Use of a Ventilatory Support System (Bi PAP) for Acute Respiratory Failure in the Emergency Department

Introduction: Management of sedation, analgesia, and anxiolysis are cornerstone therapies in the emergency department (ED). Dexmedetomidine (DEX), a central alpha-2 agonist, is increasingly being used, and intensive care unit (ICU) data demonstrate improved outcomes in patients with respiratory failure. However, there is a lack of ED-based data. We therefore sought to: 1) characterize ED DEX use; 2) describe the incidence of adverse events; and 3) explore factors associated with adverse events among patients receiving DEX in the ED. Methods: This was a single-center, retrospective, cohort study of consecutive ED patients administered DEX (January 1, 2017–July 1, 2019) at an academic, tertiary care ED with an annual census of ~90,000 patient visits. All included patients (n= 103) were analyzed for characterization of DEX use in the ED. The primary outcome was a composite of adverse events, bradycardia and hypotension. Secondary clinical outcomes included ventilator-, ICU-, and hospital-free days, and hospital mortality. To examine for variables associated with adverse events, we used a multivariable logistic regression model. Results: We report on 103 patients. Dexmedetomidine was most commonly given for acute respiratory failure, including sedation for mechanical ventilation (28.9%) and facilitation of non-invasive ventilation (17.4%). Fifty-four (52.4%) patients experienced the composite adverse event, with hypotension occurring in 41 patients (39.8%) and bradycardia occurring in 18 patients (17.5%). Dexmedetomidine was stopped secondary to an adverse event in eight patients (7.8%). Duration of DEX use in the ED was associated with an increase adverse event risk (adjusted odds ratio, 1.004; 95% confidence interval, 1.001, 1.008). Conclusion: Dexmedetomidine is most commonly administered in the ED for patients with acute respiratory failure. Adverse events are relatively common, yet DEX is discontinued comparatively infrequently due to adverse events. Our results suggest that DEX could be a viable option for analgesia, anxiolysis, and sedation in ED patients.

Download Full-text

Acute respiratory failure as presentation of late-onset Pompe disease complicating the diagnostic process as a labyrinth: a case report

Multidisciplinary Respiratory Medicine ◽

10.4081/mrm.2018.176 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 13 ◽

Author(s):

Francesco Menzella ◽

Luca Codeluppi ◽

Mirco Lusuardi ◽

Carla Galeone ◽

Franco Valzania ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Case Report ◽

Respiratory Failure ◽

Acute Respiratory Failure ◽

Pompe Disease ◽

Late Onset ◽

Correct Diagnosis ◽

Ventilatory Support ◽

Diagnostic Process ◽

Caucasian Woman ◽

Enzyme Replacement

Background: Acute respiratory failure can be triggered by several causes, either of pulmonary or extra-pulmonary origin. Pompe disease, or type II glycogen storage disease, is a serious and often fatal disorder, due to a pathological accumulation of glycogen caused by a defective activiy of acid α-glucosidase (acid maltase), a lysosomal enzyme involved in glycogen degradation. The prevalence of the disease is estimated between 1 in 40,000 to 1 in 300,000 subjects. Case presentation: This case report describes a difficult diagnosis of late-onset Pompe disease (LOPD) in a 52 year old Caucasian woman with acute respiratory failure requiring orotracheal intubation and subsequent tracheostomy for long-term mechanical ventilation 24 h/day. Despite a complex diagnostic process including several blood tests, bronchoscopy with BAL, chest CT, brain NMR, electromyographies, only a muscle biopsy allowed to reach the correct diagnosis. Discussion: The most frequent presentation of myopathies, including LOPD, is proximal limb muscle weakness. Respiratory related symptoms (dyspnea on effort, reduced physical capacity, recurrent infections, etc.) and respiratory failure are often evident in the later stages of the diseases, but they have been rarely described as the onset symptoms in LOPD. In our case, a third stage LOPD, the cooperation between pulmonologists and neurologists was crucial in reaching a correct diagnosis despite a very complex clinical scenario due to different confounding co-morbidities as potential causes of respiratory failure and an atypical presentation. In this patient, enzyme replacement therapy with infusion of alglucosidase alfa was associated with progressive reduction of ventilatory support to night hours, and recovery of autonomous walking.

Download Full-text

Noninvasive and Invasive Ventilatory Support II

10.2310/7ccsp.8366 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Pauline K. Park ◽

Nicole L Werner ◽

Carl Haas

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Ventilation ◽

Respiratory Failure ◽

Lung Injury ◽

Acute Respiratory Failure ◽

Ventilatory Support ◽

Underlying Disease ◽

Protective Ventilation ◽

Lung Protective Ventilation ◽

Pulmonary Mechanics ◽

Ventilator Induced Lung Injury

Invasive and noninvasive ventilation are important tools in the clinician’s armamentarium for managing acute respiratory failure. Although these modalities do not treat the underlying disease, they can provide the necessary oxygenation and ventilatory support until the causal pathology resolves. Care must be taken as even appropriate application can cause harm. Knowledge of pulmonary mechanics, appreciation of the basic machine settings, and an understanding of how common and advanced modes function allows the clinician to optimally tailor support to the patient while limiting iatrogenic injury. This second chapter reviews indications for mechanical ventilation, routine management, troubleshooting, and liberation from mechanical ventilation This review contains 6 figures, 7 tables and 60 references Keywords: Mechanical ventilation, lung protective ventilation, sedation, ventilator-induced lung injury, liberation from mechanical ventilation

Download Full-text