scholarly journals Effect of Nebulized Heparin on Weaning off Intubated Patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) Admitted to Intensive Care Unit (ICU): A Randomized Clinical Trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alireza Olapour ◽  
Mahboobe Rashidi ◽  
Fatemeh Javaher Foroush ◽  
Reza Akhoondzadeh ◽  
Nastaran Hosseini

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) treatment is based on supportive care such as mechanical ventilation, prophylaxis of stress ulcer, prophylaxis of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), nutritional support, and treatment of underlying disease. Objectives: We aimed to investigate the effects of nebulized heparin on weaning off intubated ARDS patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: In this double-blind clinical trial study, 60 patients with ARDS receiving routine care according to the ARDS protocol were randomly assigned into two groups: intervention group (receiving nebulized heparin 5000 u/BD for one week) and control group (receiving nebulized sterile water 2 cc/BD for one week). The respiratory index (PaO2/FiO2), pulmonary shunt percentage (measured by ABG), tidal volume, minute ventilation, admission duration in the ICU, and days of mechanical ventilation required were recorded for each patient for one week. Results: There was no significant difference in demographic data between the two groups. Inhaled heparin in patients with ARDS could significantly increase the respiratory index (PaO2/FiO2) and decrease pulmonary shunt percentage, minute ventilation, and tidal volume. It also significantly reduced the number of admission days in the ICU and the need for mechanical ventilation. Conclusions: The result of the present study showed that inhaled heparin in intubated ARDS patients admitted to the ICU improved respiratory and pulmonary status and reduced the need for mechanical ventilation and admission days in the ICU. Nebulizing heparin, as an anti-inflammatory and anti-coagulant agent, is an effective and safe medication for ARDS patients on mechanical ventilation.

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lúcia Taborda ◽  
Filipa Barros ◽  
Vitor Fonseca ◽  
Manuel Irimia ◽  
Ramiro Carvalho ◽  
...  

<strong>Introduction:</strong> Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome has a significant incidence and mortality at Intensive Care Units. Therefore, more studies are necessary in order to develop new effective therapeutic strategies. The authors have proposed themselves to characterize Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome patients admitted to an Intensive Care Unit for 2 years.<br /><strong>Material and Methods:</strong> This was an observational retrospective study of the patients filling the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome criteria from the American-European Consensus Conference on ARDS, being excluded those non invasively ventilated. Demographic data, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome etiology, comorbidities, Gravity Indices, PaO2/FiO2, ventilator modalities and programmation, pulmonary compliance, days of invasive mechanical ventilation, corticosteroids use, rescue therapies, complications, days at<br />Intensive Care Unit and obits were searched for and were submitted to statistic description and analysis.<br /><strong>Results:</strong> A 40 patients sample was obtained, with a median age of 72.5 years (interquartile range = 22) and a female:male ratio of ≈1:1.86. Fifty five percent of the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome cases had pulmonary etiology. The mean minimal PaO2/FiO2 was 88mmHg (CI 95%: 78.5–97.6). The mean maximal applied PEEP was 12.4 cmH2O (Standard Deviation 4.12) and the mean maximal used tidal volume was 8.2 mL/ Kg ideal body weight (CI 95%: 7.7–8.6). The median invasive mechanical ventilation days was 10. Forty seven and one half percent of the patients had been administered corticosteroids and 52.5% had been submitted to recruitment maneuvers. The most frequent complication was Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (20%). The median Intensive Care Unit stay was 10.7 days (interquartile range 10.85). The fatality rate was 60%. The probability of the favorable outcome ‘non-death in Intensive Care Unit’ was 4.4x superior for patients who were administered corticosteroids and 11x superior for patients &lt; 65 years old.<br /><strong>Discussion and Conclusions:</strong> Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome is associated with long hospitalization and significant mortality. New prospective studies will be necessary to endorse the potential benefit of steroid therapy and to identify the subgroups of patients that warrant its use.


Perfusion ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (8) ◽  
pp. 660-670
Author(s):  
Abdulrahman Al-Fares ◽  
Eddy Fan ◽  
Shahid Husain ◽  
Matteo Di Nardo ◽  
Marcelo Cypel ◽  
...  

Background: Blastomyces is a dimorphic fungus endemic to regions of North America, which can lead to pneumonia and fatal severe acute respiratory diseases syndrome in up to 89% of patients. Extracorporeal life support can provide adequate oxygenation while allowing the lungs to rest and heal, which might be an ideal therapy in this patient group, although long-term clinical and radiological outcomes are not known. Clinical features: We report on five consecutive patients admitted to Toronto General Hospital intensive care unit between January 2012 and September 2016, with progressive respiratory failure requiring veno-venous extracorporeal life support within 24-96 hours following mechanical ventilation. Ultra-lung protective mechanical ventilation was achieved within 24 hours. Recovery was the initial goal in all patients. Extracorporeal life support was provided for a prolonged period (up to 49 days), and four patients were successfully discharged from the intensive care unit. Long-term radiological assessment in three patients showed major improvement within 2 years of follow-up with some persistent disease-related changes (bronchiectasis, fibrosis, and cystic changes). In two patients, long-term functional and neuropsychological outcomes showed similar limitations to what is seen in acute respiratory distress syndrome patients who are not supported with extracorporeal life support and in acute respiratory distress syndrome patients without blastomycosis, but worse pulmonary function outcomes in the form of obstructive and restrictive changes that correlated with the radiological imaging. Conclusion: Veno-venous extracorporeal life support can effectively provide prolonged support for patients with blastomycosis-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome that is safe and associated with favorable long-term outcomes.


2021 ◽  
pp. bmjmilitary-2021-001876
Author(s):  
Thibault Martinez ◽  
K Simon ◽  
L Lely ◽  
C Nguyen Dac ◽  
M Lefevre ◽  
...  

After the appearance of the COVID-19 pandemic in France, MEROPE system was created to transform the military tactical ATLAS A400M aircraft into a flying intensive care unit. Collective aeromedical evacuations (aero-MEDEVAC) of patients suffering from SARS-CoV-2-related acute respiratory distress syndrome was performed from June to December 2020. A total of 22 patients were transported during seven missions. All aero-MEDEVAC was performed in safe conditions for patients and crew. No life-threatening conditions occurred during flight. Biohazard controls were applied according to French guidelines and prevented crew contamination. Thanks to rigorous selection criteria and continuous in-flight medical care, the safe transportation of these patients was possible. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first description of collective aero-MEDEVAC of these kinds of patients using a tactical military aircraft. We here describe the patient’s characteristics and the flight’s challenges.


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