Nonintubated Group Research Articles

Noninvasive ventilation in acute hypoxic respiratory failure in medical intensive care unit: A study in rural medical college.

Introduction:Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) has emerged as an important tool for the management of acute hypoxic respiratory failure (AHRF) and has been the area of research in the last two decades. In this study, we have tried to find out the outcome of NIV in patients with AHRF.Materials and Methods:In this prospective, observational study, all the patients of AHRF requiring NIV were enrolled, and heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), arterial blood gas parameters, and NIV settings at baseline, 1 h, and 4 h were collected. The patients were classified as AHRF with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and AHRF without ARDS, which were further classified according to the outcome.Results:Among 200 patients admitted in medical intensive care unit (ICU), 50 patients (27 with ARDS and 23 without ARDS) were put on NIV. There was a significant improvement in HR, RR, PaO 2, and inspiratory positive airway pressure after 1 and 4 h and significant improvement at 4 h in expiratory positive airway pressure in all the groups on NIV. Length of ICU stay and hospital stay was less in the nonintubated group. Mortality rate was 25.92% in the intubated group, while it was nil in the nonintubated group.Conclusion:NIV found to reduce the endotracheal intubation and mortality, by improving the outcome of the patient.

A prospective clinical study of the flora and early secondary effects after tracheostomy

Introduction: Tracheostomy patients develop copious secretions from the stoma along with cough after the procedure. However, the morphology of this secretion and the pattern of the flora over a period of time are not studied. Objective: The main objectives are to study the early after-effects of tracheostomy and to study the flora of the tracheal secretion and its impact on the host. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that was undertaken in a tertiary referral public hospital. Sixty patients were categorized into two groups of 30 each, intubated (Group A) and nonintubated (Group B), before tracheostomy. The consistency, quantity, and culture sensitivity of the tracheal secretion and its impact on the lungs were noted on day 2, 30, and 90 after the procedure. Results: The most common after-effect was copious tracheal secretion that was obvious immediately after tracheostomy which, gradually reduced to scanty. The most common organism was Pseudomonas and Klebsiella in intubated and nonintubated patients on day 2 and day 30, respectively. Conclusion: Tracheal secretion was copious and colonized in most of the patients in both the groups in the immediate post tracheostomy period which became scanty and free of colonies by the 3rd month. The organisms had no negative impact on the lower respiratory tract.

Clinical implication of radiographic scores in acute Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus pneumonia: Report from a single tertiary-referral center of South Korea

The aim of this study is to determine the earliest cutoff of radiographic score as a potential prognostic indicator of fatal outcomes in patients with acute Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) pneumonia. The institutional review board approved this retrospective study. Serial chest radiographies (CXRs) were obtained from viral exposure until death or discharge in 35 patients with laboratory confirmed MERS-CoV infection. Radiographic scores were calculated by multiplying a four-point scale of involved lung area and three-point scale of abnormal opacification, in each of the six lung zones. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analyses were performed to identify optimal day and radiographic score for the prediction of respiratory distress, and univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess significant predictive factors for intubation or tracheostomy. Among 35 patients (22 men, 13 women; median age: 48 years), 25 demonstrated abnormal opacity on CXR (MERS pneumonia), whereas no abnormality was detected in 10 patients (MERS upper respiratory tract infection). Seven patients required ventilator support (intubation group) and three of them eventually expired. The average incubation period was 5.4 days (standard deviation, ±2.8; range, 2–11). Patients in the intubation group had a higher incidence of diffuse lung involvement, higher radiographic scores, and fibrosing sequela on follow up study compared with those in the non-intubation group. However, patients’ age and comorbidity did not differ significantly between the two groups. The ROC analysis revealed an area under curve of 0.726 for the radiographic score on day 10 with an optimal cutoff score of 10 for prediction of intubation, with a sensitivity of 71% and specificity of 67%. Our study suggest that MERS patients with radiographic score > 10 on day 10 from viral exposure require aggressive therapy with careful surveillance and follow-up evaluation.

Comparison of non-intubated versus intubated video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy for lung cancer.

Non-intubated, or awake, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery has been implemented for non-anatomical lung resection and the results obtained were encouraging to consider the approach for anatomical pulmonary resection. This study was conducted to evaluate the perioperative outcomes of the non-intubated and intubated video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy in lung cancer in regards to feasibility and safety. A retrospective analysis of 62 consecutive video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomies (31 lobectomies as non-intubated, 31 lobectomies as intubated) performed in Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea between January and December 2016. Both groups share comparable clinical characteristics including the age, sex, BMI, FEV1, DLCO, smoking history, lung lobes procedure, histological type and pathological staging. There was no difference in the mean of postoperative hospitalization period (6.9 versus 7.6 days, P=0.578) and the total chest tube duration (5.6 versus 5.4 days, P=0.943) between non-intubated and intubated lobectomy respectively. Both groups had a comparable surgical outcome for the anesthesia duration, operative time, blood loss and postoperative complications. The operative time required for lobe-specific surgery was shorter in the non-intubated group except for the LLL (mean 121.7 minutes for non-intubated group versus 118.3 minutes for the intubated group). The only statistically significant surgical outcome was for the number of dissected lymph nodes between both groups (the mean number of nodes for the non-intubated group was 12.6 versus 18.0 nodes for the intubated group, P=0.003). One patient in the non-intubated group required conversion to single lung intubation and mini-thoracotomy because of bleeding with no conversion in the intubated group. No mortality encountered in either group. The perioperative surgical outcomes for the non-intubated video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy are comparable to the intubated technique. Non-intubated video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy is safe and is technically feasible. However, further prospective randomized studies are needed for a better comparison between non-intubated and intubated VATS lobectomy.

Endotracheal Intubation and In-Hospital Mortality after Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Background: Many patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhages (ICHs) undergo endotracheal intubation with subsequent mechanical ventilation (MV) for “airway protection” with the intent to prevent aspiration, pneumonias, and its related mortality. Conversely, these procedures may independently promote pneumonia, laryngeal trauma, dysphagia, and adversely affect patient outcomes. The net benefit of intubation and MV in this patient cohort has not been systematically investigated. Methods: We conducted a large single-center observational cohort study to examine the independent association between endotracheal intubation and MV, hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP), and in-hospital mortality (HM) in patients with ICH. All consecutive patients admitted with a primary diagnosis of a spontaneous ICH to a tertiary care hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, from June 2000 through January 2014, who were ≥18 years of age and hospitalized for ≥2 days were eligible for inclusion. Patients with pneumonia on admission, or those having brain or lung neoplasms were excluded. Our exposure of interest was endotracheal intubation and MV during hospitalization; our primary outcomes were incidence of HAP and HM, ascertained using International Classification of Diseases-9 and administrative discharge disposition codes, respectively, in patients who underwent endotracheal intubation and MV versus those who did not. Multivariable logistic regression was used to control for confounders. Results: Of the 2,386 hospital admissions screened, 1,384 patients fulfilled study criteria and were included in the final analysis. A total of 507 (36.6%) patients were intubated. Overall 133 (26.23%) patients in the intubated group developed HAP versus 41 (4.67%) patients in the non-intubated group (p < 0.0001); 195 (38.5%) intubated patients died during hospitalization compared to 48 (5.5%) non-intubated patients (p < 0.0001). After confounder adjustments, OR for HAP and HM, were 4.23 (95% CI 2.48–7.22; p < 0.0001) and 4.32 (95% CI 2.5–7.49; p < 0.0001) with c-statistics of 0.79 and 0.89, in the intubated versus non-intubated patients, respectively. Conclusion: In this large hospital-based cohort of patients presenting with an acute spontaneous ICH, endotracheal intubation and MV were associated with increased odds of HAP and HM. These findings urge further examination of the practice of intubation in prospective studies.

Postoperative pulmonary complications and hospital stay after lung resection surgery: A meta-analysis comparing nonintubated and intubated anesthesia.

Since postoperative pulmonary complications are one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing lung resection surgery, we performed a meta-analysis to compare the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications and hospital death, and the length of hospital stay in patients who received nonintubated or intubated anesthesia during thoracoscopic surgery for lung resection and further explore the tricks in nonintubated anesthesia. PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched from inception to September 2017. We included eligible research comparing nonintubated anesthesia with intubated anesthesia in thoracoscopic surgery for lung resection. The primary outcomes involved postoperative pulmonary complications, hospital death, and hospital stay. The rates and causes of conversion from nonintubated anesthesia to intubated anesthesia were also analyzed. After screening through 754 potentially relevant articles, we included 3 randomized controlled trials and 7 observational studies with 1138 patients. There was no perioperative mortality in 2 groups. The nonintubated group revealed comparable postoperative pulmonary complications (OR = 0.57; P = .07; P for heterogeneity = .49, I = 0%) and shorter hospital stay (WMD = -1.10; P < .00001; P for heterogeneity = .84, I = 0%) in overall findings with little heterogeneity. Nonintubated anesthesia in thoracoscopic surgery for lung resection shortened the length of hospital stay compared with intubated anesthesia. However, the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications was comparable between nonintubated and intubated group. Given the potential perioperative emergencies, such as persistent hypoxemia, carbon dioxide retention, or extensive pleural adhesions, nonintubated anesthesia in lung resection surgery requires extra vigilance to ensure the safety of the patients and the success of the surgery. Powerful randomized controlled trials in the future are essential to provide more certainty and address long-term effectiveness. Only when anesthesiologists and surgeons make efforts together can better clinical outcomes in lung resection surgery be achieved.

Early and Long-Term Outcomes After Non-Intubated, Non-Resectional Lung Volume Reduction Surgery

Objective: In 2001, the introduction of non-resectional lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) enabled surgery under non-intubated anaesthesia. This study compares this combined technique to a group of patients with a similar disorder who refused non-intubated anaesthesia. Methods: Between January 2001 and October 2015, 108 patients with severe emphysema underwent non-resectional LVRS under non-intubated anaesthesia. During the same period, another 15 patients scheduled for LVRS refused non-intubated surgery and underwent the same procedure under traditional intubated modality. Respiratory and functional parameters were evaluated. Time to residual volume recurrence and overall survival were analysed with the Kaplan–Meier method. Results: Thirteen cases (12%) required intubation due to tenacious pleuropulmonary adhesions (n=7) or intolerance (n=6). Compared with the intubated group, the non-intubated group were found to have significantly better results in post-operative partial pressure of carbon dioxide in arterial blood (PaCO2) (45±8 versus 52±8 mmHg; p=0.04), global operative time (41±24 versus 72±31 minutes; p=0.01), non-fatal complication rate (13.6% versus 33.3%; p=0.029), and especially postoperative pneumonia rate (3.1% versus 33.3%; p=0.004); patient satisfaction for anaesthesia was also improved in the non-intubated group (3.6±1.2 versus 2.8±1.7; p=0.03). Mean air leakage (5.3±3.5 versus 6.1±4.6 days), hospital stay (6.3±4.8 versus 8.0±6.1 days), and 90 days postoperative mortality rate (1.0% versus 6.6%) were lower, yet not significantly, in the non-intubated cohort. All mean respiratory and symptomatic parameters significantly improved in both groups, with no intergroup significant difference, and persisted for 4 years after surgery. Mean follow-up for the non-intubated group was 78±30 months. Analysis of time to residual volume recurrence and overall survival showed no statistically significant intergroup difference. Conclusion: Non-intubated, non-resectional LVRS presents a 90-day postoperative non-fatal complication rate and patient satisfaction for non-intubated anaesthesia that are significantly better than intubated procedures. The long-term outcomes were similar between both groups.

Immune effects after uniportal nonintubated video-thoracoscopic operations

Background: We hypothesized that uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) under nonintubated anesthesia may have a lesser immunological impact than same procedures under general anesthesia. Methods: Between December 2005 and October 2016, a total of consecutive 878 patients underwent VATS operations under nonintubated anesthesia. In a subset of 542 patients we assessed lymphocyte subpopulations at 1, 7 and 14 days postoperatively and matched with a control group of 106 patients who underwent uniportal intubated surgery. Results: Global time spent in the operative room was significantly longer in intubated group (85±41 vs. 118±34 minutes; P=0.03). The total lymphocytes count showed a lesser drop in the nonintubated group at post-operative day 7 (P=0.04) and 14 (P=0.05) with a significant lesser reduction of natural killer lymphocytes at day 7 (P=0.03) and 14 (P=0.04). 30-day mortality (0.9% vs. 4.7%; P=0.04), major morbidity (9.5% vs. 19%; P=0.03) and hospital stay (4.2±2.8 vs. 6.1±2.6 days; P=0.04) were significantly lower in the nonintubated group. Survival rate in the subset of patients operated for malignant effusion was significantly higher in the nonintubated group (P=0.03). Conclusions: Uniportal nonintubated operations demonstrated a significant lower impact on immunological response compared to the traditional procedure in general anesthesia. This impacted postoperative 30-day mortality, major morbidity and hospital stay. We also found a significant influence on long-term survival in a consistent subset of patients operated for malignant pleural effusion.

Immunological and Inflammatory Impact of Non-Intubated Lung Metastasectomy

Background: We hypothesized that video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lung metastasectomy under non-intubated anesthesia may have a lesser immunological and inflammatory impact than the same procedure under general anesthesia. Methods: Between December 2005 and October 2015, 55 patients with pulmonary oligometastases (at the first episode) successfully underwent VATS metastasectomy under non-intubated anesthesia. Lymphocytes subpopulation and interleukins 6 and 10 were measured at different intervals and matched with a control group composed of 13 patients with similar clinical features who refused non-intubated surgery. Results: The non-intubated group demonstrated a lesser reduction of natural killer lymphocytes at 7 days from the procedure (p = 0.04) compared to control. Furthermore, the group revealed a lesser spillage of interleukin 6 after 1 (p = 0.03), 7 (p = 0.04), and 14 (p = 0.05) days. There was no mortality in any groups. Major morbidity rate was significantly higher in the general anesthesia group 3 (5%) vs. 3 (23%) (p = 0.04). The median hospital stay was 3.0 vs. 3.7 (p = 0.033) days, the estimated costs with the non-intubated procedure was significantly lower, even excluding the hospital stay. Conclusions: VATS lung metastasectomy in non-intubated anesthesia had significantly lesser impact on both immunological and inflammatory response compared to traditional procedure in intubated general anesthesia.

Uniportal video-assisted thoracic surgery colorectal lung metastasectomy in non-intubated anesthesia.

More than ten years ago we started a program of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) lung metastasectomy in non-intubated local anesthesia. In this study we investigated the effectiveness and long term results of this combined surgical-anesthesiological technique. Between 2005 and 2014, 48 patients (25 men and 23 women) with pulmonary oligometastases from colorectal cancer, at the first episode, underwent VATS metastasectomy under non-intubated local anesthesia. Three patients required intubation for intolerance. In the same period 13 patients scheduled for non-intubated metastasectomy refused awake surgery and were used as a control group. The two groups were homogeneous for both demographic and pathological features. Mean number of lesions resected per patient were 1.51 (non-intubated) vs. 1.77 (control), respectively (P=0.1). The oxygenation was significantly lower in the non-intubated group especially at the end of the procedure, but the values inverted from the first postoperative hour. There was no mortality in any groups. The non-intubated group demonstrated a significant shorter overall operating time (P=0.04), better quality of recovery after both 24 (P=0.04) and 48 hours (P=0.04), shorter median hospital stay (P=0.03) and lower estimated costs (P=0.03), even excluding the hospital stay. Major morbidity rate was lower (6% vs. 23%) yet not significant (P=0.1). Both disease free survival and overall survival were similar between groups. VATS lung metastasectomy in non-intubated local anesthesia was safely performed in selected patients with oligometastases with significant advantages in overall operative time, hospital stay and economical costs. Morbidity rate was lower yet not significant. Long term results were similar.

Association of prophylactic endotracheal intubation in critically ill patients with upper GI bleeding and cardiopulmonary unplanned events

Prophylactic endotracheal intubation (PEI) is often advocated to mitigate the risk of cardiopulmonary adverse events in patients presenting with brisk upper GI bleeding (UGIB). However, the benefit of such a measure remains controversial. Our study aimed to compare the incidence of cardiopulmonary unplanned events between critically ill patients with brisk UGIB who underwent endotracheal intubation versus those who did not. Patients aged 18 years or older who presented at Cleveland Clinic between 2011 and 2014 with hematemesis and/or patients with melena with consequential hypovolemic shock were included. The primary outcome was a composite of several cardiopulmonary unplanned events (pneumonia, pulmonary edema, acute respiratory distress syndrome, persistent shock/hypotension after the procedure, arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, and cardiac arrest) occurring within 48 hours of the endoscopic procedure. Propensity score matching was used to match each patient 1:1 in variables that could influence the decision to intubate. These included Glasgow Blatchford Score, Charleston Comorbidity Index, and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation scores. Two hundred patients were included in the final analysis. The baseline characteristics, comorbidity scores, and prognostic scores were similar between the 2 groups. The overall cardiopulmonary unplanned event rates were significantly higher in the intubated group compared with the nonintubated group (20% vs 6%, P= .008), which remained significant (P= .012) after adjusting for the presence of esophageal varices. PEI before an EGD for brisk UGIB in critically ill patients is associated with an increased risk of unplanned cardiopulmonary events. The benefits and risks of intubation should be carefully weighed when considering airway protection before an EGD in this group of patients.

Optimum Temperature of Oxygen for Transpulmonary Hypothermia with Cooled Oxygen Inhalation: A Preliminary Study in a Rat Model.

Cooled oxygen inhalation was hypothesized as a novel hypothermia technique in a previous study. In the current study, we aimed to determine the optimal temperature of oxygen for this method. This is a prospective, randomized, controlled, examiner-blinded experimental study conducted with 45 healthy, adult, Wistar Hannover male rats. Rats were randomly divided into five groups; group 1: +4°C intubated group (n = 7), group 2: +4°C nonintubated group (n = 9), group 3: +8°C intubated group (n = 9), group 4: +8°C nonintubated group (n = 9), and group 5: control group (n = 9). The control group received only a standardized anesthesia protocol, and no hypothermia technique was administered. Cooled oxygen was administered in the four study groups until the rectal temperature reached 34°C. The target temperature was maintained between 32°C and 34°C for 2 hours. Then, hypothermia protocols were terminated and rats were rewarmed externally with a blanket. Main outcomes were the speed (°C/minute) of temperature decrease (S) and the time required to reach the target body temperature (T). All study groups had better results than the control group in T and S values (p < 0.001) for both parameters. Group 1 had a better T value than group 4 (p = 0.01), but no difference in S value (p = 0.223). Comparison of group 2 and group 4 showed that group 4 had better results in T and S (p = 0.04 and 0.001, respectively). No pathologic changes in histologic examination were observed in any group. Our study showed that the optimal temperature of oxygen for the cooled oxygen technique was +4°C through an intubation tube.

Prehospital ketamine use by paramedics in the Australian Capital Territory: A 12 month retrospective analysis.

The aim of this study was to describe prehospital use of ketamine by ACT Ambulance Service, and frequency of endotracheal intubation. This was a retrospective study of patients receiving prehospital ketamine between 1 January and 31 December 2013. Episodes were identified from the prehospital electronic patient care records, then linkage to ED records at two receiving hospitals. Demographics, dose, indication and occasions of intubation were analysed. A total of 163 episodes were identified; 10 of these were excluded because of lack of identifying data or missing records (age 1-97 years [mean: 43, standard deviation: 21.7], 56% men). Median total dose was 60 mg (interquartile range 70; 5-400 mg) in three doses (interquartile range 3; 1-14 mg). For patients with a weight recorded (63%), median dose was 0.73 mg/kg. Indications were analgesia 68%, agitation/combative 25%, rapid sequence intubation 5% and others 2%. A total of 26 patients were endotracheally intubated, 11 prehospital (seven as an intended rapid sequence intubation and four combative patients with return of spontaneous circulation) and 15 in the ED. Of ED intubations, 10 were trauma patients and five were drug ingestion related. Patients receiving ketamine for combativeness were more likely to be intubated than those receiving it for analgesia (25 vs 7.2%; odds ratio: 3.46; 95% confidence interval: 1.12, 10.71). In those with a weight recorded, the mg/kg dose was not associated with subsequent intubation. Median dose for analgesia was comparable with other studies; dose for sedation was less than reported elsewhere. Intubation rate for patients receiving prehospital ketamine was 17%. Further study is recommended to assess the ED course of the non-intubated group of patients, and consideration should be given to non-weight-based methods of dose selection.

Intubated Versus Nonintubated General Anesthesia for Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery—A Case-Control Study

General anesthesia with endobronchial intubation and one-lung positive-pressure ventilation always has been considered mandatory for thoracic surgery. Recently, there has been interest in nonintubated techniques for video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) in awake and sedated patients. The authors' center developed a nonintubated technique with spontaneous ventilation with the patient under general anesthesia using a supraglottic airway device. The authors believe that this was the first study to compare a nonintubated general anesthetic technique with an intubated general anesthetic technique for VATS. Retrospective, observational study. Specialist cardiothoracic hospital in the United Kingdom. All patients who underwent elective minor VATS over 8 months (n = 73). A nonintubated general anesthetic technique with spontaneous ventilation via a supraglottic airway device was used for minor VATS procedures. This was compared with a case-matched intubated group. Both groups had comparable baseline characteristics and surgical procedures. The anesthetic time was shorter in the nonintubated group (13.6±8.3 v 24.1±10.9 minutes, p<0.001). Surgical operating time and feasibility were similar. Intraoperatively, there were increases in end-tidal carbon dioxide (59.1±12.9 v 41.8±4.6, p<0.001) and respiratory rate (17.8±5.6 v 13.5±2.0, p<0.001) in the nonintubated group. Fewer patients in the nonintubated group had moderate-severe pain during recovery (19.4% v 48.4%, p = 0.02) and pain on discharge to the ward (25.8% v 61.3%, p = 0.004). There was a trend toward shorter recovery times, reduced oxygen requirement, and shorter hospital stays in the nonintubated group. A nonintubated general anesthetic technique is a feasible alternative to intubated general anesthesia for minor VATS procedures.

Primary spontaneous pneumothorax: simultaneous treatment by bilateral non-intubated videothoracoscopy.

Through a retrospective study, we assessed the feasibility and safety of simultaneous bilateral thoracoscopic wedge resection of blebs or bullae for the treatment of primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) under thoracic epidural anaesthesia with spontaneous ventilation. This retrospective analysis involved a cohort of 37 consecutive patients undergoing simultaneous bilateral thoracoscopic bullectomy under spontaneous ventilation thoracic epidural anaesthesia (n = 15) or intubated general anaesthesia (n = 22) between July 2011 and September 2015. The perioperative data, short-term outcomes and recurrence rates of the two groups were compared. The two groups had comparable preoperative demographic profiles. There were no conversions to thoracotomy or intubated single-lung ventilation. The peak end-tidal carbon dioxide in the non-intubated group was significantly higher than that in the intubated group (mean: 48 vs 34 mmHg, P < 0.001). Both groups had comparable surgical duration, blood loss and lowest intraoperative pulse oxygen saturation level. Postoperatively, the two groups had comparable chest tube duration, volume of fluid administration, length of hospital stay and complication rates. No mortality occurred. The total anaesthesia cost in non-intubated group was significantly lower (mean: CNY 4584 vs 5649, P = 0.016). The mean follow-up was 23.6 ± 12.9 months in the non-intubated group and 21.1 ± 13.4 months in the intubated group. Two recurrent pneumothoraxes in 2 patients were observed after surgical procedures for PSP. One recurrence developed in the non-intubated group (7%) and one in the intubated group (5%). Simultaneous bilateral non-intubated thoracoscopic bullectomy is not only well tolerated and technically feasible but also a safe alternative for selected patients with simultaneous bilateral PSP or with high risk of contralateral recurrence.

Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery segmentectomy by non-intubated or intubated anesthesia: a comparative analysis of short-term outcome.

The aim of this study was to reveal the short-term outcomes of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) segmentectomy without tracheal intubation compared with intubated general anesthesia with one-lung ventilation (OLV). We performed a retrospective review of our institutional database of consecutive 140 patients undergoing VATS anatomical segmentectomy from July 2011 to June 2015. Among them, 48 patients were treated without tracheal intubation using a combination of thoracic epidural anesthesia (TEA), intrathoracic vagal blockade, and sedation (non-intubated group). The other 92 patients were treated with intubated general anesthesia (intubated group). Safety and feasibility was evaluated by comparing the perioperative profiles and short-term outcomes of these two groups. Two groups had comparable surgical durations, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative chest tube drainage volume, and numbers of dissected lymph nodes (P>0.05). Patients who underwent non-intubated segmentectomy had higher peak end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO2) during operation (44.81 vs. 33.15 mmHg, P<0.001), less white blood cell changes before and after surgery (△WBC) (6.08×10(9) vs. 7.75×10(9), P=0.004), earlier resumption of oral intake (6.76 vs. 17.58 hours, P<0.001), shorter duration of postoperative chest tube drainage (2.25 vs. 3.16 days, P=0.047), less cost of anesthesia (¥5,757.19 vs. ¥7,401.85, P<0.001), and a trend toward shorter postoperative hospital stay (6.04 vs. 7.83 days, P=0.057). One patient (2.1%) in the non-intubated group required conversion to intubated OLV since a significant mediastinal movement. In the intubated group, there was one patient (1.1%) required conversion to thoracotomy due to uncontrolled bleeding. The incidence difference of postoperative complications between groups was not significant (P=0.248). There was no in-hospital death in either group. Compared with intubated general anesthesia, non-intubated thoracoscopic segmentectomy is a safe, technically feasible and economical alternative with comparable short-term outcomes. Patients underwent non-intubated thoracoscopic segmentectomy could gain a prompt recovery.

Outcomes of Patients with Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome Treated with High-Dose Sedatives and Deferred Intubation.

High doses of sedating drugs are often used to manage critically ill patients with alcohol withdrawal syndrome. To describe outcomes and risks for pneumonia and endotracheal intubation in patients with alcohol withdrawal syndrome treated with high-dose intravenous sedatives and deferred endotracheal intubation. Observational cohort study of consecutive patients treated in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a university-affiliated, community hospital for alcohol withdrawal syndrome, where patients were not routinely intubated to receive high-dose or continuously infused sedating medications. We studied 188 patients hospitalized with alcohol withdrawal syndrome from 2008 through 2012 at one medical center. The mean age (SD) of the subjects was 50.8 ± 9.0 years and their mean ICU admission APACHE (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation) II score was 6.2 ± 3.4. Thirty subjects (16%) developed pneumonia, and 38 (20.2%) required intubation. All of the 188 patients received lorazepam (median total dose, 42.5 mg), and 170 of 188 received midazolam, all but 2 by continuous intravenous infusion (median total dose, 527 mg; all administered in ICU); 19 received propofol (median total dose, 6,000 mg); and 19 received dexmedetomidine (median total dose, 1,075 mg). Intubated patients received substantially more benzodiazepine (median total dose, 761 mg of lorazepam equivalent vs. 229 mg for subjects in the nonintubated group; P < 0.0001). Endotracheal intubation was associated with pneumonia and higher acuity of illness (APACHE II score, >10). Intubated patients had a longer duration of hospital stay (median, 15 d vs. 6 d; P ≤ 0.0001). One patient did not survive hospitalization. In this single-center, observational study, where endotracheal intubation was deferred until aspiration or cardiopulmonary decompensation, treatment of alcohol withdrawal syndrome with high-dose, continuously infused sedating medications was not associated with excess morbidity or mortality.

Association of presence and timing of invasive airway placement with outcomes after pediatric in-hospital cardiac arrest

BackgroundLittle data exist regarding the association of presence of an invasive airway before cardiac arrest or early placement of an invasive airway after cardiac arrest with outcomes in children who experience in-hospital cardiac arrest. MethodsWe conducted a retrospective review of patients aged 1 day to 18 years who received cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for ≥1min in any of the three intensive care units (ICUs) at a tertiary care, academic children's hospital between 2002 and 2010. Specific outcomes evaluated included survival to hospital discharge, return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), 24-h survival, and good neurological status at hospital discharge. We fitted multivariable logistic regression models to evaluate the association between the presence of an invasive airway prior to cardiac arrest and timing of placement of an invasive airway with these outcomes. ResultsThree hundred and ninety-one patients were included. Of these, 197 (51%) patients were already tracheally intubated before the occurrence of cardiac arrest. Median time to intubation was 6min [interquartile range (IQR): 2, 12] among the 194 patients tracheally intubated following cardiac arrest. We found lower survival to hospital discharge among patients intubated prior to cardiac arrest (intubated vs. non-intubated group, 43% vs. 61%, p<0.001). After adjusting for patient and event characteristics, presence of an invasive airway prior to cardiac arrest was not associated with a significant improvement in survival to hospital discharge [odds ratio (OR): 0.70, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.42–1.16, p=0.17], or good neurological outcomes (OR: 0.60, 95% CI: 0.34–1.05, p=0.07). Similarly, early placement of an invasive airway after cardiac arrest was also not associated with an improvement in survival to hospital discharge (OR: 1.05, 95% CI: 0.78–1.42, p=0.73), or good neurological outcomes (OR: 1.08, 95% CI: 0.77–1.53, p=0.65). ConclusionsOur study demonstrates that presence of an invasive airway prior to cardiac arrest or early placement of an invasive airway after cardiac arrest is not associated with an improvement in survival to hospital discharge or good neurological outcomes. Further study of the relationship between invasive airway management and survival following cardiac arrest is warranted.

Su1506 Systematic Evaluation of the Complication Rate Following Endoscopic Biopsy of the Major Papilla

(SD) and median (range) were computed for continuous variables and frequency distributions were calculated for all categorical variables. All statistical tests were twotailed with p!0.05 considered to be significant. Results: Patients who underwent ETI for airway protection were more likely to have a history of liver cirrhosis (36 [40%] vs. 15 [21.7%], pZ0.017), massive hematemesis (O500 ml of bloody emesis20 [22%] vs.7 [8.7%], pZ0.003], alcoholism (38 [43%] vs. 12 [17.4%], p!0.0001), gastro-esophageal varices (35 [39%] vs. 16 [23.2%], pZ0.03), hepatic encephalopathy (13 [15%] vs. 3 [4.3%], pZ0.03), sepsis (28 [31%] vs. 3 [4.3%], p!0.0001), and placement of Sengstaken-Blakemore (SB) tube (8 [9%] vs. none, pZ0.009). Pulmonary aspiration was more frequent in the intubated group (36 [40%] vs. 4 [5.8%], p!0.0001). A risk score was calculated using seven variables: liver cirrhosis [score of 1], massive hematemesis or frequent blood transfusions (O3 units, score of 1), presence of varices [score of 1], alcoholism [score of 1], encephalopathy [score of 1], sepsis [score of 1] and placement of SB tube [score of 1]. The cumulative risk score among the intubated group was (1.77 vs. 0.71, p!0.0001) -higher than that of the non-intubated group. Conclusion: Pulmonary aspiration is common complication in patients with UGIB admitted to ICU undergoing EGD. It is frequently associated in patients who are cirrhosis (1), varices (1), encephalopathy (1), alcoholism [(1), hematemesis/ repeated transfusions (1), sepsis (1) and placement of SB tube (1). A risk score using these variables might guide a clinician to use ETI to protect the airways. A score of 2 or more indicates higher risk of pulmonary aspiration, while a score of less than 1 indicates lower risk. A large prospective study to identify the amount of risk contributed by each of the above risk factors might be useful in the future.

Feasibility and Safety of Nonintubated Thoracoscopic Lobectomy for Geriatric Lung Cancer Patients

The feasibility and safety of thoracoscopic lobectomy using anesthesia without tracheal intubation for treatment of geriatric non-small cell lung cancer patients is unclear, although it has been used with success in younger populations. From 2009 through 2011, 84 consecutive patients aged 65 years or older with stage I or II non-small cell lung cancer underwent thoracoscopic lobectomy. Among them, 36 patients were treated without tracheal intubation using epidural anesthesia, intrathoracic vagal blockade, and sedation (nonintubated group). The other 48 patients were treated with single-lung ventilation under general anesthesia intubated with a double-lumen tube (intubated group). The perioperative profiles and short-term outcomes of the two groups were compared. The 84 patients were a mean age of 73.0 years (range, 65-87 years). Both groups had comparable preoperative demographic and cancer staging profiles. The anesthetic duration of the nonintubated group was shorter. Both groups had comparable operation duration and blood loss. One patient in the nonintubated group was converted to tracheal intubation due to persistent hypoxemia. Postoperatively, the two groups had comparable hospital stays, complication rates, and dissected lymph nodes. Stridor was noted in 3 patients and delirium in 4 in the intubated group, but none occurred in the nonintubated group. Nonintubated thoracoscopic lobectomy is technically feasible and was as safe as thoracoscopic lobectomy performed with tracheal intubation in the geriatric lung cancer patients. Thoracoscopic lobectomy without tracheal intubation during anesthesia is a valid alternative for managing selected geriatric patients with non-small cell lung cancer.