High-flow via a tracheostomy tube and speaking valve during weaning from mechanical ventilation and tracheostomy

Background

Weaning from mechanical ventilation and tracheostomy after prolonged intensive care consume enormous resources with optimal management not currently well described. Restoration of respiratory flow via the upper airway is essential and early cuff-deflation using a one-way valve (OWV) is recommended. However, extended OWV use may cause dry airways and thickened secretions which challenge the weaning process. High-flow therapy via the tracheostomy tube (HFT-T) humidifies inspired air and may be connected via an in-line OWV (HFT-T-OWV) alleviating these problems. We aim to provide clinical and experimental data on the safety of HFT-T-OWV along with a practical guide to facilitate clinical use during weaning from mechanical ventilation and tracheostomy.

Methods

Data on adverse events of HFT-T-OWV were retrieved from a quality register for patients treated at an intensive care rehabilitation center between 2019 and 2022. Benchtop experiments were performed to measure maximum pressures and pressure support generated by HFT-T-OWV at 25–60 L/min flow using two different HFT-T adapters (interfaces). In simulated airway obstruction using a standard OWV (not in-line) maximum pressures were measured with oxygen delivered via the side port at 1–3 L/min.

Results

Of 128 tracheostomized patients who underwent weaning attempts, 124 were treated with HFT-T-OWV. The therapy was well tolerated, and no adverse events related to the practice were detected. The main reason for not using HFT-T-OWV was partial upper airway obstruction using a OWV. Benchtop experiments demonstrated HFT-T-OWV maximum pressures <4 cmH₂O and pressure support 0–0.6 cmH₂O. In contrast, 1–3 L/min supplemental oxygen via a standard OWV caused pressures between 84 and 148 cmH₂O during simulated airway obstruction.

Conclusions

Current study clinical data and benchtop experiments indicate that HFT-T-OWV was well tolerated and appeared safe. Pressure support was low, but humidification may enable extended use of a OWV without dry airway mucosa and thickened secretions. Results suggest the treatment could offer advantages to standard OWV use, with or without supplementary oxygen, as well as to HFT-T without a OWV, for weaning from mechanical ventilation and tracheostomy. However, for definitive treatment recommendations, randomized clinical trials are needed.     

Er:YAG激光桩道预处理的研究进展

本文回顾了Er:YAG激光活化根管冲洗技术的最新研究进展,包括光子诱导光声流(photon initiated photoacoustic streaming,PIPS)技术和冲击波增强发射光声流(shock wave enhanced emission photoacoustic streaming,SWEEPS)技术,探讨Er:YAG激光预处理桩道的原理、优点以及对纤维桩粘接强度的影响,以期为临床选择适宜的桩道处理方法提供新思路。     

Brave Spaces in Discourse About Pregnant Persons’, Women’s,and Children’s Health

Discourse around implicit bias, intersectionality, and inequity in health care requires having conversations that may be uncomfortable. Within this space of discomfort, new understandings can occur. Reflecting on our own biases and assumptions is a moral obligation and a necessity to generate change. Health care settings may be a fitting forum to create and use brave spaces to have these conversations.     

The influence of environmental and health indicators on premature mortality: An empirical analysis of the City of Toronto's 140 neighborhoods

The objective of this paper was to assess the link between premature mortality and a combination of neighbourhood contextual (environmental and health) and compositional (socioeconomic and demographic) characteristics. We statistically and spatially examined six environmental variables (ultrafine particles, carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic pollutants, pollution released to air, tree cover, and walkability index), six health service indicators (number health providers, breast, colorectal and cervical cancer screening uptake rates, student nutrition program uptake rates, and healthy food index), and eight socioeconomic indicators (total income, Gini coefficient, two age categories – below and above 40 years, proportion of females to males, visible minorities, Indigenous peoples, education, less than grade 9) among 140 neighbourhoods of the City of Toronto in Ontario (Canada). We applied principal component analysis to identify patterns and to reduce the number of explanatory variables into combined component axes that represent unique variation in these confounded and overlapping factors. We then applied regression analysis to model the relationship between the indices of enviro-health and socioeconomics and their potential relationship with premature mortality. Residual spatial analysis was used to investigate any remaining spatial structure (such as neighbourhoods with higher residual premature mortality rates). Neighbourhood Equity Index was correlated with our enviro-health and socioeconomic indices. Premature mortality within neighbourhoods was predicted by poor cancer screenings, pollution, lack of tree canopy, increased uptake of student nutrition programs and high walkability index. A negative association between premature mortality and pollution was associated low walkability index and presence of visible minorities within neighbourhoods. There was some unexplained residual spatial variation in our model of premature mortality - especially along the shores of Lake Ontario and in neighbourhoods with major highways or road corridors: premature mortality in Toronto neighbourhoods was higher than expected along highway-corridor neighbourhoods and shorelines. Our analysis revealed a significant relationship between neighbourhood contextual features – both environmental and health – and premature mortality, suggesting that these contextual components of neighbourhoods can predict rates of urban premature mortality in Toronto.     

针刺咽部腧穴治疗脑梗死后真性延髓麻痹:随机对照研究

目的:比较针刺患侧与针刺双侧咽部腧穴治疗脑梗死后真性延髓麻痹的临床疗效。方法:将66例脑梗死后真性延髓麻痹患者随机分为单侧组和双侧组,每组33例,最后每组各有1例脱落。两组患者在常规药物和电项针治疗的基础上,单侧组针刺患侧的吞咽、发音和治反流穴,双侧组针刺双侧吞咽、发音和治反流穴。每天1次,每周连续针刺6 d,休息1 d,治疗21 d后评定临床疗效。采用吞咽困难分级量表、洼田饮水试验和GRBAS分级评价两组患者治疗前后的吞咽和构音情况。结果:治疗21 d后,两组患者吞咽困难分级量表评分均提高(均P<0.01),且单侧组改善程度大于双侧组(P<0.01);两组患者GRBAS分级、洼田饮水试验情况均改善(均P<0.01),且单侧组改善程度大于双侧组(P<0.05,P<0.01)。结论:针刺患侧咽部腧穴治疗脑梗死后真性延髓麻痹较针刺双侧咽部腧穴疗效更优。     

早期子宫颈癌脉管间隙及宫旁浸润危险因素1245例分析

目的:探讨子宫颈癌淋巴脉管间隙浸润(lymph-vascular space invasion,LVSI)及宫旁浸润与其他临床病理因素的关系。方法:回顾性分析2009年1月至2019年1月期间于西安交通大学第一附属医院妇科接受手术治疗1245例早期子宫颈癌患者的临床资料,分别根据是否LVSI及宫旁浸润分为LVSI组、无LVSI组和宫旁浸润组、无宫旁浸润组,采用单因素和多因素Logistic回归分析脉管及宫旁浸润危险因素。结果:1245例LVSI率14.1%(175/1245),宫旁浸润率1.85%(23/1245)。单因素分析显示LVSI的发生与病灶类型、病理类型、肿瘤细胞分化程度、子宫颈浸润深度、淋巴转移、切缘阳性、宫旁浸润比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。根据淋巴转移情况分层分析发现,在淋巴未转移组LVSI的发生率与年龄、病灶类型、病理类型、子宫颈浸润深度比较,差异有统计学意义(P均<0.05)。Logistic回归分析显示病灶类型为内生型、病理为鳞癌、子宫颈深肌层浸润和淋巴转移相较于非内生型、非鳞癌、子宫颈浸润浅肌层、无淋巴转移早期子宫颈癌患者是发生LVSI的独立危险因素(OR>1,P<0.05)。单因素分析显示宫旁浸润与病灶类型、子宫颈浸润深度、累及阴道、累及宫体下段、切缘阳性、淋巴转移、LVSI有关(P<0.05)。Logistic回归分析示病灶类型为内生型、累及宫体下段、淋巴转移相较于非内生型、未累及宫体下段、无淋巴转移的早期子宫颈癌患者是发生宫旁浸润的独立危险因素(OR>1,P<0.05)。结论:子宫颈深肌层浸润、淋巴结转移、内生型的子宫颈鳞癌患者更可能发生LVSI;病灶类型为内生型、累及宫体下段、淋巴转移的患者更可能发生宫旁浸润。     

颈椎终板弧形高度与椎间隙后缘骨赘的相关性研究

目的：通过对颈椎病患者上下终板弧形高度、椎间隙高度与椎间隙后骨赘的影像学测量，研究其相关性及其临床应用价值。方法：收集2017年9月至2018年9月颈椎病手术108例患者的临床资料，男48例，年龄30~72岁，平均52岁，女60例，年龄37~79岁，平均54岁。其中C_2，3 6例，C_3，4 15例，C_4，5 32例，C_5，6 42例，C_6，7 13例。术前及术后摄颈椎X线片，利用PACS（Picture Archiving and Communication Systems）调阅影像，测量椎间隙的下上终板弧形高度（L₁，L₂），椎间隙高度（L₃）及后方骨赘的宽度（L₄）。利用Spearman分析它们之间的相关性。结果：L₁与L₄对比（r=-0.34，P<0.05），L₃与L₄对比（r=-0.36，P<0.05），存在负相关。L₁与L₃对比（r=0.38，P<0.05），L₂与L₃对比（r=0.48，P<0.05），存在正相关。L₁与L₂对比（P>0.05），L₂与L₄对比（P>0.05），差异无统计学意义。结论：下终板弧形高度与椎间隙后缘骨赘宽度呈负相关，通过其测量可明确颈椎退变程度，对颈椎病的早期防治有指导意义。