The latest medical research on Intensive Care Medicine

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Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) improves respiratory muscle function in patients with weaning difficulties. IMT protocols involve performing daily sets of breaths against external loads. However, the impact of IMT on weaning outcomes while incorporating sham control interventions remains unclear.

To compare the effects of a high-intensity IMT (Hi-IMT) intervention with a sham low-intensity (Lo-IMT) control group on weaning outcomes, respiratory muscle and pulmonary function 28 days after inclusion, in patients with weaning difficulties.

Both groups underwent daily IMT sessions until successful weaning or a maximum of 28 days. The Hi-IMT group (n=44, 61% male, 57±15 years) performed maximal inspirations initiated from residual volume against an external load representing 30-50% of maximal inspiratory pressure (PImax), while the control group (n=46, 52% male, 60±12 years) performed maximal inspirations against a load ≤10% PImax.

gov, ID: NCT03240263.

Both high-intensity IMT and sham low-intensity IMT, with high adherence to the protocol, resulted in similar weaning success rates and pronounced improvements in maximal inspiratory muscle strength. Clinical trial registration available at www.

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Patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery are at risk of developing perioperative stroke, but residual effects of anesthesia may hamper timely detection. This study aims to determine if there is an association between intraoperative regional cerebral oxygenation (ScO2) monitoring using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and the occurrence of early perioperative stroke within three days after cardiothoracic surgery.

We performed a single-center retrospective observational cohort study including all consecutive cardiothoracic surgery patients with routinely perioperative ScO2 monitoring admitted postoperatively to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) between 2008 and 2017. Patients with a confirmed stroke in the anterior cerebral circulation on brain imaging were included in the analysis. Intraoperative area under the curve (AUC), duration, and total ScO2 excursions below predefined thresholds (< 50% ScO2 or > 20% reduction below baseline) were calculated for each hemisphere. Stroke-affected and non-affected hemispheres were compared using logistic regression analyses to investigate a potential association between ScO2 values and stroke.

Of the 2454 cardiothoracic surgery patients with perioperative ScO2 monitoring, 39 had a anterior stroke on brain imaging. ScO2 readings of 44 affected hemispheres were compared to 34 non-affected hemispheres. Only the duration of ScO2 < 50% or a > 20% drop from baseline were significantly associated with global ischemia (OR 1.30 (0.95%CI; 1.09-2.30)) when comparing affected (72 [5 to 33] min.) versus non-affected (28 [4 to 44] min.) hemispheres.

The duration of ScO2 values < 50% or a drop > 20% from baseline were associated with the occurrence of early perioperative global cerebral ischemia within three days after cardiothoracic surgery.

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In the current review, we aim to highlight the evolving evidence on using diaphragm neurostimulation to develop lung and diaphragm protective mechanical ventilation.

Positive-pressure ventilation (PPV) causes stress and strain to the lungs which leads to ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). In addition, PPV is frequently associated with sedatives that induce excessive diaphragm unloading which contributes to ventilator-induced diaphragmatic dysfunction (VIDD). The nonvolitional diaphragmatic contractions entrained by diaphragm neurostimulation generate negative pressure ventilation, which may be a beneficial alternative or complement to PPV. Although well established as a permanent treatment of central apnea syndromes, temporary diaphragm neurostimulation rapidly evolves to prevent and treat VILI and VIDD. Experimental and small clinical studies report comprehensive data showing that diaphragm neurostimulation has the potential to mitigate VIDD and to decrease the stress and strain applied to the lungs.

Scientific interest in temporary diaphragm neurostimulation has dramatically evolved in the last few years. Despite a solid physiological rationale and promising preliminary findings confirming a beneficial effect on the diaphragm and lungs, more studies and further technological advances will be needed to establish optimal standardized settings and lead to clinical implementation and improved outcomes.

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To summarize current data regarding the prevalence, risk factors, consequences, assessment and treatment of dyspnea in critically ill patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation.

In intubated patients, dyspnea is frequent, perceived as intense, and associated with unfavorable outcomes such as immediate and unbearable distress (e.g. fear of dying), prolonged weaning, and delayed severe psychological consequences ( i.e. posttraumatic stress disorders). In noncommunicative patients, dyspnea is named respiratory-related brain suffering (RRBS) and can be detected using dyspnea observations scales. Before initiating pharmacological treatments, nonpharmacological interventions may be tried as they are efficient to alleviate dyspnea.

As opposed to pain, dyspnea has often been overlooked in terms of detection and management, resulting in its significant underestimation in daily practice. When it is diagnosed, dyspnea can be relieved through straightforward interventions, such as adjusting ventilator settings. Assessing dyspnea in patients undergoing invasive mechanically ventilated may be challenging, especially in noncommunicative patients (RRBS). Implementing a systematic dyspnea assessment in routine, akin to pain, could serve as a first step to reduce RRBS and prevent potential severe psychological consequences. In addition to pharmacological treatments like opioids, a promising approach is to modulate both the sensory (air on the face, trigeminal nerve stimulation) and the affective (relaxing music, hypnosis, directed empathy) components of dyspnea.

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Mechanical ventilation may have adverse effects on diaphragm and lung function. Lung- and diaphragm-protective ventilation is an approach that challenges the clinician to facilitate physiological respiratory efforts, while maintaining minimal lung stress and strain. Here, we discuss the latest advances in monitoring and interventions to achieve lung- and diaphragm protective ventilation.

Noninvasive ventilator maneuvers (P0.1, airway occlusion pressure, pressure-muscle index) can accurately detect low and excessive respiratory efforts and high lung stress. Additional monitoring techniques include esophageal manometry, ultrasound, electrical activity of the diaphragm, and electrical impedance tomography. Recent trials demonstrate that a systematic approach to titrating inspiratory support and sedation facilitates lung- and diaphragm protective ventilation. Titration of positive-end expiratory pressure and, if available, veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation sweep gas flow may further modulate neural respiratory drive and effort to facilitate lung- and diaphragm protective ventilation.

Achieving lung- and diaphragm-protective ventilation may require more than a single intervention; it demands a comprehensive understanding of the (neuro)physiology of breathing and mechanical ventilation, along with the application of a series of interventions under close monitoring. We suggest a bedside-approach to achieve lung- and diaphragm protective ventilation targets.

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To summarize basic physiological concepts of breathing effort and outline various methods for monitoring effort of inspiratory and expiratory muscles.

Esophageal pressure (Pes) measurement is the reference standard for respiratory muscle effort quantification, but various noninvasive screening tools have been proposed. Expiratory occlusion pressures (P0.1 and Pocc) could inform about low and high effort and the resulting lung stress, with Pocc outperforming P0.1 in identifying high effort. The pressure muscle index during an inspiratory hold could unveil inspiratory muscle effort, however obtaining a reliable inspiratory plateau can be difficult. Surface electromyography has the potential for inspiratory effort estimation, yet this is technically challenging for real-time assessment. Expiratory muscle activation is common in the critically ill warranting their assessment, that is, via gastric pressure monitoring. Expiratory muscle activation also impacts inspiratory effort interpretation which could result in both under- and overestimation of the resulting lung stress. There is likely a future role for machine learning applications to automate breathing effort monitoring at the bedside.

Different tools are available for monitoring the respiratory muscles' effort during mechanical ventilation - from noninvasive screening tools to more invasive quantification methods. This could facilitate a lung and respiratory muscle-protective ventilation approach.

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Recently, a subcostal en-face view of the tricuspid valve (TV) was described which can determine right ventricular (RV) lead position on the TV level. We sought to (1) prospectively evaluate the feasibility of this novel view in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED) to visualize the position of the device lead relative to the TV leaflets and (2) study the association between lead position and degree of tricuspid regurgitation (TR).

Consecutive patients with a history of CIED implantation with at least one RV lead who underwent echocardiography for any cause at our tertiary center were included in this prospective observational study. A subcostal 2D en-face view of the TV was obtained and the position of the RV lead in the TV plane was determined whenever feasible.

A total of 176 patients were included, 70% were male, the median age was 74 years. The exact RV lead position in respect to the TV plane could be determined in 112/176 patients (64%) via the proposed view. In 37 patients (21%) moderate TR could be found, while 10 patients (6%) presented with severe TR. The lead position was not associated with the degree of TR.

A novel 2D en-face view of the TV can accurately identify the RV lead position in the TV plane. At least moderate TR was present in 27% of patients with CIED. There was no association of lead position with the occurrence of moderate or more TR.

When native blood flow through the aorta from the adult heart and lungs meets retrograde blood flow from an artificial heart and lung during venoar...

There are no guidelines for assessing and communicating the expected difficulty of a tracheostomy, leading to difficulties planning a percutaneous ...

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The incidence of invasive fungal infections is increasing in immune-competent and immune-compromised patients. An examination of the recent literature related to the treatment of fungal infections was performed to address two clinical questions. First, in patients with proven or probable invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, should combination therapy with a mold-active triazole plus echinocandin be administered vs. mold-active triazole monotherapy? Second, in critically ill patients at risk for invasive candidiasis who are non-neutropenic and are not transplant recipients, should systemic antifungal agents be administered either as prophylaxis or as empiric therapy?

A multidisciplinary panel reviewed the available data concerning the two questions. The evidence was evaluated, and recommendations were generated using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.

A conditional recommendation was made for patients with proven or probable invasive pulmonary aspergillosis to receive either initial combination therapy with a mold-active triazole plus an echinocandin or initial mold-active triazole monotherapy based on low-quality evidence. Further, a conditional weak recommendation was made against routine administration of prophylactic or empiric antifungal agents targeting Candida species for critically ill patients without neutropenia or a history of transplant based on low-quality evidence.

The recommendations presented in these Guidelines are the result of an analysis of currently available evidence. Additional research and new clinical data will prompt an update in the future.

The prone position is often used for patients with adult respiratory distress syndrome and specific surgical postures. When performing venous cannu...

Patient monitoring in the perioperative setting can be challenging, especially when monitoring multiple patients simultaneously or managing dynamic...

The latest medical research on Intensive Care Medicine

Similar Weaning Success Rate with High-Intensity and Sham Inspiratory Muscle Training: A Randomized Controlled Trial (IMweanT).

Association of early perioperative stroke after cardiothoracic surgery with intraoperative regional cerebral oxygenation using near-infrared spectroscopy: an observational cohort study comparing affected versus non-affected hemispheres.

How to protect the diaphragm and the lung with diaphragm neurostimulation.

How to prevent and how to treat dyspnea in critically ill patients undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation.

Advances in achieving lung and diaphragm-protective ventilation.

Monitoring respiratory muscles effort during mechanical ventilation.

A Novel 2D Echo View to Determine Right Ventricular Lead Position on the Tricuspid Valve Level.

Position paper on the physiology and nomenclature of dual circulation during venoarterial ECMO in adults.

Developing a tool for assessing and communicating the expected difficulty of performing a tracheostomy.

Treatment of Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis and Preventive and Empirical Therapy for Invasive Candidiasis in Adult Pulmonary and Critical Care Patients. An Ofﬁcial American Thoracic Society Clinical Practice Guideline.

Ultrasound-Guided Venous Catheter Placement in Prone Position.

Avatar-based versus conventional patient monitoring with distant vision: a computer-based simulation study.

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