Quality indicators in respiratory therapy

Quality indicators in healthcare refer to measurable and quantifiable parameters used to assess and monitor the performance,effectiveness,and safety of healthcare services.These indicators provide a systematic way to evaluate the quality of care offered,and thereby to identify areas for improvement and to ensure that patient care meets established standards and best practices.Respiratory therapists play a vital role in areas of clinical administration such as infection control practices and quality improvement initiatives.Quality indicators serve as essential metrics for respiratory therapy departments to assess and enhance the overall quality of care.By systematically tracking and analyzing indicators related to infection control,treatment effectiveness,and adherence to protocols,respiratory care practitioners can identify areas to improve and implement evidence-based changes.This article reviewed how to identify,implement,and monitor quality indicators specific to the respiratory therapy departments to set benchmarks and enhance patient outcomes.

Assessment of the Effects of Manual Chest Compression Technique on Atelectasis in Infants: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of manual chest compression (MCC) in the variables of oxygenation, hemodynamic and respiratory effeteness in infants suffering from respiratory diseases with atelectasis. Methods: Controlled clinical trial, in which 38 infants were evaluated,19 ineach study group (group A: atelectasis and group B: control). Data were measured before, immediately after and 10 minutes after the end of the technique’s application. Results: The average age was of 5.05 months. There was an increase of RR in group A immediately after the application of the technique and signs of respiratory distress with a decrease in the oxygen saturation. Conclusion: There was a reduction in SpO2, an increase of RR and a worsening of clinical signs of respiratory distress. Given this, one may consider that there is a controversy about the benefits, mechanism of action, physiological and therapeutic effects of MCC when applied to infants.

Treatment of Recurrent Respiratory Infection with Chinese Drug Therapy of Tonifying-Shen(肾) and Solidifying Superficiality—A Clinical Case Report

Children recurrent respiratory infection （CRRI） indicates that children suffer from frequent infections along the upper or lower respiratory tract for a certain number of times. It is not an independent disease but a clinical syndrome mostly brought about by some basic diseases such as nonspecific immunity, specific immune suppression or deficiency disease, congenital bronchopulmonary dysplasia, vitamin or microelement deficiency, or is induced by some factors such as smoking, cross infection, and nursing errors.（2） Clinically, CRRI is commonly treated by anti-infective agents, symptomatic and supportive treatment, and immune-regulatory therapy. However, the therapeutic effectiveness is always imperfect, which could even lead to a premium on asthma, or nephritis, etc.

Effects of inhaled nitric oxide in neonatal hypoxemic respiratory failure from a multicenter controlled trial

Background Hypoxemic respiratory failure （HRF） is one of the most common causes for neonatal infants requiring aggressive respiratory support. Inhaled nitric oxide （iNO） has been established routinely as an adjunct to conventional respiratory support in developed countries. The aim of this study was to investigate effects of iNO in neonates with HRF in resource limited condition with no or limited use of surfactant, high frequency oscillatory ventilation （HFOV） and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.Methods A non-randomized, open, controlled study of efficacy of iNO was conducted over 18 months. Eligible term and near-term neonates from 28 hospitals with HRF （oxygenation index ＞15） were enrolled prospectively into two groups as either iNO or control. Oxygenation improvement and mortality as primary endpoint were determined in relation with dosing and timing of iNO, severity of underlying diseases, complications and burden. Intention-to-treat principle was adopted for outcome assessment. Response to iNO at 10 or 20 parts per million （ppm） was determined by oxygenation in reference to the control （between-group） and the baseline （within-group）.Results Compared to 93 controls, initial dose of iNO at 10 ppm in 107 treated infants significantly improved oxygenation from first hour （P=0.046）, with more partial- and non-responders improved oxygenation with subsequent 20ppm NO （P=0.018）. This effect persisted on days 1 and 3, and resulted in relatively lower mortalities （11.2% vs. 15%）whereas fewer were treated with surfactant （10% vs. 27%）,HFOV （＜5%） or postnatal corticosteroids （＜10%） in both groups. The overall outcomes at 28 days of postnatal life in the iNO-treated was not related to perinatal asphyxia,underlying diseases, severity of hypoxemia, or complications,but to the early use of iNO. The cost of hospital stay was not significantly different in both groups.Conclusions With relatively limited use of surfactant and/or HFOV in neonatal HRF, significantly more responders were found in the iNO-treated patients as reflected by improved oxygenation in the first three days over the baseline level. It warrants a randomized, controlled trial for assessment of appropriate timing and long-term outcome of iNO.

Mortality and morbidity of acute hypoxemic respiratory failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome in infants and young children

Background Acute hypoxemic respiratory failure （AHRF） often develops acute respiratory distress syndrome （ARDS）, and its incidence and mortalities in critically ill pediatric patients in China were 2% and 40% respectively. This study aimed at prospectively investigating incidence, causes, mortality and its risk factors, and any relationship to initial tidal volume （VT） levels of mechanical ventilation, in children 〈5 years of age with AHRF and ARDS. Methods In 12 consecutive months in 23 pediatric intensive care units （PICU）, AHRF and ARDS were identified in those requiring 〉12 hour intratracheal mechanical ventilation and followed up for 90 days or until death or discharge. ARDS was diagnosed according to the American-European Consensus definitions. The mortality and ventilation free days （VFD） were measured as the primary outcome, and major complications, initial disease severity, and burden were measured as the secondary outcome. Results In 13 491 PICU admissions, there were 439 AHRF, of which 345 （78.6%） developed ARDS, resulting in incidences of 3.3% and 2.6%, and corresponding mortalities of 30.3% and 32.8% respectively along with 8.2 and 6.7 times of relative risk of death in those with pneumonia （62.9%） and sepsis （33.7%） as major underlying diseases respectively. No association was found in VT levels during the first 7 days with mortality, nor for V-r at levels 〈6, 6-8, 8-10, and 〉10 ml/kg in the first 3 days with mortality or length of VFD. By binary Logistic regression analyses, higher pediatric risk of mortality score III, higher initial oxygenation index, and age 〈1 year were associated with higher mortality or shorter VFD in AHRF. Conclusions The incidence and mortalities of AHRF and ARDS in children 〈5 years were similar to or lower than the previously reported rates （in age up to 15 years）, associated with initial disease severity and other confounders, but causal relationship for the initial VT levels as the independent factor to the major outcome was not found.

Current status of neonatal acute respiratory disorders： a one-year prospective survey from a Chinese neonatal network

Background We conducted a prospective, multicenter investigation of incidence, management and outcome of neonatal acute respiratory disorders （NARD）, and evaluated related perinatal risk factors and efficacy of respiratory therapies in neonatal intensive care units （NICUs） in a Chinese neonatal network.Methods Data were prospectively collected in 2004-2005 from infants with NARD defined as presence of respiratory distress and oxygen requirement during the first 3 days of life.Results A total of 2677 NARD was classified （20.5% of NICU admissions）. There were 711 （5.44%） with respiratory distress syndrome （RDS）, 589 （4.51%） pulmonary infection, 409 （3.13%） meconium aspiration syndrome, 658 （5.03%）aspiration of amniotic fluid and 239 （1.83%） transient tachypnoea. Meconium aspiration syndrome had the highest rate with fetal distress, transient tachypnoea from cesarean section, and RDS with maternal disorders. Assisted mechanical ventilation was applied in 53.4% of NARD, and in above five disorders with 84.7%, 52.3%, 39.8%, 24.5%, and 53.6%,respectively. Corresponding mortality in these disorders was 31.4%, 13.6%, 17.8%, 4.1% and 5.0%, respectively.Surfactant was provided to 33.9% of RDS. In all RDS infants, the survival rate was 78.8% if receiving surfactant, and 63.4% if not （P 〈0.001）.Conclusions This study provided NICU admission-based incidence and mortality of NARD, reflecting efficiency of advanced respiratory therapies, which should be a reference for current development of respiratory support in NICU at provincial and sub-provincial levels, justifying efforts in upgrading standard of care in emerging regions through a collaborative manner.

Oxidative stress, respiratory muscle dysfunction, and potential therapeutics in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease （COPD） is a highly relevant disorder that induces respiratory muscle dysfunction. One prevalent symptom of COPD is resistive breathing which causes respiratory muscle to significantly increase the magnitude of contractions, resulting in reactive oxygen species （ROS） formation and oxidative stress. Through cellular signaling cascades, ROS activate molecules such as mitogen-activated protein kinases and nuclear factor-kB. These signaling molecules stimulate the release of cytokines which in turn cause damage to the diaphragm, involving sarcomeric disruptions. In response to COPD induced fatigue, the diaphragm undergoes a beneficial fibertype shift to type I muscle fibers, which are more resistant to hypoxia than type II fibers. The lung hyperinflation that occurs in COPD also causes intercostal muscle dysfunction, thereby exacerbating COPD symptoms. In addition, COPD is known to have a connection with heart failure, diabetes, and aging, further decreasing respiratory function. Currently, there is no cure for this disorder. Nevertheless, various potential therapeutic strategies focusing on respiratory muscle have been identified including respiratory muscle training, β2-agonist therapy, and lung volume reduction surgery. In this review, we will outline the role of COPD, oxidative stress, and related complications in respiratory muscle dysfunction.

Potent and specific inhibition of SARS-CoV antigen expression by RNA interference

Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is an infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV. There are no effective antiviral drugs for SARS although the epidemic of SARS was controlled. The aim of this study was to develop an RNAi (RNA interference) approach that specifically targeted the N gene sequence of severe acute respiratory syndrome associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) by synthesizing short hairpin RNA (shRNA) in vivo , and to assess the inhibitory effect of this shRNA on SARS-CoV N antigen expression. Methods The eukaryotic expression plasmid pEGFP-C1-N, containing SARS-CoV N gene, was co-transfected into 293 cells with either the RNAi plasmid pshRNA-N or unrelated control plasmid pshRNA-HBV-C4. At 24, 48 and 72 hours post transfection, the green fluorescence was observed through a fluorescence microscope. The RNA levels of SARS-CoV N were determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The expression of Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) and protein N were detected using Western blot.Results The vector, pshRNA-N expressing shRNA which targeted the N gene of SARS-CoV, was successfully constructed. The introduction of RNAi plasmid efficiently and specifically inhibited the synthesis of protein N. RT-PCR showed that RNAs of N gene were clearly reduced when the pEGFP-C1-N was cotransfected with pshRNA-N, whereas the control vector did not exhibit inhibitory effect on N gene transcription.Conclusions Our results demonstrate that RNAi mediated silencing of SARS-CoV gene could effectively inhibit expression of SARS-CoV antigen, hence RNAi based strategy should be further explored as a more efficacious antiviral therapy of SARS-CoV infection.