Corrigendum to "Public versus Private Healthcare Systems following Discharge from the ICU: A Propensity Score-Matched Comparison of Outcomes".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2016/6568531.].

Behavior of lung ultrasound findings during spontaneous breathing trial.

Objective: We aimed to investigate a potential association between B-lines and weaning failure.

Methods: Fifty-seven subjects eligible for ventilation liberation were enrolled. Patients with tracheostomy were excluded.

Mechanical ventilation weaning protocol improves medical adherence and results.

Introduction: Implementation of a weaning protocol is related to better patient prognosis. However, new approaches may take several years to become the standard of care in daily practice. We conducted a prospective cohort study to investigate the effectiveness of a multifaceted strategy to implement a protocol to wean patients from mechanical ventilation (MV) and to evaluate the weaning success rate as well as practitioner adherence to the protocol.

Mortality of Adult Critically Ill Subjects With Cancer.

Background: Cancer patients may require intensive care support for postoperative care, complications associated with underlying malignancy, or toxicities related to cancer therapy. The higher mortality rates found in this population than in the population of ICU patients without cancer may be attributable to confounding due to a higher prevalence of multiple organic dysfunctions at ICU admission in patients with malignancy; however, data regarding this hypothesis are scarce. Accordingly, we performed the present study to compare the crude and propensity score-matched mortality rates between adult subjects with and without cancer admitted to a mixed medical-surgical ICU.

Public versus Private Healthcare Systems following Discharge from the ICU: A Propensity Score-Matched Comparison of Outcomes.

Purpose. The long-term outcomes of patients after discharge from tertiary ICUs as they relate to the public versus private healthcare systems in Brazil have not yet been evaluated. Materials and Methods.

48-Hour Fluid Balance Does Not Predict a Successful Spontaneous Breathing Trial.

Background: Both premature and delayed liberation from mechanical ventilation are associated with increased morbidity and mortality, and fluid balance could negatively influence extubation outcomes. We sought to determine the impact of fluid balance in the 48 h before a spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) on weaning outcomes in a mixed ICU population.

Methods: This was a prospective observational study in 2 adult medical-surgical ICUs.

The reality of patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation: a multicenter study.

Objective: The number of patients who require prolonged mechanical ventilation increased during the last decade, which generated a large population of chronically ill patients. This study established the incidence of prolonged mechanical ventilation in four intensive care units and reported different characteristics, hospital outcomes, and the impact of costs and services of prolonged mechanical ventilation patients (mechanical ventilation dependency ≥ 21 days) compared with non-prolonged mechanical ventilation patients (mechanical ventilation dependency < 21 days).

Methods: This study was a multicenter cohort study of all patients who were admitted to four intensive care units.

Association between tidal volume size, duration of ventilation, and sedation needs in patients without acute respiratory distress syndrome: an individual patient data meta-analysis.

Purpose: Mechanical ventilation with lower tidal volumes (≤6 ml/kg of predicted body weight, PBW) could benefit patients without acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). However, tidal volume reduction could be associated with increased patient discomfort and sedation needs, and consequent longer duration of ventilation. The aim of this individual patient data meta-analysis was to assess the associations between tidal volume size, duration of mechanical ventilation, and sedation needs in patients without ARDS.

Nebulization during spontaneous breathing, CPAP, and bi-level positive-pressure ventilation: a randomized analysis of pulmonary radioaerosol deposition.

Background: There have been few reports of factors affecting aerosol delivery during noninvasive ventilation (NIV). Nebulization is a standard practice, and our objective was to determine the effect of spontaneous breathing (SB) and NIV mode on lung technetium-99m ((99m)Tc) deposition in subjects with normal lungs.

Methods: Thirteen health care volunteers were submitted to a randomized radioaerosol nebulization with (99m)Tc during SB, CPAP (10 cm H2O), and bi-level positive-pressure ventilation (bi-level; inspiratory-expiratory pressures of 15/5 cm H2O).

Impact of a mechanical ventilation weaning protocol on the extubation failure rate in difficult-to-wean patients.

Objective: To determine whether the predictive accuracy of clinical judgment alone can be improved by supplementing it with an objective weaning protocol as a decision support tool.

Methods: This was a multicenter prospective cohort study carried out at three medical/surgical ICUs. The study involved all consecutive difficult-to-wean ICU patients (failure in the first spontaneous breathing trial [SBT]), on mechanical ventilation (MV) for more than 48 h, admitted between January of 2002 and December of 2005.

The critical illness polyneuropathy in septic patients with prolonged weaning from mechanical ventilation: is the diaphragm also affected? A pilot study.

Background: Critical illness myopathy and/or neuropathy (CRIMYNE) is a common alteration seen in the ICU. The currently available bedside methods of measuring respiratory and peripheral muscle function in critically ill patients are somewhat inadequate. The objective of this study was to evaluate the presence of diaphragmatic and peripheral CRIMYNE in septic patients with prolonged weaning from mechanical ventilation (MV).

Weaning predictors do not predict extubation failure in simple-to-wean patients.

Background: Predictor indexes are often included in weaning protocols and may help the intensive care unit (ICU) staff to reach expected weaning outcome in patients on mechanical ventilation.

Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the potential of weaning predictors during extubation.

Design: This is a prospective clinical study.

Increasing pressure support does not enhance secretion clearance if applied during manual chest wall vibration in intubated patients: a randomised trial.

Questions: What is the effect of increasing pressure support during the application of manual chest wall compression with vibrations for secretion clearance in intubated patients in intensive care?

Design: A randomised trial with concealed allocation, assessor blinding and intention-to-treat analysis.

Participants: 66 patients receiving mechanical ventilation for greater than 48 hours.

Intervention: All participants were positioned supine in bed with the backrest elevated 30 degrees.

Appropriate medical professionals communication reduces intensive care unit mortality.

Objectives: Communication issues between healthcare professionals in intensive care units may be related to critically ill patients’ increased mortality. This study aimed to evaluate if communication issues involving assistant physicians and routine intensive care unit physicians would impact critically ill patients’ morbidity and mortality.

Methods: This was a cohort study that included non-consecutive patients admitted to the intensive care unit for 18 months.

Central venous saturation is a predictor of reintubation in difficult-to-wean patients.

Objective: To evaluate the predictive value of central venous saturation to detect extubation failure in difficult-to-wean patients.

Design: Cohort, multicentric, clinical study.

Setting: Three medical-surgical intensive care units.