of treatment effect on mortality. In this study, modified mechanical power did not add important information on the risk of death from VILI in comparison to VT or ΔP.