Continuous positive airway pressure for treating hypoxemia due to pulmonary vein injury:A case report

BACKGROUND Vascular injury during thoracoscopic surgery for esophageal cancer is a rare but life-threatening complication that can lead to severe hypotension and hypoxemia.Anesthesiologists need to provide rapid and effective treatment to save patients'lives.CASE SUMMARY A 54-year-old male patient was scheduled to undergo a thoracoscopic-assisted radical resection of esophageal cancer through the upper abdomen and right chest.While dissociating the esophagus from the carina through the right chest,unexpected profuse bleeding occurred from a suspected pulmonary vascular hemorrhage.While the surgeon attempted to achieve hemostasis,the patient developed severe hypoxemia.The anesthesiologist implemented continuous positive airway pressure(CPAP)using a bronchial blocker(BB),which effectively improved the patient’s oxygenation and the operation was completed success-fully.CONCLUSION CPAP using a BB can resolve severe hypoxemia caused by accidental injury of the left inferior pulmonary vein during surgery.

Effect of positive end-expiratory pressure ventilation on central venous pressure and intraoperative blood loss in patients undergoing laparoscopic hepatectomy

Objective:Tto investigate the effects of positive end-expiratory pressure(PEEP)ventilation on central venous pressure(CVP)and intraoperative blood loss in patients undergoing laparoscopic hepatectomy.Methods:46 cases of patients undergoing laparoscopic hepatectomy,25 cases of male,female 21 cases,ASAⅠ~Ⅲlevel,were randomly divided into two groups.In group A tidal volume was set to 6 ml/kg(Predicted Body Weight,PBW)and PEEP was set to 0 cmH2O.The tidal volume of group B was set as group A,PEEP was set to 8 cmH2O.CVP,MAP,and Ppeak were recorded in the supine position after intubation(T0),supine position after pneumoperitoneal(T1),anti-trendelenberg position after pneumoperitoneal(T2),supine position after surgery(T3),and Ddyn was calculated.The amount of nitroglycerin and the amount of blood loss were recorded.Results:Compared with group A,the CVP of group B was significantly increased at T1 and T2(P<0.05).Compared to T2 with T1 in group A and group B,CVP was decreased significantly(P<0.05).At T3,Cdyn in group B was significantly higher than that in group A(P<0.05).The amount of nitroglycerin in group B was significantly higher than that in group A(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in intraoperative fluid rehydration and blood loss between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusion:PEEP with 8cmH2O can improve Ddyn in patients undergoing laparoscopic hepatectomy,but increased CVP.It requires more use of controlled low central venous pressure techniques to reduce intraoperative blood loss.

Role of proning and positive end-expiratory pressure in COVID-19

The novel coronavirus,which was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization in early 2020 has brought with itself major morbidity and mortality.It has increased hospital occupancy,heralded economic turmoil,and the rapid transmission and community spread have added to the burden of the virus.Most of the patients are admitted to the intensive care unit(ICU)for acute hypoxic respiratory failure often secondary to acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS).Based on the limited data available,there have been different opinions about the respiratory mechanics of the ARDS caused by coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19).Our article provides an insight into COVID-19 pathophysiology and how it differs from typical ARDS.Based on these differences,our article explains the different approach to ventilation in COVID-19 ARDS compared to typical ARDS.We critically analyze the role of positive end-expiratory pressure(PEEP)and proning in the ICU patients.Through the limited data and clinical experience are available,we believe that early proning in COVID-19 patients improves oxygenation and optimal PEEP should be titrated based on individual lung compliance.

Driving pressure in mechanical ventilation:A review

Driving pressure(ΔP)is a core therapeutic component of mechanical ventilation(MV).Varying levels ofΔP have been employed during MV depending on the type of underlying pathology and severity of injury.However,ΔP levels have also been shown to closely impact hard endpoints such as mortality.Considering this,conducting an in-depth review ofΔP as a unique,outcome-impacting therapeutic modality is extremely important.There is a need to understand the subtleties involved in making sureΔP levels are optimized to enhance outcomes and minimize harm.We performed this narrative review to further explore the various uses ofΔP,the different parameters that can affect its use,and how outcomes vary in different patient populations at different pressure levels.To better utilizeΔP in MV-requiring patients,additional large-scale clinical studies are needed.

Continuous positive airway pressure to improve insulin resistance and glucose homeostasis in sleep apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome(OSAS)is a relatively common disorder in the adult population.It is associated with alterations in glucose metabolism and increases the risk for diabetes mellitus.Continuous positive airway pressure(CPAP)is the treatment of choice for OSAS.It may also have a favorable effect on insulin resistance and glucose metabolism,although relevant data is conflicting.Additional research is still needed to fully establish the effect of CPAP on glucose homeostasis.It should ascertain which patients may benefit most and how long treatment takes to induce favorable changes.Finally,patient compliance is being appreciated as a major factor influencing therapeutic outcomes,and this needs to be further examined.

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Effectively Alleviates Arrhythmias in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea:Possible Relationship with Counteracting Oxidative Stress

This work is aimed at exploring the clinical efficacy of continuous positive airway pressuie(CPAP)in treatment of patients with arrhythmias combined with obstructive sleep apnea(OSA).Through evaluating serum native thiol,malonaldehyde(MDA)and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase(NADPH oxidase)in these patients and describing the effects on oxidative parameters of CPAP therapy for 3 months,we confirmed the impact of oxidative stress on arrhythmias.A total of 64 patients with OSA combined with arrhythmias were collected from April 2014 to April 2017 with full clinical information.Patients were divided into two groups(paired experiment design):32 patients in group A(control group),who received unchanged anti-arrhythmia treatment and 32 patients in group B,who were subjected to unchanged pharmacological anti-arrhythmia therapy combined with CPAP.OSA related parameters were compared between the two groups after 3-month therapy.And the levels of parameters of oxidative stress in patients were measured before and after CPAP therapy.After 3 months of CPAP therapy,compared with the control group,the percentage of sage N3(NREM 3)and stage R(REM)in total sleep time was significantly increased,while apnea-hypopnea index(AHI)and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale(ESS)score were evidently decreased.Meanwhile,the lowest oxygen saturation(LSpCh)was also elevated after CPAP treatment for 3 months.The CPAP therapy significantly prevented the occurrence of arrhythmias(P<0.05).Both the MDA level and NADPH oxidase levels were significantly lower in the group B than in the group A(P<0.05).But serum native thiol was improved by CPAP treatment(P<0.05).In conclusion,proper use of CPAP therapy provides significant benefits for the treatment of arrhythmia in patients with OSA.

Sildenafil versus continuous positive airway pressure for erectile dysfunction in men with obstructive sleep apnea： a comparat-ive study of their efficacy and safety and the patient＇s satisfaction with treatment

Aim： To assess the efficacy of sildenafil and continuous positive airway pressure （CPAP） in the treatment of concurrent erectile dysfunction （ED） with obstructive sleep apnea （OSA）, and to gauge the level of treatment satisfaction in patients and their partners. Methods： Forty men were treated for 12 weeks with sildenafil 100 mg （20 men） or CPAP during nighttime sleep （20 men）. Treatment efficacy was assessed by the rate of successful intercourse attempts, and satisfaction with treatment was assessed by patients＇ and partners＇ answers to question 1 of the Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction. Results： Under sildenafil, 128 of 249 （51.4%） intercourse attempts were successful; under CPAP, 51 of 193 （26.9%） attempts were successful （^cp 〈 0.001）. Erectile function was improved in both groups. After sildenafil and CPAP treatment, the mean International Index for Erectile Function domain scores were 14.3 and 10.8, respectively （^bp = 0.025）, compared to 7.8 and 7 at baseline, respectively. CPAP and sildenafil were well tolerated. Sporadic episodes of nasal dryness under CPAP and transient headache and flushing under sildenafil were not significant. Fifty percent of patients treated with sildenafil and 25% with CPAP were satisfied with the treatment, and their partners were equally satisfied. The satisfaction scores for both patients and partners under sildenafil were superior to those under CPAP （^cP 〈 0.002）. Conclusion： Both sildenafil 100 mg and CPAP, used separately, had positive therapeutic impact but sildenafil was superior. Patients and their partners were more satisfied with sildenafil for the treatment of ED. However, because of the high proportion of dissatisfied men and partners, new therapeutic agents or a combination of the two methods must be studied further.

Bi-level Nasal Positive Airway Pressure(BiPAP)versus Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure(CPAP)for Preterm Infants with Birth Weight Less Than 1500g and Respiratory Distress Syndrome Following INSURE Treatment:A Two-center Randomized Controlled Trial

The present study aimed to examine the effectiveness of bi-level positive airway pressure(BiPAP)versus continuous positive airway pressure(CPAP)in preterm infants with birth weight less than 1500 g and respiratory distress syndrome(RDS)following intubation-surfactant-extubation(INSURE)treatment.A two-center randomized control trial was performed.The primary outcome was the reintubation rate of infants within 72 h of age after INSURE.Secondary outcomes included bronchopulmonary dysplasia(BPD),necrotizing enterocolitis(NEC),retinopathy of prematurity(ROP)and incidences of adverse events.Lung function at one year of corrected age was also compared between the two groups.There were 140 cases in the CPAP group and 144 in the BiPAP group.After INSURE,the reintubation rates of infants within 72 h of age were 15%and 11.1%in the CPAP group and the BiPAP group,respectively(P>0.05).Neonates in the BiPAP group was on positive airway pressure(PAP)therapy three days less than in the CPAP group(12.6 d and 15.3 d,respectively,P<0.05),and on oxygen six days less than in the CPAP group(20.6 d and 26.9 d,respectively,P<0.05).Other outcomes such as BPD,NEC,ROP and feeding intolerance were not significantly different between the two groups(P>0.05).There was no difference in lung function at one year of age between the two groups(P>0.05).In conclusion,after INSURE,the reintubation rate of infants within 72 h of age was comparable between the BiPAP group and the CPAP group.BiPAP was superior to CPAP in terms of shorter durations(days)on PAP support and oxygen supplementation.There were no differences in the incidences of BPD and ROP,and lung function at one year of age between the two ventilation methods.

Relationship between intubation rate and continuous positive airway pressure therapy in the prehospital setting

BACKGROUND: To determine whether the prehospital use of continuous positive airway pressure(CPAP) therapy is associated with a reduced rate of endotracheal intubation in patients with an acute respiratory disorder brought to the emergency department(ED).METHODS: We reviewed medical records of patients with acute respiratory distress who had been treated with CPAP in the Mobile Intensive Care Unit(MICU) from January 2010 to December 2011. These records were compared with those of patients who received standardized care without CPAP in the MICU from January 2004 to December 2004. Categorical variables were summarized as frequencies and compared between groups using Fisher's exact test or the Chi-square test. Continuous variables were summarized as medians(interquartile range), and comparison between the groups was made using Wilcoxon's rank-sum test. The relationship between CPAP and intubation rate was determined using multivariable logistic regression analysis of propensity scores. The results were presented as odds ratio(OR), 95% confidence interval(CI), and P value for test effect. The adequacy of the model was calibrated using Hosmer and Lemeshow's goodness-of-fit test. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.RESULTS: The records of 785 patients were reviewed. Of the 215 patients treated with CPAP in the MICU, 13% were intubated after admission. In contrast, of the 570 patients who did not receive CPAP, 28% were intubated after ED admission. Unadjusted logistic regression analysis showed that patients who had been treated with CPAP were less likely to be intubated than those without CPAP treatment(OR=0.37, 95% CI, 0.24–0.57, P<0.0001). With propensity scores adjusted, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that CPAP treatment was associated with a 62% reduction of intubation(OR=0.384, 95%CI, 0.25–0.60, P≤0.0001).CONCLUSIONS: In patients with acute respiratory disorder, there was a relationship between CPAP therapy and the decreased intubation rate. CPAP therapy was feasible in prehospital management of patients with respiratory distress.

Impact of continuous positive airway pressure therapy for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with obstructive sleep apnea

BACKGROUND Obstructive sleep apnea(OSA)has been suggested as an independent risk factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD),and continuous positive airway pressure(CPAP)is the first-line therapy for OSA.AIM To clarify the efficacy of effective CPAP therapy on NAFLD of OSA patients by serum markers and transient elastography(TE)using FibroScan®(Echosens,Paris,France).METHODS We prospectively enrolled 123 consecutive patients with OSA who met the indications for CPAP.Liver fibrosis and steatosis were assessed using TE.Before and after 6 mo of CPAP therapy,serum markers and TE were assessed for all patients.The mean usage rate of CPAP therapy for 6 mo was arbitrarily calculated in each patient and expressed as“mean compliance index”(m-CI).RESULTS In 50 OSA patients with NAFLD,both aspartate aminotransferase(AST)and alanine aminotransferase(ALT)levels were significantly decreased after 6 mo of CPAP therapy.Univariate analysis showed that decreased body weight(BW),decreased body mass index(BMI),decreased AST level,decreased hemoglobin A1c,and high m-CI were significantly related with improved ALT level.In multivariate regression model adjusted for quantities of BW change during 6 mo of CPAP therapy,high m-CI tended to improve ALT level(P=0.051).All 17 OSA patients with NAFLD,high m-CI and no BMI changes showed significant improvements in AST and ALT levels.Meanwhile,no significant changes in TE data or serum fibrosis markers were seen.CONCLUSION Some NAFLD could be associated with chronic intermittent hypoxia due to OSA independent of BW changes.In those cases,adequate reoxygenation from effective CPAP therapy may improve NAFLD.

Effects of lower body positive pressure treadmill on functional improvement in knee osteoarthritis:A randomized clinical trial study

BACKGROUND Knee joint pain and stiffness are the two main symptoms of knee osteoarthritis(OA)and thus restrict a patient’s activities,such as walking and walking up and downstairs.The lower body positive pressure(LBPP)treadmill as one of the emerging body weight support system devices brings new hope for exerciserelated rehabilitation for knee OA patients.AIM To investigate the biomechanical effects and the subjective clinical assessment of LBPP treadmill walking exercise when compared with conventional therapy in mild to moderate knee OA patients.METHODS Eighteen patients with mild-to-moderate knee OA were recruited in this randomized controlled trial(RCT)study.The eligible knee OA patients were randomly assigned to two groups:LBPP and control groups.The patients in the LBPP group performed an LBPP walking training program for 30 min/session per day,6 d per week for 2 wk whereas the patients in the control group performed walking on the ground for the same amount.All patients underwent clinical assessments and three-dimensional gait analysis at pre-and 2-wk post-treatment.RESULTS The Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index and visual analog scale scores in both the LBPP group and control group were found to decrease significantly at the post-treatment point than the pre-treatment point(LBPP:70.25±13.93 vs 40.50±11.86;3.88±0.99 vs 1.63±0.52;control:69.20±8.88 vs 48.10±8.67;3.80±0.79 vs 2.60±0.70,P<0.001).Moreover,compared with the control group,the LBPP group showed more improvements in walking speed(P=0.007),stride length(P=0.037),and knee range of motion(P=0.048)during walking,which represented more improvement in walking ability.CONCLUSION The results of our RCT study showed that the LBPP group has a greater effect on improving gait parameters than the conventional group,although there was no significant advantage in clinical assessment.This finding indicates that LBPP treadmill walking training might be an effective approach for alleviating pain symptoms and improving lower extremity locomotion in mild to moderate knee OA patients.

Dynamic biomechanical effect of lower body positive pressure treadmill training for hemiplegic gait rehabilitation after stroke: A case report

BACKGROUND Lower body positive pressure(LBPP)treadmill has potential applications for improving the gait of patients after stroke,but the related mechanism remains unclear.CASE SUMMARY A 62-year-old male patient suffered from ischemic stroke with hemiplegic gait.He was referred to our hospital because of a complaint of left limb weakness for 2 years.The LBPP training was performed one session per day and six times per week for 2 wk.The dynamic plantar pressure analysis was taken every 2 d.Meanwhile,three-digital gait analysis and synchronous electromyography as well as clinical assessments were taken before and after LBPP intervention and at the 4-wk follow-up.During LBPP training,our patient not only improved his lower limb muscle strength and walking speed,but more importantly,the symmetry index of various biomechanical indicators improved.Moreover,the patient’s planter pressure transferring from the heel area to toe area among the LBPP training process and the symmetry of lower body biomechanical parameters improved.CONCLUSION In this study,we documented a dynamic improvement of gait performance in a stroke patient under LBPP training,which included lower limb muscle strength,walking speed,and symmetry of lower limb biomechanics.Our study provides some crucial clues about the potential dynamic mechanism for LBPP training on gait and balance improvement,which is related to rebuilding foot pressure distribution and remodeling symmetry of biomechanics of the lower limb.

Different positive end expiratory pressure and tidal volume controls on lung protection and inflammatory factors during surgical anesthesia

BACKGROUND Mechanical ventilation can lead to the severe impairment of the metabolic pathway of alveolar surfactants,inactivating alveolar surfactants and significantly reducing lung-chest compliance.The cardiopulmonary function of elderly patients usually reduced to a certain extent,and there are lung complications after surgical anesthesia,just like lung barotrauma caused by mechanical ventilation,atelectasis and postoperative hypoxemia.AIM To investigate the effects of different positive end expiratory pressures(PEEPs)and tidal volumes(VTs)on respiratory function,the degree of the inflammatory response and hemodynamic indexes in patients undergoing surgery under general anesthesia.METHODS A total of 120 patients undergoing surgery for gastric or colon cancer under general anesthesia in Xinghua People's Hospital from January 2017 to January 2021 were randomly divided into Group A and Group B,with 60 cases in each group.The ventilation mode in Group A was VT(6.0 mL/kg)+PEEP(5.0 cmH_(2)O),while that in Group B was VT(6.0 mL/kg)+PEEP(8.0 cmH_(2)O).Blood gas parameters,respiratory mechanical parameters,inflammatory response indicators,hemodynamic indicators and related complications were compared between the two groups.RESULTS There were no significant differences in PaCO_(2),PaO_(2),oxygen or the examined indexes at T0 between group A and group B(P>0.05).The measured PaO_(2) value of patients in group A at T3 was higher than that in group B,and the difference was significant(P<0.05).There were no significant differences in peak airway pressure(P_(peak)),mean airway pressure or dynamic pulmonary compliance(Cdyn)at T0 between group A and group B(P>0.05).The measured P_(peak) value of patients in group A at T1 was higher than that in group B,and the difference was significant(P<0.05).The measured Cdyn value at T1 and T2 was greater than that in group B(P<0.05).Before surgery,there were no significant differences in tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin(IL)-6 or IL-10 between group A and group B(P>0.05).After 4 h,the measured values of TNF-αand IL-6 in group A were lower than those in group B,and the differences were significant(P<0.05).The IL-10 Level in group A was higher than that in group B(P<0.05).At T0,there were no significant differences in cardiac output,cardiac index(CI),stroke volume index(SVI)or mean arterial pressure between group A and group B(P>0.05).The measured values of CI and SVI at T2 in patients in group A were higher than those in group B,and the differences were significant(P<0.05).CONCLUSION For patients undergoing surgery for gastric or colon cancer under general anesthesia,the VT(6.0 mL/kg)+PEEP(5.0 cmH_(2)O)regimen was more effective than the VT(6.0 mL/kg)+PEEP(8.0 cmH_(2)O)regimen in protecting the lung function and ventilatory function of patients,and it had better effects on maintaining hemodynamic stability and reducing inflammatory reactions.

Sleep Quality for Patients Receiving Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation and Nasal High-Flow Oxygen Therapy in an ICU: Two Case Studies

Aim: The purpose of this case study was to examine the sleep quality of patients receiving noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) or nasal high-flow oxygen therapy (NHF) in an intensive care unit and to investigate what types of nursing support are offered to such patients. Methods: We examined one patient each for NPPV and NHF. Polysomnography (PSG), review of the patient charts, and semi-structured interviews were used to collect the data for analysis. Results: Patients treated with NPPV or NHF demonstrated a noticeable reduction in deep sleep, with most of their sleep being shallow. Their sleep patterns varied greatly from those of healthy individuals. These results suggest that, in addition to experiencing extremely fragmented sleep, sleep in these patients was more likely to be interrupted by nursing interventions, such as during auscultation of breath sounds. Furthermore, it was revealed that “anxiety or discomfort that accompanies the mask or air pressure” in patients treated with NPPV and “discomfort that accompanies the nasal cannula or NHF circuit” in patients treated with NHF may be primary causes of disrupted sleep. Our results suggest a need for nursing care aimed at improving sleep quality in patients treated with NPPV or NHF.

Effect of continuous positive airway pressure ventilation on nocturnal ST-segment changes in patients with sleep-disordered breathing

Objective To determine whether sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) may lead to nocturnal myocardial ischemia and whether the severity of this ischemia may be relieved by nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Methods Overnight polysomnogram examination and simultaneous 3-channel Holter monitoring were performed on 76 patients with moderate to severe SDB and no history of coronary heart disease. All the cases were treated with CPAP for one night. ST depression was defined as a ST segment decrease of more than 1 mm from baseline and lasting 1 min or more. The total duration (minutes) of ST depression was indexed to the total sleep time (minutes per hour of sleep). Results Twenty-eight patients (37%) showed ST segment depression during their sleep. Before CPAP treatment, the respiratory disturbance index (RDI) and arousal index were significantly higher during periods of ST depression than when ST segments were isoelectric, whereas no significant difference was found in blood oxygen saturation (SaO2). After the CPAP treatment of patients with ST depression, the duration of ST depression was significantly reduced from 36.8±18.9 to 11.4±13.2 min/h (P<0.05). ST depression-related indexes, including RDI, arousal index and the percentage of sleep time spent at SaO2 below 90% (TS90/ TST), were all significantly decreased, with RDI from 63.4±23.8 to 8.1±6.6 /h, arousal index from 51.2±18.9 to 9.6±5.4 /h, and TS90/ TST from 50.6±21.4 to 12.9±14.7% (P<0.05). Conclusion ST-segment depression is rather common in patients with moderate to severe SDB, and CPAP treatment can significantly reduce the duration of ST depression. ST depression in these patients may reflect the myocardial ischemia that really exists and the non-ischemic changes associated with recurrent SDB.

Effect of lung lavage via fiber bronchoscope combined with non-invasive positive pressure ventilation on the blood gas results and systemic state of patients with COPD complicated by severe pneumonia

Objective: To discuss the effect of lung lavage via fiber bronchoscope combined with non-invasive positive pressure ventilation on the blood gas results and systemic state of patients with COPD complicated by severe pneumonia. Methods: A total of 68 patients with COPD complicated by severe pneumonia who were treated in the hospital between November 2015 and April 2017 were collected, retrospectively analyzed and then divided into the group A (n=35) who received noninvasive positive pressure ventilation and the group B (n=33) who received lung lavage via fiber bronchoscope combined with non-invasive positive pressure ventilation. The differences in arterial blood gas and serum index levels were compared between the two groups before and after treatment. Results: Before treatment, there was no statistically significant difference in arterial blood gas index levels as well as serum contents of inflammatory mediators, stress hormones and myocardial enzyme spectrum indexes between the two groups. After treatment, arterial blood gas indexes PH and PaO2 levels of group B were higher than those of group A;serum inflammatory mediators HMGB1, PCT and hs-CRP contents were lower than those of group A;serum stress hormones Cor, AngⅠ and AngⅡcontents were lower than those of group A;serum myocardial enzyme spectrum indexesα-HBDH and cTn-Ⅰ contents were lower than those of group A. Conclusion: Lung lavage via fiber bronchoscope combined with non-invasive positive pressure ventilation can effectively optimize the arterial blood gas levels, reduce systemic inflammatory stress state and protect the myocardial function of patients with COPD complicated by severe pneumonia.

Effect of adjuvant noninvasive positive pressure ventilation on blood gas parameters, cardiac function and inflammatory state in patients with COPD and type II respiratory failure

Objective:T o analyze the effect of adjuvant noninvasive positive pressure ventilation on blood gas parameters, cardiac function and inflammatory state in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and type II respiratory failure. Methods:90 patients with COPD and type II respiratory failure were randomly divided into observation group and control group (n=45). Control group received conventional therapy, observation group received conventional therapy+adjuvant noninvasive positive pressure ventilation, and differences in blood gas parameters, cardiac function, inflammatory state, etc., were compared between two groups of patients 2 weeks after treatment. Results:Arterial blood gas parameters pH and alveolar-arterial partial pressure of oxygen [P(A-a)O2] levels of observation group were higher than those of control group while, potassium ion (K+), chloride ion (Cl-) and carbon dioxide combining power (CO2CP) levels were lower than those of control group 2 weeks after treatment;echocardiography parameters Doppler-derived tricuspid lateral annular systolic velocity (DTIS) and pulmonary arterial velocity (PAV) levels were lower than those of control group (P<0.05) while pulmonary artery accelerating time (PAACT), left ventricular end-diastolic dimension (LVDd) and right atrioventricular tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) levels were higher than those of control group (P<0.05);serum cardiac function indexes adiponectin (APN), Copeptin, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), cystatin C (CysC), growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) and heart type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) content were lower than those of control group (P<0.05);serum inflammatory factors hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-1β(IL-1β), IL-8, IL-10, and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) content were lower than those of control group (P<0.05). Conclusions:Adjuvant noninvasive positive pressure ventilation can optimize the blood gas parameters, cardiac function and inflammatory state in patients with COPD and type II respiratory failure, and it is of positive significance in improving the overall treatment outcome.

Does Positive Airway Pressure Therapy Result in Improved Sleep Quality?

Introduction: Positive airway pressure (PAP) therapy is the gold-standard for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) management. While it is known that PAP is efficacious for controlling breathing events during sleep when it is worn at the right pressure for the amount of time prescribed, there is less clear data on how well it improves sleep quality. There are few studies that have examined the effectiveness of PAP therapy on sleep quality. Methods: OSA participants (n = 241) from a larger trial examining a PAP adherence were included. Participants were provided with PAP instruction and followed at 2 months and 4 months. PAP adherence was measured as the number of hours per night at prescribed pressure, an objective measure of treatment adherence. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used as the primary measure of sleep quality. Results: The PSQI was significantly correlated with PAP adherence at both the 2-month and 4-month time points, such that lower sleep quality was associated with lower PAP use. This finding held for the sleep disturbance subscale of the PSQI. Over 55% of those using PAP therapy at the 4-month time point continued to report significantly disturbed sleep. Discussion: This study shows that PAP therapy does not appear to improve sleep quality to a degree that would be expected. Over half of those patients using PAP therapy still experienced disturbed sleep. Whether the disturbed sleep is directly attributable to the PAP device itself or to disturbed sleep secondary to uncontrolled OSA when PAP is not worn is worthy of further investigation.

Non-Invasive Positive Pressure Ventilation (NIPPV) in the Pregnant Patient: A Case Series

Rationale: Acute respiratory failure is an uncommon complication of pregnancy. However, it is the most frequent organ dysfunction associated with obstetric admissions to an intensive care unit. The obstetric population is a different group due to its physiology and the presence of the fetus that lacks evidence in the literature within the subject of ventilatory support. Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) is often avoided due to the lack of knowledge on the safety and efficacy of this modality. Currently, there are no guidelines for the management of respiratory failure in pregnancy. Objectives: To provide evidence in support of the use of NIPPV as a safe and reasonable modality for pregnant patients with respiratory failure. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 29 pregnant patients of the Obstetric Critical Care Unit of a tertiary hospital in Panamá City who received NIPPV from 2013 to 2015. Failure to response was defined as the lack of increase in the paO2/FiO2 ratio or clinical deterioration 6 hours after initiating NIPPV. Demographics, indication for NIPPV, duration of treatment, as well as maternal and fetal outcomes were collected. Measurements and Main Results: Mean age was 28.4 ± 6 years, mean body mass index 27.4 ± 3.3, and mean gestational age at admission was 305/7 ± 5 weeks. Twenty-four patients (82.8%) met the criteria for acute lung injury (ALI) and an additional two (6.9%) for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The mean duration of ventilation was 50.6 ± 17.27 hours. Statistically significant differences were noted between the paO2/FiO2 ratios in failure and successful patients within 2 hours of NIPPV therapy (P = 0.007) and paO2/FiO2 ratio within 6 hours of NIPPV therapy (P = 0.03). Success was defined when the patient was administered NIPPV, resulting in an improvement (increase in pa/FiO2 ratio) of her ventilatory parameters. Three patients (10.3%) failed to respond to NIPPV and needed to be converted to invasive mechanical ventilation. Patients who required intubation had a longer duration of ICU stay (P = 0.006) and overall hospital stay (P = 0.03). None of patients presented aspiration during NIPPV therapy. Conclusion: The current series is the largest report of pregnant patients requiring ventilatory support who received NIPPV as first line of therapy. This report shows the usefulness of this ventilation modality, avoiding intubation with its risks, of a significant number of patients, especially ventilator-associated pneumonia.

The Value of Positive Pressure Ventilations for Clients in Acute Respiratory Distress as a Result of Cardiac and Pulmonary Issues

Objective: Research was conducted to examine benefits to using non-invasive ventilation (NIV) or continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) early in the treatment of respiratory distress caused by pulmonary edema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. Limitations to successful NIV and CPAP therapy were evaluated to determine how prolonged initiation of treatment may lead to hypoxemia (decreased oxygen in the blood) and hypercapnia (increased carbon dioxide in the blood) resulting in poor outcomes. Method: Reviews of literature from nursing and allied health data bases (CINAHL and ProQuest) with terms pulmonary edema, positive pressure device and non-invasive ventilation from 2010 to 2014 were used. Studies were conducted in the hospital and prehospital settings. Results: The literature search located 7 articles from CINAHL and 25 articles from ProQuest. A total of 6 of these articles were analyzed. Additional sources of data were obtained from Ignatavicius and Workman (2013) Medical-Surgical Nursing Patient-Centered Collaborative Care 7th edition and American Journal of Nursing (02/2013) Volume 113: 2. Conclusion: All of the articles concluded that early initiation of continuous positive airway pressure ventilations in the short-term was beneficial;however, late initiation of therapy required additional interventions. The studies indicated that early use of positive airway pressure in acute respiratory distress improved breath rate, heart rate and blood pressure. The use of positive airway pressure for respiratory distress may decrease the need for endotracheal intubation.