Criteria For Decannulation Research Articles

Recommendations for the management and rehabilitation of patients with a tracheostomy

Tracheostomy is a common procedure in critically ill patients who require mechanical ventilation. Tracheostomies have several advantages over endotracheal tubes, including less sinusitis or pharyngeal injuries, fewer sedative drugs, improved oropharyngeal hygiene, easier communication, more comfort, preservation of vocal cord function, and so on. However, patients with a tracheostomy require high quality care and often suffer from dysphagia, dysphonia, tracheal stenosis, or excessive airway secretions, etc. In China, there are currently no comprehensive evidence-based clinical guidelines or consensus documents on the management and rehabilitation of patients with a tracheostomy. Approaches to tracheostomy care are inconsistent among different institutions and clinicians. Therefore, a group of top experts specialized in this field in China were gathered to draft this document to reduce variations in practice in the management of patients with a tracheostomy and to minimize complications. Panel members were asked to complete surveys on various aspects of adult tracheostomy care, followed by a conference at which the results were presented and a number of themes outlined for a formal literature review and a preliminary draft. Several conferences were then held to discuss the differences of opinion among the panel members. In general, the panel reached a consensus and a total of 9 issues were covered in the document. At first, the importance of a standardized management protocol, pathophysiological characteristics, indications, complications, contradictions, and techniques used for tracheostomies were discussed. Then, more emphasis was placed on post-operative care such as airway clearance therapy, tube changes, and decannulation criteria, etc. In addition, the most important topic was elaborated, namely the methods used to promote the rehabilitation and decannulation of patients with a tracheostomy, including respiratory and other skeletal muscle training, dysphagia and verbal communication intervention, ventilation support, chest physiotherapy, and specifically the traditional Chinese medical therapies that were excellent in this area, such as acupuncture, moxibustion, and herbal medicine, etc. Finally, a flow chart was created to summarize the suggestions for managing and promoting rehabilitation or decannulation of patients with a tracheostomy. Proposed by Respiratory Equipment Committee of China Association of Medical Equipment, Young and Middle-Aged Pulmonary Rehabilitation Group of Pulmonary Rehabilitation Committee of China Association of Rehabilitation of Disabled Person, and Critical Illness Rehabilitation Group of China Association of Rehabilitation Medicine, and sponsored by several national or provincial natural science research projects, this work is expected to provide clear guidance for the general treatment of adult patients with a tracheostomy in China in the future.

Severe secretion retention: a predictor of decannulation outcome in severe brain injury patients with tracheostomy.

Identifying accurate predictors of decannulation outcome is essential to ensure safe and timesaving decannulation. Studies indicated hypopharyngeal secretion retention is closely associated with compromised airway protection and patients with it are less likely to be decannulated. However, data verifying the link between secretion retention and decannulation outcome are lacking. The aim of this study was to identify the association between hypopharyngeal secretion-retention (indicated by Murray Secretion Scale [MSS]) and decannulation outcomes in a large cohort of severe acquired brain injury (sABI) patients with tracheotomy. To test the diagnostic performance of secretion retention in decision making of decannulation. Retrospective cross-sectional study. The setting of the study is neurorehabilitation department in a tertiary teaching hospital. A total of 144 adult patients with sABI and tracheostomy were retrospectively selected from the database from September 1, 2019, to August 31, 2021. The results of hypopharyngeal secretion-retention observed by fiberoptic endoscopy on the day that decision on decannulation was made were collected. The association between severity of secretion retention and decannulation outcomes was investigated through logistic regression, which was used to adjust covariates, including presence of food/liquid aspiration, decreased laryngeal sensation and conscious level. The optimal cut-off values of MSS for decannulation status prediction was determined by maximizing the Youden Index. One hundred twenty-one patients were included in the sample. The age was 55.6±15.2 years, 84 (69.4%) patients were male. Eighty-four (69.4%) of them were successfully decannulated during their hospital stay. Multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated severe secretion retention (MSS level3) was independently associated with prolonged tracheostomy (adjusted odds ratio 65.23, 95% CI 6.58-646.35, P<0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of MSS level3 to assess the probability of prolonged decannulation were 78.4% and 96.4%, respectively. The area under the curve was 0.894 (95% CI 0.819-0.969). Our results add to the evidence supporting screening of secretion retention severity in sABI population to identify patients at risk of prolonged tracheostomy. Whether decreasing secretion retention increases probability of successful decannulation deserves to be investigated by further study. This study could provide evidence for establishing objective decannulation criteria based on fiberoptic endoscopy and be helpful for implementing targeted rehabilitation interventions to promote successful decannulation.

Noninvasive ventilation during weaning from prolonged mechanical ventilation

Background and objectiveNon invasive ventilation (NIV) is currently employed for weaning from invasive ventilation (IMV) in the acute setting but its use for weaning from prolonged ventilation is still occasional and not standardized. We wanted to evaluate whether a combined protocol of NIV and decannulation in tracheostomized patients needing prolonged mechanical ventilation was feasible and what would be the one-year outcome. MethodsWe studied patients still dependent from invasive mechanical ventilation with the following inclusion criteria: a) tolerance of at least 8h of unsupported breathing, b) progressive hypercapnia/acidosis after invasive ventilation discontinuation, c) good adaptation to NIV, d) favorable criteria for decannulation. These patients were switched from IMV to NIV and decannulated; then they were discharged on home NIV and followed-up for one year in order to evaluate survival and complications rate. ResultsData from patients consecutively admitted to a weaning unit were prospectively collected between 2005 and 2018. Out of 587 patients admitted over that period, 341 were liberated from prolonged mechanical ventilation. Fifty-one out of 147 unweaned patients (35%) were eligible for the protocol but only 46 were enrolled. After a mean length of stay of 35 days they were decannulated and discharged on domiciliary NIV. After one year, 38 patients were still alive (survival rate 82%) and 37 were using NIV with good adherence (only one patient was switched again to invasive ventilation). ConclusionsNIV applied to patients with failed weaning from prolonged IMV is feasible and can facilitate the decannulation process. Patients successfully completing this process show good survival rates and few complications.

LARINGOTRAQUEOSCOPIA FLEXÍVEL NA DECANULAÇÃO DE PACIENTES TRAQUEOSTOMIZADOS: OTIMIZAÇÃO DE SEGURANÇA PARA O PACIENTE

Avaliar a decanulação utilizando a laringotraqueoscopia flexível visando o reconhecimento das lesões laringotraqueais não diagnosticadas quando utilizados somente critérios clínicos. Participaram do estudo 100 pacientes, com idade entre 18 e 80 anos, traqueostomizados, com indicação de decanulação que foram submetidos à oclusão da cânula por 03 minutos para avaliar fonação e ventilação seguido da realização do exame. Foi comparada a indicação de decanulação por critérios clínicos com o diagnóstico de lesões laringotraqueais reconhecidas após o término da laringotraqueoscopia flexível. Os critérios de Myer-Cotton foram utilizados como referencial para classificação de doença laringotraqueal. Resultados: 62 (62%) pacientes apresentaram critérios clínicos para decanulação, porém, com doença laringotraqueal identificada pela laringotraqueoscopia flexível. Dentre estes, oito (8%) considerados aptos à decanulação baseados nos critérios clínicos apresentaram contraindicação à retirada da cânula. Apenas 26 (26%) pacientes não apresentaram doença laringotraqueal; 11 (11%) não foram decanulados por não preencherem critérios clínicos e endoscópicos. A laringotraqueoscopia flexível reconheceu doença laringotraqueal nos pacientes que preenchiam critérios clínicos para retirada da cânula traqueal. Este exame como rotina na avaliação de pacientes preenchendo critérios de decanulação mostrou-se útil e seguro.

Clinical Criteria for Tracheostomy Decannulation in Subjects with Acquired Brain Injury

Patients with acquired brain injury (ABI) often require long periods of having a tracheostomy tube for airway protection and prolonged mechanical ventilation. It has been recognized that fast and safe decannulation improves outcomes and facilitates the recovery process. Nevertheless, few studies have provided evidence for decannulation criteria, despite the high prevalence of ABI subjects with tracheostomies. The aim of our study was to assess which clinical parameters are the best predictors for decannulation in subjects with ABI. In this cross-sectional study, we recruited 74 consecutive ABI subjects (mean age 51.52 ± 16.76) with tracheostomy tubes. First, the subjects underwent the original decannulation assessment for cannula removal. Second, they underwent our experimental decannulation protocol. The experimental protocol included: voluntary cough (cough peak flow ≥160 L/min), reflex cough, tracheostomy tube capping (≥72 h), swallowing instrumental assessment (penetration aspiration scale ≤5), blue dye test, number of trachea suctions, endoscopic assessment of airway patency (lumen diameter ≥50%), saturation (SpO2 >95%), and level of consciousness evaluation (Glasgow coma scale ≥8). The reference standard was clinical removal of the tracheostomy tube within 48 h. Parameters showing the highest values of sensitivity and specificity, respectively, were tracheostomy tube capping (80%, 100%), endoscopy assessment of airway patency (100%, 30%), swallowing instrumental assessment (85%, 96%), and the blue dye test (65%, 85%). All these were combined in a clinical cluster parameter, which had higher sensitivity (100%) and specificity (82%). These results suggest that the best clinical prediction rule for decannulation in acquired brain injury subjects is a combination of the following assessments: (1) tracheostomy tube capping, (2) endoscopic assessment of patency of airways, (3) swallowing instrumental assessment, and (4) blue dye test.

Intensive physiotherapic respiratory care in critically ill patients with tracheostomy after cardiac surgery

Background. Patients following major cardiac surgery are increasingly elderly and present many comorbidities. For these reasons their post-operative phase is often burdened by several complications requiring a long stay in Critical Care and prolonged mechanical ventilation. Most of these patients, when transferred to our Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit, still have a percutaneous tracheostomy due to respiratory mechanical dysfunction. The aim of our work is to present new rehabilitative care strategies in such compromised patients. Methods and materials. We studied 27 elderly critically ill tracheostomized patients who were split into 2 Groups (A = 11 and B = 16). The Groups were homogeneous for age and for left ventricular ejection fraction. Group A received a standard treatment including cautious mobilisation and respiratory unspecific physiotherapy. Group B received an earlier and more aggressive treatment with a specific respiratory physiotherapy including Positive Expiration Pressure (PEP) directly connected to the tracheostomy cannula. A protocol for tracheostomy decannulation by assessment of the Peak Expiratory Flow during cough (PCEF≥ 180 L/min.) has been defined in order to verify the patients ability to develop a mechanically effective cough to obtain weaning from tracheostomy. Besides, in the patients of Group B, we carried out a screening of the swallowing dysfunction. Results. Four patients of Group A deceased while in Group B there were no deaths. Furthermore patients of Group B showed a statistically significant improvement of mobility and respiratory indexes. In Group B only one patient was discharged with tracheostomy cannula in site because he did not reach standard criteria for decannulation and his PCEF value was not satisfactory. This patient underwent percutaneous gastrostomy. Conclusions. A precocious and intensive rehabilitation, based on specific respiratory physiotherapy, significantly improves mobility and respiratory indexes of patients with tracheostomy. The PCEF and the swallowing deficit evaluation allows an earlier tracheostomy decannulation with lower risk of complications.

Importance of flexible bronchoscopy in decannulation of tracheostomy patients.

To evaluate the importance of flexible bronchoscopy in tracheostomy patients in the process of decannulation to assess the incidence and types of laryngotracheal injury and compare the presence of such lesions with clinical criteria used for decannulation. We studied 51 tracheostomized patients aged between 19 and 87 years, with tracheal stent for a mean of 46 ± 28 days and with clinical criteria for decannulation. They were submitted to tracheostomy tube occlusion tolerance testfor 24 hours, and then to flexible bronchoscopy. We described and classified the diagnosed laryngotracheal changes. We compared the clinical criteria for decannulation indication with the bronchoscopy-diagnosed laryngotracheal injuries that contraindicated decannulation. We identified the factors that could interfere in decannulation and evaluated the importance of bronchoscopy as part of the process. Forty (80.4%) patients had laryngotracheal alterations. Of the 40 patients considered clinically fit to decannulation, eight (20%) (p = 0.0007) presented with laryngotracheal injuries at bronchoscopy that contraindicated the procedure. The most frequent laryngeal alteration was vocal cords lesion, in 15 (29%) individuals, and granuloma, the most prevalent tracheal lesion, in 14 (27.5%) patients. flexible bronchoscopy showed a large number of laryngotracheal injuries, the most frequent being the vocal cords injury in the larynx and the granuloma in the trachea, which contributed to increase the decannulation procedure safety.

Critérios para avaliação clínica fonoaudiológica do paciente traqueostomizado no leito hospitalar e internamento domiciliar

Objetivo : conhecer os critérios utilizados pelos fonoaudiólogos na avaliação clínica do paciente traqueostomizado no leito hospitalar e/ou internamento domiciliar, da cidade de Salvador, Bahia. Métodos : trata-se de um estudo transversal, descritivo, de abordagem quantitativa, cuja população constituiu-se de 28 fonoaudiólogos, que contribuíram respondendo a um formulário contendo 19 questões sobre o tema Critérios para Avaliação Clínica Fonoaudiológica do Paciente Traqueostomizado no Leito Hospitalar e/ou Internamento Domiciliar (home care). Resultados : no presente estudo, em relação aos critérios selecionados primariamente para a prática clínica, os resultados foram: 26 (92,9%) estabilidade clínica; 24 (85,7%) nível de consciência; 24 (85,7%) estado de alerta; 14 (50%) capacidade de proteção de vias aéreas; 9 (32,1%) estado nutricional; 9 (32,1%) tosse; e 6 (21,4%) possibilidade de receber via oral. Conclusão : ao término do estudo realizado foi possível concluir que os critérios para avaliação fonoaudiológica no paciente traqueostomizado no leito, na cidade de Salvador, Bahia, em sua maioria, encontram-se de acordo com os critérios descritos na literatura. Contudo, existem poucos estudos que estabelecem critérios para a decanulação, portanto, ressalta-se a necessidade de validações de protocolos para uma melhor atuação do processo de decanulação desses pacientes.

Novel Method for Laryngotracheal Reconstruction: Combining Single- and Double-Stage Techniques

Traditional open techniques for laryngotracheal reconstruction are either single- or double-stage procedures. Some patients may benefit from the presence of a long, single-tube stent, such as an endotracheal tube, but their predicted need for a 2-stage procedure and a persistent tracheostomy is high. We describe a novel technique for airway reconstruction that combines the methods of both single- and double-stage procedures. We present a retrospective review of 4 patients. All patients underwent laryngotracheal reconstruction by a single surgeon. After the operation, the airway was stented with nasotracheal intubation. A small stent, fashioned from an endotracheal tube, was placed in the tracheostoma to keep it patent. The patients subsequently underwent extubation and replacement of the tracheostomy tube. The study included 1 patient with grade 4 subglottic stenosis, 2 patients with grade 3 subglottic stenosis, and 1 patient with a posterior glottic scar. All were tracheostomy tube-dependent. Serial bronchoscopy was used to follow the patients for a minimum of 9 months after the operation. All 4 patients have since met the criteria for decannulation. This hybrid reconstruction merges the advantages of both the single- and double-stage procedures. It adds versatility to the surgical toolbox for airway reconstruction.

Association of high ventilator pressures with the development of chronic pulmonary hypertension in congenital diaphragmatic hernia patients requiring ECMO

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) patients requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) were examined to determine, if aspects of their complex ventilatory management were associated with the development of chronic pulmonary hypertension (cPH). CDH patients requiring ECMO from 1992 to 2007 were retrospectively reviewed. cPH was defined as pulmonary hypertension at 3 months of age. Demographic and clinical variables including peak ventilatory pressures (PVP) and mean airway pressures (MAP) were tabulated. 10/31 (32 %) patients developed cPH. Gestational age, birth weight, inborn status, CDH side and liver position were not different between cPH and non-cPH patients. Pre-ECMO, both groups required statistically similar ventilatory support, though there was a trend toward higher oxygenation index and higher PVP for cPH patients. While ECMO duration was similar between groups, cPH patients required significantly higher PVP (30.0 vs. 25.0 cmH(2)O, p = 0.01) and MAP (11.5 vs. 9.0 cmH(2)O, p = 0.02) for ECMO decannulation. Post-ECMO, maximum PVP (50.0 vs. 26.0 cmH(2)O, p < 0.001), MAP (18.1 vs. 12.0, p = 0.001), HFV requirement (90 vs. 10 %, p < 0.001), and ventilator time (35.7 vs. 20 days, p < 0.001) increased significantly for cPH patients. Not until after ECMO decannulation do we see clinical differences separating patients who ultimately develop cPH. Although the degree of pulmonary hypoplasia may ultimately dictate ECMO decannulation criteria, perhaps greater physiologic optimization before decannulation could decrease the incidence of cPH.

Electrophrenic pacing and decannulation for high-level spinal cord injury: A case series

BackgroundIn 1997, guidelines were developed for the management of high-level ventilator-dependent patients with spinal cord injury who had little or no ventilator-free breathing ability (VFBA). This article describes the three categories of patients, the decannulation criteria, and the successful decannulation of four patients with no VFBA and electrophrenic/diaphragm pacing, using these criteria.MethodCase series.ConclusionLack of VFBA in patients with high-level spinal cord injury does not mandate tracheostomy or electrophrenic/diaphragm pacing.

Influência da força da musculatura periférica no sucesso da decanulação

INTRODUÇÃO: A traqueostomia é provavelmente o procedimento cirúrgico mais comum realizado em pacientes críticos objetivando facilitar o desmame do suporte ventilatório. Diretrizes baseadas em evidências têm confirmado o benefício de protocolos de desmame da traqueostomia e a participação dos fisioterapeutas neste processo, porém não existe consenso quanto aos critérios para decanulação. Portanto, o objetivo do estudo é avaliar a influência da força muscular periférica e outros índices sobre o sucesso na decanulação. MÉTODOS: Análise retrospectiva por meio de levantamento de prontuário de pacientes internados na unidade de terapia intensiva do Hospital Agamenon Magalhães no período de março de 2007 a agosto de 2009. Método: Este é um estudo observacional, retrospectivo, dos prontuários dos pacientes internados na unidade de terapia intensiva clínico-cirúrgica do Hospital Agamenon Magalhães no período de março de 2007 a agosto de 2009. Foi avaliada a força muscular respiratória e periférica dos pacientes decanulados nesse período. RESULTADOS: Foram avaliados 1.541 pacientes, dos quais, 143 realizaram a traqueostomia, mas apenas 57 pacientes preencheram os critérios de inclusão para serem decanulados, sendo que destes 46 evoluíram com sucesso e 11 com insucesso, considerado a necessidade de retorno a via aérea artificial no período de duas semanas. A força muscular periférica obtida através do escore do Medical Research Council (MRC) foi significativamente menor no grupo insucesso comparada ao sucesso (28,33 ± 15,31 vs 41,11 ± 11,52; p = 0,04). Valores de MRC > 26 apresentaram uma sensibilidade de 94,4% e uma especificidade de 50,0% em relação ao desfecho da decanulação, com uma área sob a curva ROC de 0,7593. Já os leucócitos foram maiores no grupo insucesso (14070 ± 3073 vs 10520 ± 3402 células/μL ; p = 0,00). CONCLUSÃO: O estudo mostrou que a força muscular periférica e a contagem dos leucócitos no dia da decanulação influenciaram no sucesso de remoção do traqueóstomo.

The evaluation of physiologic decannulation readiness according to upper airway resistance measurement

To measure the upper-airway resistance in patients with tracheostomies and determine the value representing decannulation readiness. Fifty-six patients with tracheostomies resultant to laryngeal disease participated in this study. Forty patients met clinical criteria for decannulation; 16 did not. Subglottal pressure was measured with a tube connected to the tracheostomy tube, and airflow was monitored simultaneously using a facemask. Upper-airway resistance measurements were recorded during shallow and deep breathing. During both shallow and deep breathing, the inspiratory and expiratory resistances were significantly higher for the group unsuitable for decannulation (P < .0001). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves were 0.938 or greater for the four curves, indicating a high sensitivity and specificity of resistance measures for diagnosis. Objective measurement of upper-airway resistance during shallow and deep breathing may be a useful parameter in determining decannulation readiness of tracheostomized patients.