Intensive Care Unit Mortality Trends during the First Two Years of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Greece: A Multi-Center Retrospective Study.

Data on COVID-19 mortality among patients in intensive care units (ICUs) from Eastern and/or Southern European countries, including Greece, are limited. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ICU mortality trends among critically ill COVID-19 patients during the first two years of the pandemic in Greece and to further investigate if certain patients' clinical characteristics contributed to this outcome. We conducted a multi-center retrospective observational study among five large university hospitals in Greece, between February 2020 and January 2022.

Airway pressure morphology and respiratory muscle activity during end-inspiratory occlusions in pressure support ventilation.

Background: The driving pressure of the respiratory system is a valuable indicator of global lung stress during passive mechanical ventilation. Monitoring lung stress in assisted ventilation is indispensable, but achieving passive conditions in spontaneously breathing patients to measure driving pressure is challenging. The accuracy of the morphology of airway pressure (Paw) during end-inspiratory occlusion to assure passive conditions during pressure support ventilation has not been examined.

Age, Comorbidities and Fear of Fall: mortality predictors associated with fall-related fractures.

To determine mortality predictors following fall related fractures in older patients. Patients aged ≥ 70 years hospitalized for fall related fractures were prospectively evaluated. Mortality was the main outcome.

Validation of a Proposed Algorithm for Assistance Titration During Proportional Assist Ventilation With Load-Adjustable Gain Factors.

Background: The present study aimed to validate a recently proposed algorithm for assistance titration during proportional assist ventilation with load-adjustable gain factors, based on a noninvasive estimation of maximum inspiratory pressure (peak P) and inspiratory effort (pressure-time product [PTP] peak P).

Methods: Retrospective analysis of the recordings obtained from 26 subjects ventilated on proportional assist ventilation with load-adjustable gain factors under different conditions, each considered as an experimental case. The estimated inspiratory output (peak P) and effort (PTP-peak P) were compared with the actual-determined by the measurement of transdiaphragmatic pressure- and the derived PTP.

Driving pressure during proportional assist ventilation: an observational study.

Background: During passive mechanical ventilation, the driving pressure of the respiratory system is an important mediator of ventilator-induced lung injury. Monitoring of driving pressure during assisted ventilation, similar to controlled ventilation, could be a tool to identify patients at risk of ventilator-induced lung injury. The aim of this study was to describe driving pressure over time and to identify whether and when high driving pressure occurs in critically ill patients during assisted ventilation.