Quality of life and long-term outcomes after hospitalization for COVID-19: Protocol for a prospective cohort study (Coalition VII).

Introduction: The long-term effects caused by COVID-19 are unknown. The present study aims to assess factors associated with health-related quality of life and long-term outcomes among survivors of hospitalization for COVID-19 in Brazil.

Methods: This is a multicenter prospective cohort study nested in five randomized clinical trials designed to assess the effects of specific COVID-19 treatments in over 50 centers in Brazil.

Clinical characteristics and predictors of mechanical ventilation in patients with COVID-19 hospitalized in Southern Brazil.

Objective: This study aims to describe the clinical characteristics and predictors of mechanical ventilation of adult inpatients with COVID-19 in a single center.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed and included adult inpatients hospitalized from March 17th to May 3rd, 2020, who were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Clinical and demographic characteristics were extracted from electronic medical records.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome: how do patients fare after the intensive care unit?

Patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome require ventilation strategies that have been shown to be important for reducing short-term mortality, such as protective ventilation and prone position ventilation. However, patients who survive have a prolonged stay in both the intensive care unit and the hospital, and they experience a reduction in overall satisfaction with life (independence, acceptance and positive outlook) as well as decreased mental health (including anxiety, depression and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms), physical health (impaired physical state and activities of daily living; fatigue and muscle weakness), social health and the ability to participate in social activities (including relationships with friends and family, hobbies and social gatherings).

Quality of life after intensive care unit: a multicenter cohort study protocol for assessment of long-term outcomes among intensive care survivors in Brazil.

Objective: To establish the prevalence of physical, cognitive and psychiatric disabilities, associated factors and their relationship with the qualities of life of intensive care survivors in Brazil.

Methods: A prospective multicenter cohort study is currently being conducted at 10 adult medical-surgical intensive care units representative of the 5 Brazilian geopolitical regions. Patients aged ≥ 18 years who are discharged from the participating intensive care units and stay 72 hours or more in the intensive care unit for medical or emergency surgery admissions or 120 hours or more for elective surgery admissions are consecutively included.

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.].

Effect of Lung Recruitment and Titrated Positive End-Expiratory Pressure (PEEP) vs Low PEEP on Mortality in Patients With Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: The effects of recruitment maneuvers and positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) titration on clinical outcomes in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remain uncertain.

Objective: To determine if lung recruitment associated with PEEP titration according to the best respiratory-system compliance decreases 28-day mortality of patients with moderate to severe ARDS compared with a conventional low-PEEP strategy.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Multicenter, randomized trial conducted at 120 intensive care units (ICUs) from 9 countries from November 17, 2011, through April 25, 2017, enrolling adults with moderate to severe ARDS.

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.

Use of thoracic electrical impedance tomography as an auxiliary tool for alveolar recruitment maneuvers in acute respiratory distress syndrome: case report and brief literature review.

Thoracic electrical impedance tomography is a real-time, noninvasive monitoring tool of the regional pulmonary ventilation distribution. Its bedside use in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome has the potential to aid in alveolar recruitment maneuvers, which are often necessary in cases of refractory hypoxemia. In this case report, we describe the monitoring results and interpretation of thoracic electrical impedance tomography used during alveolar recruitment maneuvers in a patient with acute respiratory distress syndrome, with transient application of high alveolar pressures and optimal positive end-expiratory pressure titration.

Comparison of Unplanned Intensive Care Unit Readmission Scores: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Purpose: Early discharge from the intensive care unit (ICU) may constitute a strategy of resource consumption optimization; however, unplanned readmission of hospitalized patients to an ICU is associated with a worse outcome. We aimed to compare the effectiveness of the Stability and Workload Index for Transfer score (SWIFT), Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score (SOFA) and simplified Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System (TISS-28) in predicting unplanned ICU readmission or unexpected death in the first 48 hours after discharge from the ICU.

Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study in a single tertiary hospital in southern Brazil.

Lung-Protective Ventilation With Low Tidal Volumes and the Occurrence of Pulmonary Complications in Patients Without Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Individual Patient Data Analysis.

Objective: Protective mechanical ventilation with low tidal volumes is standard of care for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. The aim of this individual patient data analysis was to determine the association between tidal volume and the occurrence of pulmonary complications in ICU patients without acute respiratory distress syndrome and the association between occurrence of pulmonary complications and outcome in these patients.

Design: Individual patient data analysis.

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).

Influence of FIO2 on PaCO2 during noninvasive ventilation in patients with COPD.

Background: The administration of a high FIO2 to COPD patients breathing spontaneously may result in hypercapnia, due to reversal of preexisting regional hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, resulting in a greater dead space. Arterial blood gas trends have not been reported in these patients. In a 31-bed medical ICU in a teaching hospital we prospectively investigated the response of 17 CO2-retaining COPD patients, after acute respiratory crisis stabilization with noninvasive ventilation, to an FIO2 of 1.

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).

Safety of a training program for ultrasound-guided internal jugular vein catheterization in critically ill patients.

Objectives: Evaluate the safety and effectiveness of a training program for performing ultrasound-guided internal jugular vein cannulation in critically ill patients.

Methods: Cohort prospective study, evaluating adult patients admitted in a teaching intensive care unit (ICU). Catheter placement was performed by an ICU medical resident.

Patients admitted to the ICU for acute exacerbation of COPD: two-year mortality and functional status.

Objective: To assess ICU patients with COPD, in terms of in-hospital characteristics, two-year mortality and two-year functional status of survivors.

Methods: A prospective cohort study involving patients with acute exacerbation of COPD admitted to the ICUs of two hospitals in the city of Porto Alegre, Brazil, between July of 2005 and July of 2006. At two years after discharge, survivors were interviewed by telephone in order to determine Karnofsky scores and scores on a scale regarding activities of daily living (ADL).

Ultrasound-guided central venous catheterization: what is the evidence?

In recent years, international health quality assurance organizations have been recommending ultrasound guidance for central venous punctures. This article reviews the evidence behind these recommendations. The MEDLINE, PubMed and SCIELO databases were searched for the following MeSH terms: central venous access, ultrasonography, and adults.

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.

Mechanical ventilation with high tidal volume induces inflammation in patients without lung disease.

Introduction: Mechanical ventilation (MV) with high tidal volumes may induce or aggravate lung injury in critical ill patients. We compared the effects of a protective versus a conventional ventilatory strategy, on systemic and lung production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) in patients without lung disease.

Methods: Patients without lung disease and submitted to mechanical ventilation admitted to one trauma and one general adult intensive care unit of two different university hospitals were enrolled in a prospective randomized-control study.

Profile and long-term prognosis of glucose tight control in intensive care unit - patients: a cohort study.

Objectives: Stress-induced hyperglycemia is frequent in critically ill patients and has been associated with increased mortality and morbidity (both in diabetic and non-diabetic patients). This study objective was to evaluate the profile and long-term prognosis of critically ill patients undergoing tight glucose-control.

Methods: Prospective cohort.

Mortality assessment and quality of life two years after discharge from the ICU: preliminary data from a prospective cohort.

Objectives: To evaluate mortality and long term quality of life of patients who were discharged from the intensive care unit.

Methods: A prospective cohort, in which all the admitted patients in a intensive care unit (ICU) during 6 months were evaluated and interviewed by telephone after two years of discharge, aiming the completion of two quality of live scales: Karnofsky scale and activities of daily living (ADL) scale.

Results: From a total of 380 patients, 100 (26.