Inpatient and long‐term outcomes of individuals admitted for weaning from mechanical ventilation at a specialized ventilation weaning unit

Background: Weaning from invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) in specialized weaning units has been demonstrated to be safe and cost‐effective. Success rates and outcomes vary widely, probably relating to patient factors and unit expertise. Methods: An audit was undertaken of patients admitted for weaning from IMV at the Austin Hospital Ventilation Weaning Unit (VWU) between March 2002 and January 2008. Weaning success, complications and both in‐hospital and long‐term mortality were examined and regression analysis was undertaken to examine factors related to these outcomes. Results: Seventy‐eight patients were admitted to the VWU after a median of 27 days of IMV at their referring centre. Weaning success rate (ventilator free or nocturnal non‐invasive ventilation only) was 78.2% (n = 61). Inpatient mortality was 10.2% (n = 8) and serious complications were infrequent. Progressive neuromuscular disease (odds ratio 0.10) and sepsis during admission to the VWU (odds ratio 0.09) were predictive of weaning failure at discharge. Overall survival at 12 months following discharge from the VWU was 66.7% (n = 52) with most survivors residing in the community. Increasing age (hazard ratio 1.93), referral from rural or outer metropolitan centres (hazard ratio 3.57 and 2.37 respectively) and a diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were associated with increased long‐term mortality. Conclusion: High rates of weaning success with infrequent complications and low mortality were achieved in this specialized non‐intensive care unit‐based weaning unit. The VWU may provide a useful template for the development of similar units elsewhere.     

Health-related quality of life in patients with chronic respiratory failure after long-term mechanical ventilation

STUDY OBJECTIVES: This study was aimed at assessing health-related quality of life (HRQL) in patients with chronic respiratory failure (CRF) and long-term survival following prolonged intensive care mechanical ventilation. DESIGN: Observational cohort study. SETTING: Patients with CRF who had been transferred to our specialized weaning centre due to prolonged mechanical ventilation (>14 days) and weaning failure. PATIENTS AND PARTICIPANTS: Out of 87 long-term survivors (>6 months), 73 patients (mean age: 60.3+/-13.6 years, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, 43%), thoraco-restrictive (21%) or neuromuscular disorders (15%), various chronic diseases (22%)) returned the MOS 36-Item Short-Form Health Status Survey (SF-36) and the St. George's respiratory questionnaire (SGRQ). MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: The total ventilation time was 38.7+/-45.9 days. The time between discharge from ICU and HRQL assessment was 31.0+/-22.2 months. Physical health was markedly reduced compared to general population norm, but mental health was mildly impaired. HRQL was comparable to patients with stable CRF receiving non-invasive ventilation who did not need prolonged invasive MV. In addition, general HRQL was better in patients with restrictive respiratory disease compared to patients with neuromuscular diseases (P<0.05). Physiological parameters such as blood gases or lung function parameters were not correlated to any HRQL measurements. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with CRF surviving prolonged ventilation on ICU, the presence of CRF itself is the major determinant of HRQL. Here, the underlying cause of CRF is the major factor which determines the degree of HRQL impairment with patients suffering from restrictive ventilatory disorders reporting the best HRQL when compared to patients with COPD or neuromuscular diseases. Despite severe physical handicaps due to CRF mental health is only mildly compromised.     

The Outcomes and Prognostic Factors of the Very Elderly Requiring Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation in a Single Respiratory Care Center

This study investigated the outcomes and the prognostic factors among the very elderly (patients ≥80 years old) requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV).Between 2006 and 2014, all of the very elderly patients of age 80 or more transferred to respiratory care center (RCC) of a tertiary medical center were retrospectively identified, and only patients who used mechanical ventilation (MV) for >3 weeks were included in this study.A total of 510 very elderly patients undergoing PMV were identified. The mean age of the patients was 84.3 ± 3.3 years, and it ranged from 80 to 96 years. Male comprised most of the patients (n = 269, 52.7%), and most of the patients were transferred to RCC from medical ICU (n = 357, 70.0%). The APACHE II scores on RCC admission was 17.6 ± 6.0. At least 1 comorbidity was found in 419 (82.2%) patients. No significant differences of gender, disease severity, diagnosis, dialysis, laboratory examinations, comorbidities, and outcome were found between octogenarians (aged 80–89) and nonagenarians (aged ≥ 90). The overall in-hospital mortality rate was 21.8%. In the multivariate analysis, patients who had APACHE II score ≥ 15(odds ratio [OR], 2.30, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.36–3.90), or albumin ≤ 2 g/dL (OR, 3.92, 95% CI, 2.17–7.01) were more likely to have significant in-hospital mortality (P < 0.05).The in-hospital mortality rate of the very elderly PMV patients in our RCC is 21.8%, and poor outcomes in this specific population were found to be associated with a higher APACHE II score and lower albumin level.     

Outcomes of the patients in the respiratory care center are not associated with the seniority of the caring resident

Although many studies show that the experience level of physicians is significantly associated with the outcomes of their patients, little evidence exists to show whether junior residents provide worse care than senior residents. This study was conducted to analyze whether the experience level of residents may affect the outcomes of patients cared for in a well-organized setting. We conducted a 7-year retrospective study utilizing statistical data from a respiratory care center (RCC) in a medical center between October 2004 and September 2011. In addition to the two medical residents who had been trained in the intensive care unit (ICU), the RCC team also included attending physicians in charge, a nurse practitioner, a case manager, a dietitian, a pharmacist, a social worker, registered respiratory therapists, and nursing staff. Weaning from mechanical ventilation was done according to an established weaning protocol. The 84 months analyzed were classified into five groups according to the levels of the two residents working in the RCC: R2 + R1, R2 + R2, R3 + R1, R3 + R2, and R3 + R3. The monthly weaning rate and mortality rate were the major outcomes, while the mean ventilator days, rate of return to the ICU, and nosocomial infection incidence rate were the minor outcomes. The groups did not differ significantly in the monthly weaning rate, mortality rate, mean ventilator days, rate of return to the ICU, or nosocomial infection incidence rate (p > 0.1). Further analysis showed no significant difference in the monthly weaning rate and mortality rate between months with a first-year resident (R1) and those with two senior residents (p > 0.2). Although the weaning rate in the RCC gradually improved over time (p < 0.001), there was no significant difference in the monthly weaning rate between the groups after adjusting for time and disease severity (p > 0.7). Thus, we concluded that in a well-organized setting, the levels (experiences) of residents did not significantly affect patient outcomes. This result may be attributed to the well-developed weaning protocol and teamwork processes in place, which avoid a large effect from any single factor and provide stable and high-quality care to the patients.     

Outcomes and predictors of mortality in elderly patients requiring artificial ventilation]

We retrospectively examined the outcomes and the predictors of mortality in 97 patients aged 70 years and over (mean: 79.3 years) who required artificial ventilation for more than 3 hours. The median duration of artificial ventilation was 16 days (range: 1-85). Of these patients, 61% survived ventilator weaning and 37% were discharged from hospital alive. We performed univariate and logistic regression analysis to determine the predictors of dying before weaning and hospital discharge using severity of illness data. The predictors of hospital mortality were examined in 86 patients, excluding those who had malignant disease, all of whom died in hospital. Activities of daily living (ADL) were ranked as "bedridden", "in wheelchair", or "independent". In the three age groups-up to 70 years, 75 to 84 years and 85 years and over-the respective survival rates were 63% (weaned) and 67% (discharged), 69% (weaned) and 39% (discharged), and 33% (weaned) and 12% (discharged); the overall p values being 0.026 (weaned) and 0.003 (discharged). The predictors of dying before weaning according to univariate analysis were as follows: age (p = 0.026), respiratory or cardiac arrest on admission (p = 0.003), acute physiology score (APS) of 25 or more on admission (p = 0.000), systolic blood pressure below 90 mmHg on admission (p = 0.001), hemoglobin less than 11 g/dl (p = 0.044), and total protein less than 6 g/dl (p = 0.007). The predictors of hospital mortality by univariate analysis were as follows: age (p = 0.003), limited ADL (p = 0.001), respiratory or cardiac arrest on admission (p = 0.011), APS 25 or more on admission (p = 0.049), systolic blood pressure less than 90 mmHg on admission (p = 0.002), hemoglobin less than 11 g/dl (p = 0.028), and GOT or GPT more than 50 IU (p = 0.038). The relative risk of dying before weaning decreased in the order: respiratory or cardiac arrest on admission, systolic blood pressure less than 90 mmHg on admission, total protein less than 6 g/dl (Odds ratios: 6.04, 3.90, 3.51, respectively), or, respiratory or cardiac arrest on admission, APS more than 25 in admission, total protein less than 6 g/dl (Odds ratio: 6.94, 3.99, 3.76, respectively). The relative risk of hospital mortality decreased in the order: "bedridden", systolic blood pressure less than 90 mmHg on admission, "with wheel chair" (Odds ratios: 11.76, 6.44, 3.57, respectively). In the older patients, successful ventilator weaning was not indicative of hospital discharge. Ventilator weaning depended mainly on acute health status on admission, but hospital discharge depended also on the presence of limited ADL and preexisting malignant disease.     

Comparison of two methods for weaning patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease requiring mechanical ventilation for more than 15 days.

We designed a prospective multicenter randomized controlled study in three long-term weaning units (LWU) to evaluate which protocol, inspiratory pressure support ventilation (PSV) or spontaneous breathing trials (SB), is more effective in weaning patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) requiring mechanical ventilation for more than 15 d. Fifty-two of 75 patients, failing an initial T-piece trial at admission, were randomly assigned to PSV or SB (26 in both groups). No significant difference was found in weaning success rate (73% versus 77% in the PSV and SB group, respectively), mortality rate (11.5% versus 7.6%), duration of ventilatory assistance (181 +/- 161 versus 130 +/- 106 h), LWU (33 +/- 12 versus 35 +/- 19 d), or total hospital stay. The results of these defined protocols were retrospectively compared with an "uncontrolled clinical practice" in weaning historical control patients. The overall 30-d weaning success rate was significantly greater (87% versus 70%) and the time spent under mechanical ventilation by survived and weaned patients was shorter in the patients in the study than in historical control patients (103 +/- 144 versus 170 +/- 127 h). The LWU and hospital stays were also significantly shorter (27 +/- 12 versus 38 +/- 18 and 38 +/- 17 versus 47 +/- 18 d). Spontaneous breathing trials and decreasing levels of PSV are equally effective in difficult-to-wean patients with COPD. The application of a well-defined protocol, independent of the mode used, may result in better outcomes than uncontrolled clinical practice.     

Cardiac disorders worsen the final outcome in myasthenic crisis undergoing non-invasive mechanical ventilation: a retrospective 20-year study from a single center

The study was performed to evaluate the impact of cardiological disorders on the outcome of myasthenic crisis (MC) requiring ventilation. The study includes 90 cases admitted to the Neurology Unit of Modena, Italy (January 2000 - September 2020). All patients were eligible for a non-invasive ventilation (NIV) trial. We analyzed the effect of cardiac comorbidities on the outcomes, which were the need of invasive ventilation, the risk tracheostomy for weaning failure and the duration of intensive care unit (ICU) stay Females were 58.9% and males 41.1%. Median age at diagnosis was 59 and at MC was 65. Patients were classified as early (EOMG) or late (LOMG), 34.4 and 65.6% respectively, according to age above or below 50; 85% of patients were anti- AChR antibody positive. Hypertension and cardiac diseases occurred at the diagnosis in 61 and 44.4%, respectively. Invasive mechanical ventilation (MV) was needed in 34% of cases. Nine subjects (10%) underwent tracheostomy because of weaning failure. Independent predictors of NIV failure were atrial fibrillation (AF), either parossistic or persistent (OR 3.05, p < 0.01), hypertensive cardiopathy (HHD) (OR 2.52, p < 0.01) and ischaemic heart disease (IHD) (OR 3.08, p < 0.01). Hypertension (HT) had no statistical effect on the outcomes. HHD was a predictor of weaning failure (OR 4.01, p = 0.017). Our study shows that HHD, AF and IHD increase the risk of NIV failure in MC receiving ventilation.Key words: myasthenic crisis, atrial fibrillation, hypertensive heart disease, ischaemic cardiopathy, mechanical ventilation     

Risk factors for obstruction, perforation, or emergency admission at presentation in patients with colorectal cancer: a population-based study

OBJECTIVES: Previous studies have shown that patients newly diagnosed with colorectal cancer (CRC) requiring emergency admission to hospital or those presenting with obstruction or perforation (defined here as OPE) have advanced disease. The objective was to conduct a population-based study among persons with a new diagnosis of CRC to identify factors associated with OPE in Ontario. METHODS: We analyzed data from the following databases: Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP), and the Registered Persons Database (RPDB). We identified all individuals > or = 20 yr of age with a new diagnosis of CRC (ICD-9 codes 153.0-153.4, 153.6-154.1) during 1996-2001 and defined the first admission for CRC as the index admission. We excluded those who received chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or palliative care prior to the index admission. We identified those with concomitant obstruction (ICD-9 code 560.9), perforation (ICD-9 code 569.8), or who were classified as emergency admission (referred to as OPE). Adjusted risk of OPE was calculated using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Between 1996 and 2001, we identified 41,356 persons with CRC, of whom 53.5% were men. In logistic regression analysis, female sex and low income were significantly associated with OPE, after adjusting for differences in age, cancer site, previous large bowel evaluation, comorbidity, having a regular source of primary care, and year of diagnosis. For men the adjusted odds ratio (OR) for OPE was 0.93 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.88-0.99), and for the highest-income quintile the adjusted OR was 0.78 (95% CI 0.72-0.85). CONCLUSION:Among persons with a new diagnosis of CRC in Ontario, women and those who are poor are more likely to present with obstruction, perforation, or emergency admission to hospital. Population-based CRC screening is needed to address these adverse outcomes.     

Discontinuation of mechanical ventilation

The vast majority of patients who undergo mechanical ventilation are able to discontinue ventilatory assistance within a few days. Typically, patients who require only short-term mechanical ventilation do not have severe underlying lung disease, and the problem for which they require ventilatory support is most commonly rapidly reversible. In these patients on short-term ventilatory support, parameters of spontaneous ventilatory requirements and respiratory muscle strength, including minute ventilation, maximal voluntary ventilation, vital capacity, and maximal inspiratory pressure, are useful in predicting the success of discontinuation of mechanical ventilation. Ventilatory support can generally be discontinued by a variety of techniques in these patients without the need for weaning from the ventilator per se. The smaller group of patients in whom it is not possible to discontinue mechanical ventilation within less than 7 days comprises individuals who frequently have severe acute or chronic lung disease, multisystem extrapulmonary disease, or neuromuscular disease. After a period of prolonged mechanical ventilatory support, these complicated patients require a process of progressive weaning in which they gradually become able to support spontaneous ventilation. Spontaneous ventilatory parameters do not correlate well with weaning ability in patients on long-term ventilatory support. A systematic and comprehensive approach in which attention is focused on optimizing pulmonary and nonpulmonary factors that affect the weaning process provides the best chance for successful withdrawal of ventilatory support after long-term mechanical ventilation. Inadequate ventilatory drive, respiratory muscle weakness and fatigue, increased work of breathing, excessive CO2 production, and cardiac failure are potential mechanisms that may play a role in inhibiting successful weaning. Adverse factors relevant to each of these mechanisms must be addressed and corrected to whatever extent possible. Studies have not demonstrated the superiority of either classic T-piece weaning or IMV weaning methods in difficult-to-wean patients on long-term ventilatory support. Both techniques may be used successfully as long as all patient variables that may adversely affect weaning ability are corrected or optimized and close care and attention to the details of the weaning process itself are provided.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Determinants of the length of mechanical ventilation in patients with COPD in the intensive care unit

BACKGROUND: About 10% of the patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at high risk for prolonged mechanical ventilation (MV >21 days), and mortality ranges from 55 to 78% in these patients. OBJECTIVE: To determine the potential risk factors for MV over periods of 1, 2 and 3 weeks in patients with COPD. PATIENTS AND METHOD: The characteristics of patients during the stable period of their disease, on admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) and during the ICU stay were recorded prospectively and analyzed retrospectively for this study. t test, chi(2) test and logistic regression analysis were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: 86 patients with COPD requiring MV were included in the study. 73, 33, and 13% of the patients required MV longer than 1, 2 and 3 weeks, respectively. There were no significant relationships between the duration of MV and bronchiectasis or the presence of community-acquired pneumonia on admission, baseline pulmonary function test results or blood gas parameters on admission. Development of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP; odds ratio, OR: 6; 95% confidence interval, CI: 2-23, p = 0.011) and sepsis (OR: 10; 95% CI: 2-54, p = 0.007) were independent predictors for MV >7 days. VAP was still a risk factor for MV >15 days with an OR of 14 (95% CI: 3-66, p = 0.001). On the other hand MV >21 days was primarily determined by increasing age (OR: 1.2; 95% CI: 1-1.3, p = 0.042), severity of the disease on admission measured by APACHE II score (OR: 1.4; 95% CI: 1-1.7, p = 0.002) and albumin levels (OR: 0.10, 95% CI: 0.01-0.54, p = 0.007). CONCLUSION: Advanced age, severity of disease on admission and development of VAP during ICU stay are the main determinants of MV duration in patients with COPD.     

Trends in the Quality of Care for Medicare Beneficiaries Admitted to the Hospital With Unstable Angina

Objectives. We sought to 1) determine the proportion of appropriate elderly patients admitted to the hospital with unstable angina who are treated with aspirin and heparin; 2) identify patient factors associated with the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) guideline-based use of aspirin and heparin; and 3) compare practice patterns and patient outcomes before and after publication of the AHCPR guidelines.Background. Improving the care of patients with unstable angina may provide immediate opportunities to mitigate the adverse consequences of unstable angina. However, despite the importance of this diagnosis, there is a paucity of information on the patterns of treatment and outcomes across diverse sites and recent trends in practice that have occurred, especially since the publication of the AHCPR practice guidelines.Methods. We performed a retrospective cohort study using data created from medical charts and administrative files. The sample included 300 consecutive patients admitted to one of three Connecticut hospitals in the period 1993 to 1994 and 150 consecutive patients admitted in 1995 with a principal discharge diagnosis of unstable angina or chest pain.Results. Of the 384 patients ≥65 years old who had no contraindications to aspirin on hospital admission, 276 (72%) received it. Of the 369 patients ≥65 years old who had no contraindications to heparin on admission, 88 (24%) received it. Among the 321 patients ≥65 years old who had no contraindications to aspirin at hospital discharge, 208 (65%) were prescribed it. When 1995 was compared with 1993 to 1994, the use of aspirin (odds ratio [OR] 2.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.3 to 4.0) and heparin (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.6 to 4.9) on hospital admission significantly increased, and the use of aspirin at discharge (OR 1.4, 95% CI 0.8 to 2.4) increased. Concomitantly, there was a significant reduction in 30-day readmission (OR 0.52, 95% CI 0.27 to 0.99).Conclusions. Our results indicate an improvement in the care and outcomes of elderly patients with unstable angina, but there remain opportunities for further improvement.     

Risk factors for nosocomial pneumonia in the elderly.

PURPOSE: Elderly patients have a disproportionate incidence of nosocomial pneumonia (NP) and a higher mortality rate, yet few studies have focused on this high-risk population. We undertook a study to examine risk factors for NP in elderly inpatients and to describe how these patients differ from younger patients with NP. METHODS: In a public teaching hospital, all cases of NP in patients aged 65+ were ascertained by prospective surveillance during a 2-year period (n = 59). These elderly cases were compared with 59 cases of NP in patients aged 25 to 50 to describe differences in risk factors and outcomes. Elderly cases were then matched to elderly control subjects who were admitted to the same hospital service but did not develop NP. Data were collected on known risk factors and on the potential risk factors of poor nutrition, neuromuscular disease, and dementia. Significant differences in risk factors were analyzed using univariate and multivariate comparisons of cases and controls. RESULTS: Elderly patients had twice the incidence of NP (RR = 2.1) as younger patients. Onset of infection was earlier for young than for older cases (6 versus 11 days, p less than or equal to 0.02), but mortality following NP was equal for the two age groups (42% versus 44%). No significant differences in risk factors were found for old and young cases, although older cases tended to have higher rates of poor nutrition, neuromuscular disease, and aspiration preceding their pneumonias. Comparison of elderly cases and elderly controls revealed significantly increased frequencies of poor nutrition, neuromuscular disease, pharyngeal colonization, aspiration, depressed level of alertness, intubation, intensive care unit admission, nasogastric tube use, and antacid use among cases. Cases were more severely ill on admission and had more pre-existing risk factors (2.8 versus 1.3, p less than or equal to 0.001) and more in-hospital risk factors (4.7 versus 1.6, p less than or equal to 0.001). Logistic regression analysis revealed low albumin, diagnosis of neuromuscular disease, and tracheal intubation to be strong independent predictors of risk for NP among elderly inpatients. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the specific risk factors of poor nutrition, neuromuscular disease, and tracheal intubation may prove useful to target future clinical interventions to prevent NP in the elderly.     

入院血糖水平与急诊冠状动脉介入治疗术后患者预后的相关性

目的探讨急性心肌梗死（AMI）患者血糖水平与经皮冠状动脉介入（PCI）干预后住院期间心脏不良事件的相关性。方法入选312例初发AMI患者于入院即刻测定静脉血糖,并于发病24h内行急诊PCI。根据入院即刻血糖水平分为高血糖组（血糖〉11mmol／L,44例）和血糖正常组（血糖≤11mmol／L,268例）;按是否合并糖尿病分为糖尿病组（81例）和非糖尿病组（231例）。随访患者住院期间病死率及术后180d心脏不良事件发生率。结果无论是否合并糖尿病,高血糖组住院期间病死率及PCI术后180d心脏不良事件发生率均明显高于血糖正常组（18．2％比3．0％,P〈0．001;25％比12．7％,P=0．047）,多因素分析显示入院即刻血糖为死亡及心脏不良事件的独立预测因素（OR5．15,95％CI 1．74～15．28,P=0．003及OR 2．84,95％CI 1．18～6．83,P=0．019）,而是否合并糖尿病对上述终点无明显影响。结论无论是否合并糖尿病,入院即刻高血糖是AMI患者PCI术后住院期间病死率和180d心脏不良事件的相对独立危险因素。     

Clinical characteristics of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding in a tertiary referral center]

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB) is still responsible for significant morbidity in spite of various therapeutic advances. The aims of this study were to evaluate the success rate in managing UGIB and predicting factors that affected clinical courses. METHODS: From August 2003 to April 2005, medical data (registered in a standard database categories) of 318 patients who underwent endoscopic examination to evaluate UGIB were analyzed. Early and final treatment success rates were evaluated on the next day and 14 days after the initial endoscopic procedures respectively (or the day of discharge). RESULTS: Main causes of UGIB were peptic ulcer (50.9%), varices (28.3%), Mallory-Weiss syndrome (10.3%). Endoscopic treatments were tried in 200 patients (63.0%). Number of patients who underwent operation and deaths were 4 (1.3%) and 13 (4.1%), respectively. Early and final success rates were 86.2% and 94.0%. Independent prognostic factors related with early success rates were volume of transfusion (OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.72-0.89, p<0.001) and bleeding during the ventilator care (OR 0.03, 95% CI 0.01-0.31, p<0.001), whereas those factors related with final success rates were volume of transfusion (OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.69-0.90, p<0.001), bleeding during the stay in intensive care unit (ICU) (OR 0.12, 95% CI 0.13-0.49, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Early and final success rates of bleeding control were 86.2% and 94.0% in acute UGIB. Volume of transfusion, bleeding during ICU state or ventilator state were important predictive factors of the treatment failure.     

Effect on survival of acute myocardial infarction in Killip classes II or III patients undergoing invasive coronary procedures

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in Killip class II or III are likely to benefit from catheterization and coronary revascularization performed within 30 days of AMI. The study population was drawn from 2 national surveys performed during 1996 and 1998 in 26 coronary care units operating in Israel. Our analysis included 3,113 patients with AMI who were divided into 2 groups according to their admission Killip class: 2,484 patients (80%) in Killip class I, of whom 1,408 (57%) underwent cardiac catheterization and 1,076 were treated noninvasively; and 629 patients in Killip class II or III, of whom 314 (50%) underwent cardiac catheterization and 315 were managed conservatively. Patients in Killip class II or III who were treated invasively had lower mortality rates than their counterparts who were treated noninvasively at 30 days: 7.6% versus 15.6%, respectively (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.52, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.28 to 0.92), and thereafter from 30 days to 6 months, 4.3% versus 13.6%, respectively (OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.68). In Killip class I patients, an invasive versus noninvasive management was not associated with a better outcome at 30 days: 1.6% versus 3.2%, respectively (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.32 to 1.05), but with similar mortality rates at 30 days to 6 months, 1.9% versus 2.0%, respectively (OR 1.46, 95% CI 0.79 to 2.74). Thus, the present study suggests that patients with AMI in Killip class II or III on admission may benefit from cardiac catheterization and revascularization performed within 30 days from admission, whereas patients with AMI in Killip class I are less likely to benefit from this approach.     

Patient characteristics and outcomes of a provincial prolonged-ventilation weaning centre: A retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND:

Growing numbers of critically ill patients require prolonged mechanical ventilation and experience difficulty with weaning. Specialized centres may facilitate weaning through focused interprofessional expertise with an emphasis on rehabilitation.

OBJECTIVE:

To characterize the population of a specialized prolonged-ventilation weaning centre (PWC) in Ontario, and to report weaning, mobility, discharge and survival outcomes.

METHODS:

Data from consecutively admitted patients were retrospectively extracted from electronic and paper medical records by research staff and verified by the primary investigator.

RESULTS:

From January 2004 to March 2011, 144 patients were admitted: 115 (80%) required ventilator weaning, and 29 (20%) required tracheostomy weaning or noninvasive ventilation. Intensive care unit length of stay before admission was a median 51 days (interquartile range [IQR] 35 to 86 days). Of the patients admitted for ventilator weaning, 76 of 115 (66% [95% CI 55% to 75%]) achieved a 24 h tracheostomy mask trial in a median of 15 days (IQR eight to 25 days). Weaning success, defined as no further ventilation for seven consecutive days, was achieved by 61 patients (53% [95% CI 44% to 62%]) in a median duration of 62 days (IQR 46 to 95 days) of ventilation, and 14 days (IQR nine to 29 days) after PWC admission. Seventeen patients died during admission. Of the 91 patients discharged from the PWC for one year, 43 (47.3% [95% CI 37.3% to 57.4%]) survived; of the 78 discharged for two years, 27 (34.6% [95% CI 25.0% to 45.7%]) were alive; of the 53 discharged for three years, 19 (35.9% [95% CI 24.3% to 49.3%]) were alive; and seven of 22 (31.8% [95% CI 16.4% to 52.7%]) survived to five years.

CONCLUSIONS:

Weaning success was moderate despite a prolonged intensive care unit stay before admission, but was comparable with studies reporting weaning outcomes from centres in other countries. Few patients survived to five years.     

Functional recovery of elderly patients hospitalized in geriatric and general medicine units. The PROgetto DImissioni in GEriatria Study

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the characteristics of patients who regain function during hospitalization and the differences in terms of functional outcomes between patients admitted to geriatric and general medicine units. DESIGN: Multicenter, prospective cohort study. SETTING: Acute care geriatric and medical wards of five Italian hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: One thousand forty‐eight elderly patients hospitalized for acute medical diseases. MEASUREMENTS: Functional status 2 weeks before hospital admission (baseline), at admission, and at discharge, as measured using the Barthel Index (BI). RESULTS: Geriatric patients were older (P<.001) and had lower preadmission functional levels (P<.001) than medical patients. Between baseline and discharge, 43.2% of geriatric and 18.9% of medical patients declined in physical function. In the subpopulation of 464 patients who had declined before hospitalization (between baseline and admission), 59% improved during hospitalization (45% of geriatric and 75% of medical patients), whereas only approximately 1% declined further. High baseline function (odds ratio (OR)=1.03, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.02–1.04, per point of BI) and greater functional decline before hospitalization (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.94–0.97, per % point of BI decline) were significant predictors of in‐hospital functional improvement; type of hospital ward and age were not. CONCLUSION: Although geriatric patients have overall worse functional outcomes, in‐hospital functional recovery may be frequent even in geriatric units, particularly in patients with greater preadmission functional loss and high baseline level of function.     

Prestorage Leukocyte Depletion with In-Line Filtration of Whole Blood in Comparison with Blood Component Leukocyte Depletion

In-line filtration of blood components appears to be an effective method to reduce white-cell-induced adverse reactions. We have investigated whether whole blood filtration (WBF), prior to component preparation, is comparable with filtration of already prepared blood components (CF), i.e. the red cell concentrate (RCC) and fresh plasma. Conventionally prepared nonfiltered blood components served as a control. No significant differences for most parameters investigated were found between leukodepleted RCCs and plasma units prepared by CF or WBF. All filtered RCCs and plasma units (CF and WBF) had white blood cell contaminations <1'10⁵ per unit. Platelets were reduced in all filtered components: 95% in plasma and 99% in RCCs. Fresh-frozen plasma (FFP) prepared by CF and WBF had normal amounts of factors V, VIII, von Willebrand factor and thrombin-antithrombin-III complexes, whereas platelet factor 4 (PF-4) was slightly increased in FFP prepared by WBF. RCCs and plasma units prepared from filtered whole blood (n = 20) had a significantly greater volume (RCC: 288±19 ml; plasma: 274±20 ml) than conventionally prepared (n = 20) and filtered products (RCC: 257±19 ml, plasma: 259±19 ml). For early filtration of blood components, WBF prior to component preparation seems to offer an interesting technique for obtaining a leukocyte-depleted RCC and FFP.     

Heart failure on admission and the risk of stroke following acute myocardial infarction: the VALIANT registry.

AIMS: We sought to assess the relative contribution of heart failure (HF) on admission for an acute myocardial infarction (MI) to the subsequent in-hospital stroke risk. METHODS AND RESULTS: The VALsartan In Acute myocardial iNfarcTion (VALIANT) registry enrolled 5573 consecutive MI patients at 84 international sites from 1999 to 2001. We calculated odds ratios (ORs) for stroke and adjusted for baseline characteristics, Killip Class, and risk factors for stroke, such as diabetes and prior HF. In-hospital stroke occurred in 81 (1.5%) patients. HF was present on admission in 38% of patients who developed a stroke and in 24% who did not (P=0.001). Older age (OR 1.03 increase/year, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01-1.04), Killip Class III (OR 1.66, CI 0.86-3.19) or IV (OR 4.85, CI 1.69-13.93), history of hypertension (OR 1.73, CI 1.06-2.82), and history of stroke (OR 1.89, CI 1.06-3.37) were more common in patients who had in-hospital stroke. In-hospital mortality in patients with and without stroke was 27.2 and 6.5%, respectively (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Patients with stroke after MI have a dismal prognosis. The presence of HF on admission for an acute MI increases in-hospital stroke risk. HF treatments may modify the risk of stroke.