Acute and Critical Care

Original Articles

Nursing
Effect of fourth hourly oropharyngeal suctioning on ventilator-associated events in patients requiring mechanical ventilation in intensive care units of a tertiary care center in South India: a randomized controlled trial: Khanjana Borah, Lakshmi Ramamoorthy, Muthapillai Senthilnathan, Rajeswari Murugesan, Hmar Thiak Lalthanthuami, Rani Subramaniyan; Acute Crit Care. 2023;38(4):460-468. Published online November 24, 2023; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2022.01501

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Abstract PDF: Background
Mechanical ventilation (MV) is a necessary life-saving measure for critically ill patients. Ventilator-associated events (VAEs) are potentially avoidable complications associated with MV that can double the rate of death. Oral care and oropharyngeal suctioning, although neglected procedures, play a vital role in the prevention of VAE.
Methods
A randomized controlled trial was conducted in the intensive care units to compare the effect of fourth hourly oropharyngeal suctioning with the standard oral care protocol on VAE among patients on MV. One hundred twenty mechanically ventilated patients who were freshly intubated and expected to be on ventilator support for the next 72 hours were randomly allocated to the control or intervention groups. The intervention was fourth hourly oropharyngeal suctioning along with the standard oral care procedure. The control group received standard oral care (i.e., thrice a day) and on-demand oral suctioning. On the 3rd and 7th days following the intervention, endotracheal aspirates were sent to rule out ventilator-associated pneumonia.
Results
Both groups were homogenous at baseline with respect to their clinical characteristics. The intervention group had fewer VAEs (56.7%) than the control group (78.3%) which was significant at P<0.01. A significant reduction in the status of “positive culture” on ET aspirate also been observed following the 3rd day of the intervention (P<0.001).
Conclusions
One of the most basic preventive strategies is providing oral care. Oropharyngeal suctioning is also an important component of oral care that prevents microaspiration. Hence, fourth-hourly oropharyngeal suctioning with standard oral care significantly reduces the incidence of VAE.

Pulmonary
Under or overpressure: an audit of endotracheal cuff pressure monitoring at the tertiary care center: Biju Viswambharan, Manjini Jeyaram Kumari, Gopala Krishnan, Lakshmi Ramamoorthy; Acute Crit Care. 2021;36(4):374-379. Published online November 26, 2021; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2021.00024

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3 Crossref

Background
Mechanical ventilation is a lifesaving intervention for critically ill patients but can produce the major complication of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Inappropriately inflated endotracheal tubes cause potential harm due to high or low pressure; this can be prevented through monitoring protocols.
Methods
A cross-sectional study of 348 cuff pressure readings was performed with intubated and mechanically ventilated patients to evaluate the exact proportion of patients in intensive care units (ICUs) where the cuff pressure is optimal and to identify the ICUs where device-based monitoring is available to produce a lower proportion of sub-optimal cuff pressure cases. Every three days, cuff pressure was assessed with a handheld cuff pressure manometer. The corresponding VAP rates of those ICUs were obtained from the hospital infection control department.
Results
Cuff pressure of 40.2% was the lower cutoff for the high category, that of optimal was 35.3%, and the highest cutoff of sub-optimal was 24.4%. This study also showed ICUs that had cuff pressure monitoring devices and protocols. Active measurement protocols had a higher proportion of optimal cuff pressure (58.5%) and a lower proportion of sub-optimal and high cuff pressure (19.5% and 22.0%) compared to ICUs with no device-based monitoring protocols. Furthermore, the VAP rate of ICUs exhibited a weak positive correlation with sub-optimal cuff pressure.
Conclusions
Device-based cuff pressure monitoring is essential in maintaining adequate cuff pressure but often is inadequate, resulting in high readings. Therefore, this study suggests that device-based cuff pressure monitoring be practiced.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Pressure changes in the endotracheal tube cuff in otorhinolaryngologic surgery: a prospective observational study
Sujung Park, Young In Kwon, Hyun Joo Kim
Frontiers in Medicine.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
Correlación entre la presión del manguito del tubo endotraqueal y los síntomas laringotraqueales en postoperatorio
Wedley Peñaloza, Reyes Cruz Manuel Reyes, Evelin Núñez Wong
Revista Gaceta Médica JBG.2023;[Epub] CrossRef
Efficacy of using an intravenous catheter to repair damaged expansion lines of endotracheal tubes and laryngeal masks
Tingting Wang, Jiang Wang, Yao Lu, Xuesheng Liu, Shangui Chen
BMC Anesthesiology.2022;[Epub] CrossRef

Nursing
Effect of modified care bundle for prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia in critically-ill neurosurgical patients: Suphannee Triamvisit, Wassana Wongprasert, Chalermwoot Puttima, Matchima Na Chiangmai, Nawaphan Thienjindakul, Laksika Rodkul, Chumpon Jetjumnong; Acute Crit Care. 2021;36(4):294-299. Published online November 23, 2021; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2021.00983

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Abstract PDF: Background
Care bundles for ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) have been shown to minimize the rate of VAP in critically ill patients. Standard care bundles may need to be modified in resource-constrained situations. The goal of this study was to see if our modified VAP-care bundles lowered the risk of VAP in neurosurgical patients.
Methods
A prospective cohort study was conducted in mechanically ventilated neurosurgical patients. The VAP bundle was adjusted in the cohort group by increasing the frequency of intermittent endotracheal tube cuff pressure monitoring to six times a day while reducing oral care with 0.12% chlorhexidine to three times a day. The rate of VAP was compared to the historical control group.
Results
A total of 146 and 145 patients were enrolled in control and cohort groups, respectively. The mean age of patients was 52±16 years in both groups (P=0.803). The admission Glasgow coma scores were 7.79±2.67 and 7.80±2.77 in control and cohort group, respectively (P=0.969). VAP was found in nine patients in control group but only one patient in cohort group. The occurrence rate of VAP was significantly reduced in cohort group compared to control group (0.88/1,000 vs. 6.84/1,000 ventilator days, P=0.036).
Conclusions
The modified VAP bundle is effective in lowering the VAP rate in critically ill neurosurgical patients. It requires low budget and manpower and can be employed in resource-constrained settings.

Implementation of the Head of Bed (HOB) Elevation Protocol on Clinical and Nutritional Outcomes in Critically Ill Patients with Mechanical Ventilator Support: Se Hee Na, Hosun Lee, Shin Ok Koh, Hyun Sim Lee, Sung Won Na; Korean J Crit Care Med. 2011;26(3):128-133.; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/kjccm.2011.26.3.128

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Abstract PDF

BACKGROUND
Although head of bed (HOB) elevation is an important strategy to prevent ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP), some observational studies have reported that the application of the semi-recumbent position was lower in patients receiving mechanical ventilator support. We performed this study to assess the effect of implementation of the HOB elevation protocol in the intensive care unit (ICU) on clinical and nutritional outcomes.
METHODS
We developed a HOB elevation protocol including a flow chart to determine whether the HOB of newly admitted patients to ICU could be elevated. We measured the level of HOB elevation in patients with mechanical ventilator twice a day and 2 days a week for 5 weeks before and after the implementation of the protocol, respectively. Hemodynamic, respiratory and nutritional data were also collected, resulting in 251 observations from 35 patients and 467 observations from 66 patients before and after implementation.
RESULTS
After implementing the protocol, the level of HOB elevation (16.7 +/- 9.9 vs. 23.6 +/-1 2.9, p < 0.0001) and observations of HOB elevation > 30degrees increased significantly (34 vs. 151, p < 0.0001). There was no significant difference in the incidence of VAP. Arterial oxygen tension/fraction of inspired oxygen ratio improved (229 +/- 115 vs. 262 +/- 129, p = 0.02). Mean arterial blood pressure decreased after the implementation of the protocol, but remained within the normal limits. Calorie intake from tube feeding increased significantly (672 +/- 649 vs. 798 +/- 670, p = 0.021) and the events of high gastric residual volume (> 100 ml) occurred less frequently after implementing the protocol (50% vs. 17%, p = 0.001) CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of the protocol for HOB elevation could improve the level of HOB elevation, oxygenation parameter and enteral nutrition delivery.

Citations

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Nutrition Support in the Intensive Care Unit of 6 Korean Tertiary Teaching Hospitals: A National Multicenter Observational Study
Song Mi Lee, Seon Hyeung Kim, Yoon Kim, Eunmee Kim, Hee Joon Baek, Seungmin Lee, Hosun Lee, Chul Ho Chang, Cheung Soo Shin
Korean Journal of Critical Care Medicine.2012; 27(3): 157. CrossRef

VAP (Ventilator-associated Pneumonia) in Patients with Pulmonary Contusion: Jong Hyun Jeong, Sung Youl Hyun, Jin Joo Kim, Jae Hyuk Kim, Yong Su Lim, Jin Seong Cho, Sung Yeon Hwang, Hyuk Jun Yang; Korean J Crit Care Med. 2010;25(4):224-229.; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/kjccm.2010.25.4.224

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Abstract PDF: BACKGROUND
This study was conducted to determine the incidence, risk factors, and outcome of ventilator-associated pneumonia in patients with pulmonary contusion.
METHODS
The study was conducted at an urban teaching hospital emergency department with an annual volume of 80,000 patient visits. A retrospective analysis was conducted on thoracic injury patients admitted between Jan 2007 and Dec 2009. Among 122 patients investigated, 30 patients were excluded. Patient data included basal characteristics and information related to development of ventilator-associated pneumonia and ultimate mortality. Statistical methods included the Chi-square test and the Mann-Whitney test. Study data were stored and processed using Microsoft Office Excel 2007 & SPSS 18.0 for Windows.
RESULTS
Ventilator-associated pneumonia developed in 46 patients (50%). The patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia were more likely to have a longer duration of hospitalization, longer length of ICU stay, longer duration of mechanical ventilation, a low initial GCS, a higher APACHE II score, and were more likely to require emergency intubation or tracheostomy. Factors associated with mortality included longer duration of hospitalization, longer duration of mechanical ventilation, low intial GCS and the need for dialysis.
CONCLUSIONS
Ventilator-associated pneumonia in the patients with pulmonary contusion was not relevant to mortality, but was relevant to longer hospitalization, length of ICU stay and duration of mechanical ventilation.

Case Report

Extreme Drug Resistant Acinetobacter Nosocomial Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia Treated Successfully with Tigecycline and Amikacin in Intensive Care Unit: A Case Report: So Yeon Lim, So Young Park, Kyeongman Jeon, Gee Young Suh, Suhyun Kim, Kyong Ran Peck, Doo Ryeon Chung; Korean J Crit Care Med. 2009;24(3):176-180.; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/kjccm.2009.24.3.176

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Abstract PDF

Infections due to multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii have become a challenging problem in intensive care units. Tigecycline is a derivative of minocyline, and has provided new hope for the treatment of multidrug-resistant A. baumannii infections. Because isolates showing reduced susceptibility to minocycline or tigecycline have emerged in many countries, empirical combination therapy has become common practice to treat patients infected with extreme drug-resistant A. baumannii. Herein we report a case of extreme drug-resistant A. baumannii infection successfully treated with tigecycline and amikacin.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Clinical Characteristics in Patients with Carbapenem-ResistantAcinetobacter baumanniiIsolates from Tracheal Secretions
Jeong Ha Mok, Mi Hyun Kim, Kwangha Lee, Ki Uk Kim, Hye-Kyung Park, Min Ki Lee
Korean Journal of Critical Care Medicine.2013; 28(3): 173. CrossRef

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