Non-invasive ventilation as primary ventilatory support for infants with severe bronchiolitis

OBJECTIVE: To report our experience of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) as primary ventilatory support strategy in infants admitted for severe bronchiolitis. DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective study in a paediatric intensive care unit of an university hospital. PATIENTS: Infants aged less than 12 months, admitted for bronchiolitis during 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 winter epidemics. INTERVENTION: NIV was used as the primary ventilatory support during the second winter (NIV period), whereas invasive ventilation (IV) was the only support employed during the first winter (IV period). NIV consisted in either continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP from 5 to 10 cmH(2)O) or bilevel positive airway pressure (inspiratory pressure from 12 to 18 cmH(2)O) with a nasal mask. RESULTS: During the IV period, 53 infants were included, compared to 27 during the NIV period. The two groups did not differ in age or in number of premature births. Children in NIV group had less apnoea on admission. The intubation rate was reduced during NIV period (p < 0.001). No children had ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) during NIV period compared to nine during IV period (p < 0.05). In the NIV group, 10 infants (37%) required supplemental oxygen for more than 8 days compared to 33 children (65%) in IV group (p < 0.05). The length of hospital stay and the duration of ventilation were similar. CONCLUSIONS: In this retrospective study, the use of NIV decreased the rate of ventilator associated pneumonia and reduced the duration of oxygen requirement without prolonging the hospital stay.     

Infectious pathogens and bronchiolitis outcomes

Bronchiolitis is a common early childhood illness and an important cause of morbidity, it is the number one cause of hospitalization among US infants. Bronchiolitis is also an active area of research, and recent studies have advanced our understanding of this illness. Although it has long been the conventional wisdom that the infectious etiology of bronchiolitis does not affect outcomes, a growing number of studies have linked specific pathogens of bronchiolitis (e.g., rhinovirus) to short- and long-term outcomes, such as future risk of developing asthma. The authors review the advent of molecular diagnostic techniques that have demonstrated diverse pathogens in bronchiolitis, and they review recent studies on the complex link between infectious pathogens of bronchiolitis and the development of childhood asthma.     

Improved clinical outcomes associated with metformin in patients with diabetes and heart failure

OBJECTIVE: Metformin is considered contraindicated in patients with heart failure because of concerns over lactic acidosis, despite increasing evidence of potential benefit. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between metformin and clinical outcomes in patients with heart failure and type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Using the Saskatchewan Health databases, 12,272 new users of oral antidiabetic agents were identified between the years 1991 and 1996. Subjects with incident heart failure (n = 1,833) were identified through administrative records based on ICD-9 code 428 and grouped according to antidiabetic therapy: metformin monotherapy (n = 208), sulfonylurea monotherapy (n = 773), or combination therapy (n = 852). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess differences in all-cause mortality, all-cause hospitalization, and the combination (i.e., all-cause hospitalization or mortality). RESULTS: Average age of subjects was 72 years, 57% were male, and average follow-up was 2.5 +/- 2.0 (SD) years. Compared with sulfonylurea therapy, fewer deaths occurred in subjects receiving metformin: 404 (52%) for sulfonylurea monotherapy versus 69 (33%) for metformin monotherapy (hazard ratio [HR] 0.70 [95% CI 0.54-0.91]) and 263 (31%) for combination therapy (0.61 [0.52-0.72]). A reduction in deaths or hospitalizations was also observed: 658 (85%) for sulfonylurea monotherapy versus 160 (77%) for metformin monotherapy (0.83 [0.70-0.99]) and 681 (80%) for combination therapy (0.86 [0.77-0.96]). There was no difference in time to first hospitalization between study groups. CONCLUSIONS: Metformin, alone or in combination, in subjects with heart failure and type 2 diabetes was associated with lower morbidity and mortality compared with sulfonylurea monotherapy.     

Disabling inflammatory pathways with biologics and resulting clinical outcomes in severe asthma

Introduction: Patients with severe asthma have a significant unmet need with persistent symptoms and/or frequent exacerbations despite high intensity treatment. These severe unrelenting symptoms have a huge impact on heathcare resources due to frequent hospital admissions and requirement for intensive and expensive medications. There is a compelling need for more effective and safer therapies to help severe asthma sufferers to achieve adequate control of their disease.

Areas covered: Expanding knowledge of innate and adaptive immune responses has led to development of new biologic approaches for severe asthma. Here, the authors will review the existing efficacy and safety data from clinical trials of some of the new biologic therapies that are in development for severe asthma. Their specific role in distinctively targeted subpopulations of severe asthmatics will be also discussed.

Expert opinion: Defining and phenotyping severe asthma patients will become increasingly important as some patients who were previously classified as having severe asthma may become well-controlled with a targeted phenotype-specific treatment. However, pharmacoeconomic concerns should also be taken into account given the elevated acquisition costs of recombinant human monoclonals and of the diagnostic screening procedures for the identification of potential responders.     

静脉丙种球蛋白治疗重症毛细支气管炎疗效分析

目的观察静脉丙种球蛋白(IVIG)治疗重症毛细支气管炎的临床疗效。方法将重症毛细支气管炎患儿65例随机分为治疗组34例和对照组31例。对照组给予常规综合治疗,治疗组在此基础上加用静脉丙种球蛋白400 mg/(kg.d),连用3 d,观察2组疗效。结果 2组在紫绀、喘憋、肺部罗音消失时间及住院时间比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。2组总有效率比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论 IVIG治疗婴幼儿重症毛细支气管炎可缩短病程,疗效确切,可在临床推广应用。     

Prognostic factors for important clinical outcomes in patients with a severe infection

Background

Patients who are admitted with a suspicion of a severe infection usually enter the hospital through the emergency department (ED). The recognition of prognostic factors in an early stage affects further treatment and might improve clinical outcomes.

Aims

We examined possible prognostic factors for four important outcomes: intensive care unit (ICU) admission, positive blood cultures, mortality and re-admission.

Methods

All adult patients arriving at the ED with a suspected infection for whom admittance and intravenous (iv) antibiotics were indicated were included between March and December 2006. Possible prognostic variables were obtained from medical history, physical examination and laboratory results during the ED presentation. Data were analysed using logistic regression analysis.

Results

A total of 295 ED patients were evaluated, of whom 27 were referred to the ICU, 62 had a positive blood culture, 16 died and 48 were re-admitted. In multivariate analysis, patients with a respiration rate of >25/min were at higher risk for ICU admission. Patients with a positive blood culture had a higher heart rate and a higher percentage of segmented neutrophils. Patients who died during admission were more likely to be older, confused and had lower blood pressure. Patients who were re-admitted within 30 days were more likely to be male, younger and less likely to have a positive blood culture.

Conclusions

Routine clinical and biochemical information can be used to predict ICU admission, the presence of bacteraemia, mortality and re-admission (within 30 days) and should be taken into consideration for treatment decisions.     

nCPAP治疗对中重度OSAS患者血液流变学影响的研究

目的探讨nCPAP(经鼻持续正压通气)治疗对中重度阻塞型睡眠呼吸暂停综合征(OSAS)患者血液流变学的影响。方法选择经多导睡眠图确诊的中重度OSAS患者80例,于CPAP治疗前行全血粘度及红细胞压积检测,然后进行CPAP治疗三个月,治疗后再次行睡眠呼吸监测,全血粘度及红细胞压积检测。结果 (1)OSAS患者经nCPAP治疗后睡眠呼吸暂停指数(AHI)显著降低,睡眠时平均及最低血氧饱和度(SPO2)显著增高(P<0．01)。(2)OSAS患者经nCPAP治疗后全血粘度及红细胞压积较治疗前显著降低(P<0．01)。结论 nCPAP治疗可能通过改善OSAS患者的血液流变学异常,降低OSAS患者发生心脑血管疾病的危险性。     

胸腔闭式引流术后的优化护理对策分析及临床疗效评价

目的观察胸腔引流术后的优化护理在临床中的应用及临床效果评价。方法将本院术后给予胸腔闭式引流术患者109例按照入院顺序分为2组,其中观察组58例采取闭式引流术后优化护理模式,对照组51例采用常规护理模式。观察2组患者相关并发症发生率、SAS、SDS评分、护理满意度调查。结果观察组患者褥疮发生率、肺不张发生率、总并发症发生率显著低于对照组;观察组患者在给予心理辅导后,抑郁自评量表(SDS)及焦虑自评量表(SAS)评分显著低于对照组;观察组护理总满意度显著高于对照组(P0.05)。结论优化护理可显著降低患者不良反应发生率,减轻患者焦虑、抑郁心理,同时提高医院护理满意度。     

The ventilatory response in severe metabolic acidosis.

1. The ventilatory response to severe metabolic acidosis was studied by measuring arterial blood carbon dioxide tension and pH in sixty-seven patients with blood pH less than 7-10, none of whom had hypercapnia, pulmonary oedema, or chronic pulmonary insufficiency. The results were compared with those previously found in patients with uncomplicated diabetic ketoacidosis. 2. By that comparison, fifty-two of the sixty-seven patients with blood pH less than 7-10 were judged to have "appropriate hypocapnia", and fifteen had "submaximal hypocapnia". Thirteen of the latter fifteen had circulatory failture and/or acute hypoxia, and seven of nine in whom it was measured had plasma lactate greater than 9 mmol/1. 3. Hyperventilation was therefore usually well sustained in these patients with severe metabolic acidosis, except in most of those with acute tissue hypoxia. The latter may have had insufficient time to achieve maximum hyperventilation in response to their acidosis, or perhaps their submaximal hypercapnia presaged imminent failure of the hyperventilatory response.     

Epidemiology and clinical outcomes in a multicentre regional cohort of patients with severe acquired brain injury

Purpose: To evaluate epidemiological and clinical data on patients with severe acquired brain injury (sABI) admitted to rehabilitation units in the first 6 years since the inception of a regional register (2005–2010) in the Emilia-Romagna region (Italy).

Method: Retrospective multicentre study of a regional cohort using data from an online regional register (Gravi Cerebrolesioni Emilia-Romagna – GRACER). The study included 318 patients who suffered sABI (defined by Glasgow Coma Scale score ≤8 recorded in the initial 24 h following injury), who were admitted to and subsequently discharged from rehabilitation units. Physical and cognitive functions were evaluated at admission and discharge. Other data recorded included aetiology, presence of secondary conditions and need for specific medical support.

Results: Three-quarters of patients displayed improvements in physical and/or cognitive function at discharge from rehabilitation units, with 71.4% of patients returning home. Better outcomes at discharge were associated in particular with younger age, traumatic brain injury (versus non-traumatic), or absence of tracheostomy at admission.

Conclusion: The GRACER register is a useful tool for the assessment of epidemiological and clinical information on sABI patients. In light of the positive impact on patient outcomes, rehabilitation in specialised units is highly encouraged and should occur as soon as possible.

• Implications for Rehabilitation

• There is a need for more epidemiological and clinical data associated with severe acquired brain injury, particular regarding those of non-traumatic origin.

• In a retrospective multicentre study of a regional cohort using data from an online regional register in Italy (GRACER), more than three-quarters of patients displayed improvements in physical and/or cognitive function at discharge from the rehabilitation units. Better outcomes at discharge were associated in particular with younger age, traumatic brain injury (versus non-traumatic) or absence of tracheostomy at admission.

• Admission to a specialised rehabilitation unit is highly encouraged for patients with severe acquired brain injury, and should occur as soon as possible.

• Policy-makers and service planners should continue to develop strategies and allocate adequate resources for rehabilitation services due to their positive impact on patient outcomes. In particular, patients with conditions associated with increased likelihood of poor outcomes may require special attention during rehabilitation to improve outcomes at discharge.

     

Impact of adherence to disease-modifying therapies on clinical and economic outcomes among patients with multiple sclerosis

Background  

Adherence to disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) is essential for the reduction of multiple sclerosis (MS) progression and relapse. However, only limited data currently exist on the impact of treatment adherence on MS-related clinical and economic outcomes in the real world setting.