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Effectiveness and safety of a protocolized mechanical ventilation and weaning strategy of COPD patients by respiratory therapists.

J Thorac Dis. 2014 Sep;6(9):1180-6

Authors: Kirakli C, Ediboglu O, Naz I, Cimen P, Tatar D

Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Prior researches have showed that weaning protocols may decrease the duration of mechanical ventilation. The effect of these protocols on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients is unknown. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of an extensive mechanical ventilation protocol including weaning applied by a respiratory therapist (RT) on the duration of mechanical ventilation and intensive care unit (ICU) stay in COPD patients.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A novel mechanical ventilation protocol including weaning was developed and initiated for all intubated COPD patients by a respiratory therapist. Outcomes of patients treated using this protocol during a 6-month period were compared to those of patients treated by physicians without a protocol during the preceding 6 months.
RESULTS: A total of 170 patients were enrolled. Extubation success was significantly higher (98% vs. 78%, P=0.014) and median durations of weaning, mechanical ventilation and ICU stay compared with time to event analysis were significantly shorter in the protocol based group (2 vs. 26 hours, log rank P<0.001, 3.1 vs. 5 days, log rank P<0.001 and 6 vs. 12 days, log rank P<0.001, respectively). Patients who were successfully extubated and patients in the protocol based group were more likely to have shorter ventilation duration [HR: 1.87, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.13-3.08, P=0.015 and HR: 2.08, 95% CI: 1.40-3.10, P<0.001 respectively].
CONCLUSIONS: In our center, a protocolized mechanical ventilation and weaning strategy improved weaning success and shortened the total duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU stay in COPD patients requiring mechanical ventilation.

PMID: 25276358 [PubMed]

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Investigating the relationship between peak inspiratory flow rate and volume of inhalation from a Diskus™ Inhaler and baseline spirometric parameters: a cross-sectional study.

Springerplus. 2014;3:496

Authors: Seheult JN, Costello S, Tee KC, Bholah T, Al Bannai H, Sulaiman I, Costello RW

Abstract
Drug delivery from a Dry Powder Inhaler (DPI) is dependent on the peak inspiratory flow rate (PIFR) generated. Currently available methods for estimating PIFR from most DPIs are limited and mainly rely on subjective assessment. We aim to show that spirometric and Diskus™ PIFR and Inspiratory Vital Capacity (IVC) are related to the underlying respiratory condition and that spirometric PIFR can be used to assess whether Diskus™ PIFR will be adequate when using this DPI. Healthy volunteers and patients with asthma, COPD, neuromuscular disease and non-respiratory disorders were recruited (n = 85). Demographics and baseline lung function by spirometry were recorded. Flow and volume readings were taken while patients used a Diskus™ DPI, housed in an airtight container connected to a spirometer. T-tests were performed to compare mean spirometric and Diskus™ PIFR/ IVC between groups. Stepwise regression analysis of Diskus™ PIFR versus spirometric PIFR, spirometric IVC, age, gender, condition, BMI, FEV1 and FVC was performed. The Diskus™ PIFR for the COPD and Neuromuscular Disease group was more than 10 L/min lower than the Healthy or Asthma groups (p < 0.05). The mean spirometric and Diskus™ IVC of the Healthy group was significantly (>0.75 L) higher than the mean for the other three groups (p < 0.05). Diskus™ PIFR was moderately correlated with spirometric PIFR and age (Adjusted R(2) = 0.58, p < 0.0001). PIFR generated using a Diskus™ DPI is dependent on the underlying disease and age. A spirometric PIFR of less than 196 L/min should prompt further investigation into the suitability of a patient for a Diskus™ DPI, with possible consideration of alternate devices.

PMID: 25279290 [PubMed]

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Predictors of Exacerbations in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease - Results from the Bergen COPD Cohort Study.

PLoS One. 2014;9(10):e109721

Authors: Husebø GR, Bakke PS, Aanerud M, Hardie JA, Ueland T, Grønseth R, Persson LJ, Aukrust P, Eagan TM

Abstract
BACKGROUND: COPD exacerbations accelerate disease progression.
AIMS: To examine if COPD characteristics and systemic inflammatory markers predict the risk for acute COPD exacerbation (AECOPD) frequency and duration.
METHODS: 403 COPD patients, GOLD stage II-IV, aged 44-76 years were included in the Bergen COPD Cohort Study in 2006/07, and followed for 3 years. Examined baseline predictors were sex, age, body composition, smoking, AECOPD the last year, GOLD stage, Charlson comorbidity score (CCS), hypoxemia (PaO2<8 kPa), cough, use of inhaled steroids, and the inflammatory markers leucocytes, C-reactive protein (CRP), neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (NGAL), soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (sTNF-R1), and osteoprotegrin (OPG). Negative binomial models with random effects were fitted to estimate the annual incidence rate ratios (IRR). For analysis of AECOPD duration, a generalized estimation equation logistic regression model was fitted, also adjusting for season, time since inclusion and AECOPD severity.
RESULTS: After multivariate adjustment, significant predictors of AECOPD were: female sex [IRR 1.45 (1.14-1.84)], age per 10 year increase [1.23 (1.03-1.47)], >1 AECOPD last year before baseline [1.65 (1.24-2.21)], GOLD III [1.36 (1.07-1.74)], GOLD IV [2.90 (1.98-4.25)], chronic cough [1.64 (1.30-2.06)] and use of inhaled steroids [1.57 (1.21-2.05)]. For AECOPD duration more than three weeks, significant predictors after adjustment were: hypoxemia [0.60 (0.39-0.92)], years since inclusion [1.19 (1.03-1.37)], AECOPD severity; moderate [OR 1.58 (1.14-2.18)] and severe [2.34 (1.58-3.49)], season; winter [1.51 (1.08-2.12)], spring [1.45 (1.02-2.05)] and sTNF-R1 per SD increase [1.16 (1.00-1.35)].
CONCLUSION: Several COPD characteristics were independent predictors of both AECOPD frequency and duration.

PMID: 25279458 [PubMed - in process]

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Responsiveness to inhaled corticosteroid treatment in patients with asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease overlap syndrome.

Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2014 Sep 30;

Authors: Lim HS, Choi SM, Lee J, Park YS, Lee SM, Yim JJ, Yoo CG, Kim YW, Han SK, Lee CH

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) is recommended in the management of patients with asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease overlap syndrome (ACOS), but its effectiveness has not been clearly proved.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether ICS has effects on outcomes of ACOS.
METHODS: In this observational 12-year retrospective cohort study involving 125 patients with ACOS from Seoul National University Hospital, the annual rate of decrease in forced expiration volume in 1 second, the incidence rate of severe exacerbation, and overall mortality in an ICS-treated group were compared with those in a non-ICS-treated group.
RESULTS: Of 125 patients with ACOS, 90 and 35 were categorized to the ICS and non-ICS treatment groups, respectively. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in the annual rate of decrease in forced expiration volume in 1 second (9.61 mL/year in ICS treatment group vs 15.68 mL/year in non-ICS treatment group, P = .598). Compared with the non-ICS treatment group, the ICS treatment group did not show a decrease in the risk of severe exacerbation (adjusted incidence rate ratio 1.24, 95% confidence interval 0.44-3.46). Time to death also did not differ between the 2 groups. Even when analyses with propensity score matching were performed, the results were similar.
CONCLUSION: In the management of ACOS, the use of ICS was not significantly associated with improvements in the annual rate of decrease in forced expiration volume in 1 second, the incidence of severe exacerbations, and overall mortality compared with the non-ICS treatment group.

PMID: 25280465 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]