Postoperative respiratory failure due to acute eosinophilic pneumonia

A non-smoking 63-year-old man developed respiratory failure following surgical repair of a thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm. He had severe hypoxemia and an elevated minute ventilation requiring prolonged mechanical support. Initial postoperative chest radiographs revealed new, transient, migratory infiltrates, and the patient received broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy. Chest radiographs subsequently demonstrated persistent, diffuse infiltrates, and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) analysis demonstrated significant eosinophilia (30%) with no evidence of infection. A diagnosis of acute eosinophilic pneumonia was made, and treatment with intravenous methylprednisolone resulted in rapid clinical improvement, and extubation. Acute eosinophilic pneumonia is not a previously recognized cause of postoperative respiratory failure and prolonged mechanical ventilation. It should be suspected in postoperative patients with unexplained diffuse lung infiltrates and acute respiratory failure.     

Helmet and face mask for non-invasive respiratory support in patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure: A retrospective study

PurposeNon-invasive respiratory support could reduce the incidence of intubation in patients with Acute Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure (AHRF). The optimal interface or modality of non-invasive respiratory support is debated. We sought to evaluate the differences between patients who succeeded or failed non-invasive respiratory support, with a specific focus on the type of non-invasive respiratory support (i.e. helmet CPAP versus face mask NIV).Materials and methodsIn a single-center observational retrospective study, we investigated baseline, clinical characteristics and AHRF management by non-invasive respiratory support between January 2015 to December 2016. Data on gas exchange and respiratory mechanics, non-invasive respiratory support duration, ICU length of stay and mortality were collected.Results110 patients with AHRF were included of which 41 patients (37%) were intubated. The use of helmet CPAP (p = 0.016) and a lower fluid balance (p = 0.038) were independently associated with a decreased rate of intubation after adjustment for confounders. Face mask NIV patients trended to a higher respiratory frequency at 1 h after treatment [28 (22–36) versus 24 (18–29) hours, p = 0.067], and showed a longer ICU stay (p = 0.009) compared to patients treated with helmet CPAP.ConclusionsHelmet CPAP and a lower fluid balance were independent predictors of a lower intubation rate in AHRF patients in ICU. Prospective studies aimed at identifying the optimal interface and modality of non-invasive respiratory support in AHRF patients are needed.     

Low dose vs high dose tocilizumab in COVID-19 patients with hypoxemic respiratory failure

PurposeTocilizumab has been shown to decrease mortality when used concomitantly with steroids in COVID-19 with 8 mg/kg (max 800 mg) being the standard dose. Our study sought to assess whether a low dose (400 mg) shows similar benefit compared to a high dose for COVID patients concurrently on the same median dose of steroids.Materials/MethodsA retrospective, multihospital observational study of COVID-19 patients who received tocilizumab in conjunction with steroids between March 2020 and August 2021 was conducted.ResultsA total of 407 patients were analyzed with low dose group being significantly more ill at baseline as a higher percentage of patients received vasopressors, were admitted to the ICU and on mechanical ventilation. In the propensity-matched analysis, both groups receiving a median dexamethasone equivalent dose of 10 mg showed no difference in 28-day mortality (p = 0.613). The high dose group had a higher rate of fungal and viral infections.ConclusionCompared to low dose tocilizumab, the high dose did not provide additional efficacy and mortality benefit but resulted in higher fungal and viral infections. This study illustrates that low dose tocilizumab can be an alternative to high dose during a drug shortage of tocilizumab without compensating for efficacy and safety, conserving resources for more patients.     

Timing of recovery of lung function after severe hypoxemic respiratory failure in children

Objective: To describe the timing of recovery of lung function after severe acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF) in children. Design: A serial observational follow-up study of clinical and lung function measurements up to 53 months after acute illness. Setting: University pediatric intensive care unit in a national children's hospital. Patients: Five critically ill children aged 5–14 years. Interventions: None Results: Clinical recovery: each patient required a 3–5 month convalescence before being able to attend full-time school because of lethargy and dyspnea. All patients developed wheeze 3–12 months after illness and four received long-term bronchodilator therapy. Lung function recovery: for both the forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced vital capacity in the first second (FEV₁) four patients had abnormally low values, regaining only 60–70 % of predicted values for their height and sex, and all of this improvement had occurred by 6–12 months after illness. Beyond this interval, patients remained on their same FVC and FEV₁ centile. FEV₁/FVC ratios were consistently within the normal range, indicating a predominantly restrictive defect. Changes in peak expiratory flow exhibited a time course of improvement similar to the other lung function tests. Conclusion: In children, pulmonary recovery after severe AHRF may occur for 6–12 months. A 1-year follow-up could offer a rational single point for assessment of outcome and long-term counselling of child and parents. Received: 10 November 1997 Accepted: 20 January 1998     

Early high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy in adults with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure in the ED: A before-after study

ObjectivesTo compare clinical impact after early initiation of high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy (HFNC) versus standard oxygen in patients admitted to an emergency department (ED) for acute hypoxemic respiratory failure.MethodsWe performed a prospective before-after study at EDs in two centers including patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure defined by a respiratory rate above 25 breaths/min or signs of increased breathing effort under additional oxygen for a pulse oximetry above 92%. Patients with cardiogenic pulmonary edema or exacerbation of chronic lung disease were excluded. All patients were treated with standard oxygen during the first period and with HFNC during the second. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with improved respiratory failure 1 h after treatment initiation (respiratory rate ≤ 25 breaths/min without signs of increased breathing effort). Dyspnea and blood gases were also assessed.ResultsAmong the 102 patients included, 48 were treated with standard oxygen and 54 with HFNC. One hour after treatment initiation, patients with HFNC were much more likely to recover from respiratory failure than those treated with standard oxygen: 61% (33 of 54 patients) versus 15% (7 of 48 patients), P < 0.001. They also showed greater improvement in oxygenation (increase in PaO₂ was 31 mm Hg [0–67] vs. 9 [−9–36], P = 0.02), and in feeling of breathlessness.ConclusionsAs compared to standard oxygen, patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure treated with HFNC at the ED had better oxygenation, less breathlessness and were more likely to show improved respiratory failure 1 h after initiation.     

无创机械通气在重症肺炎合并急性呼吸衰竭中的应用

目的探讨无创机械通气（NIV）在救治重症肺炎合并急性呼吸衰竭中的价值。方法收集24例重症肺炎合并急性呼吸衰竭患者进行NIV的临床资料,回顾性分析NIV前后缺氧的改善情况、并发症及转归等。结果24例患者使用了机械通气,14例仅采用NIV,气体交换获得持久性改善,避免了气管插管,并最终存活出院。另10例先采用NIV,后改用有创机械通气。所有患者均能较好耐受。NIV使用1h后,PaO2和平均氧合指数较治疗前有明显提高（P〈0．05）。结论NIV可用于重症肺炎合并急性呼吸衰竭的早期呼吸支持治疗,能有效改善缺氧,耐受性和安全性好。     

Non-invasive ventilation in community-acquired pneumonia and severe acute respiratory failure

Purpose  

The use of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in severe acute respiratory failure (ARF) due to community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is controversial, and the risk factors for NIV failure in these patients are not well known. We assessed the characteristics and predictors of outcome of patients with CAP and severe ARF treated with NIV.     

面罩下双水平气道正压通气治疗重症哮喘呼吸衰竭30例临床分析

目的 :探讨面罩下双水平气道正压通气 (BiPAP)治疗重症哮喘呼吸衰竭的临床分析。方法 :在内科常规治疗基础上联合应用双水平气道正压通气治疗 3 0例重症哮喘呼吸衰竭的患者 ,进行呼吸 (RR)、心率 (HR)、血氧饱和度 (SaO2 )平均动脉压 (MAP)、血气分析等指标监测。结果 :3 0例患者临床症状全部缓解 ,与治疗前后的血气指标改善明显 ( P <0 .0 1)。结论 :面罩下双水平气道正压通气 (BiPAP)对重症哮喘呼吸衰竭有良好的疗效     

Comparison of high-flow nasal oxygen therapy with conventional oxygen therapy and noninvasive ventilation in adult patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure: A meta-analysis and systematic review

PurposeThe role of high-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO) therapy in adult patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure is controversial.MethodsThis meta-analysis of prospective randomized controlled trials (RCTs) has been designed to compare HFNO with noninvasive ventilation (NIV) and conventional oxygen therapy in such patients.ResultsInitial database searching revealed 336 RCTs, of which 7 were included in this meta-analysis. Five RCTs compared HFNO with standard oxygen therapy, one compared HFNO with NIV, and one compared all three. HFNO did not decrease the requirement of higher respiratory support compared with control group. HFNO was associated with improved respiratory rate and dyspnea score, and better comfort in 3 RCTs, whereas other studies did not find any difference.ConclusionHigh-flow nasal oxygen does not offer any benefit over NIV or conventional oxygen therapy in terms of requirement of higher respiratory support.     

Noninvasive ventilation in patients with hypoxemic acute respiratory failure

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To discuss the recent literature concerning the use of noninvasive ventilation for hypoxemic acute respiratory failure. RECENT FINDINGS: The benefits of noninvasive ventilation for patients with hypoxemic acute respiratory failure are unclear. In immunocompromised patients and following thoracic surgery, there is a strong rationale for using noninvasive ventilation to treat acute respiratory failure. Prophylactic continuous positive airway pressure after abdominal or thoracic surgery and prophylactic noninvasive ventilation in patients at risk of extubation failure have proved beneficial. Recent studies show that noninvasive ventilation has a favourable impact in immunocompetent patients with acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome, but caution is required. In hypoxemic acute respiratory failure after extubation, one study reported excess mortality in patients treated with noninvasive ventilation, possibly related to the delay for intubation. A major issue is avoiding undue noninvasive ventilation prolongation and staying alert for predictors of early noninvasive ventilation failure. Caution, close monitoring, and broad experience are required. SUMMARY: Hypoxemic acute respiratory failure may benefit from noninvasive ventilation or continuous positive airway pressure, but undue prolongation should be avoided. In postextubation respiratory failure there is no evidence for routine use of noninvasive ventilation.     

经鼻高流量氧疗在重症肺炎合并急性呼吸窘迫综合征患者中的应用研究

目的分析经鼻高流量氧疗(HFNC)在重症肺炎(SP)合并急性呼吸窘迫综合征(ARDS)患者中的应用效果。方法选取SP合并ARDS患者90例为研究对象,采用随机数字表法分为试验组47例和对照组43例。2组均给予抗感染、液体复苏、营养支持等对症治疗,对照组同时给予无创通气治疗,试验组同时给予HFNC。治疗1周,比较2组痰液黏稠度、血气指标、舒适度与耐受性、再次插管率及并发症等指标。结果试验组痰液Ⅰ度和Ⅱ度患者占比为95.74%,高于对照组的81.40%,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。试验组呼吸频率(RR)低于对照组,动脉血氧分压[p_a(O_2)]、血氧饱和度(SaO_2)、氧合指数[p_a(O_2)/FiO_2]高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05或P0.01)。试验组舒适度、呼吸困难、耐受性评分低于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.01或P0.05)。试验组再次插管率、并发症总发生率分别为6.38%、8.51%,低于对照组的23.26%、25.58%,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论 HFNC有助于改善SP合并ARDS患者的痰液黏稠度及血气指标,提高舒适度及耐受性,降低再次插管率及并发症发生率。     

慢性呼吸功能衰竭氧疗中存在的问题

慢性呼吸功能衰竭（呼衰）常由支气管—肺疾患引起,病情复杂,治疗难度大,病死率较高,氧疗是重要治疗方法之一。我们在既往慢性呼衰氧疗中取得了一些成功的经验,同时也存在值得吸取的教训。现总结如下。１氧疗浓度不当慢性呼衰多属Ⅱ型,既有缺氧,又有二氧化碳潴留。...     

Right and left ventricular performance in acute hypoxemic respiratory failure

We examined biventricular performance on two occasions in 28 patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (ARF), using a combination of invasively determined pressures and flows as well as radionuclide scintigraphy to measure the right and left ventricular ejection fractions (RVEF and LVEF, respectively). From the EF and concurrently measured thermodilution stroke volumes, we calculated right and left ventricular end-diastolic and end-systolic volume indices (EDVI and ESVI, respectively). Regression analysis demonstrated that changes (delta) in global right ventricular function (RVEF) were inversely correlated with concurrent changes in the mean pulmonary arterial pressure (MPAP): delta RVEF = 0.015-0.015 delta MPAP (r2 = 0.60; p less than .005), while an increase in right ventricular preload (RVEDVI) was positively correlated with changes in MPAP: delta RVEDVI = 2.68 +/- 6.27 delta MPAP (r2 = 0.46; p less than .005). Global left ventricular function (LVEF) was related to changes in systemic pressures as well as to right-sided events: delta LVEF = -0.01-0.0015(delta RVESVI) + 0.001(delta BP systolic)-0.42(CVP/RVEDVI) (r2 = 0.35; p less than .01). These data confirm the significant influence of right ventricular afterload on RVEF in ARF patients and an apparent interrelationship between altered right ventricular systolic function and global left ventricular performance.