Explore the vast range of titles available.

Unfortunately, none of these factors has an excellent performance to predict dyspnea in non-communicative patients who cannot self-report dyspnea, reason why observational scales such as the mechanical ventilation—respiratory distress observation scale (MV-RDOS) have been developed to detect dyspnea in this population [10]. [...]that moderate to severe dyspnea is associated with a higher rate of intubation is a fact [6]. Air hunger far exceeds dyspnea sense of effort during mechanical ventilation and a weaning trial.

To describe the incidence and risk factors of methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus ventilator associated pneumonia (MSSA-VAP) relapse in trauma and non-traumatic brain injury patients. Retrospective observational monocentric cohort study of consecutive ICU patients who developed a first episode of MSSA-VAP after trauma and non-traumatic brain injury. MSSA-VAP relapse encompass MSSA-VAP treatment failure (persistence or recurrence of MSSA) or other pathogen - VAP. A total of 165 patients (71% of trauma and 29% of non-traumatic brain injury) with MSSA-VAP were included. MSSA-VAP relapse occurred in 54 (33%) patients, including 28 (17%) MSSA-VAP treatment failure and 46 (28%) other pathogen-VAP. Empirical first-line antibiotic therapy was appropriate in 96% of cases. In multivariate analysis, the presence of Streptococcus species (Odds ratio [OR] 7.37) and oropharyngeal flora (OR 3.64) as initial MSSA co-pathogen, suggested aspiration at the time of admission and independently predicted MSSA-VAP treatment failure. Initial Glasgow coma scale (OR 0.89), need for emergent surgery (OR 5.71) and the presence of an acute respiratory distress syndrome at the time of the first MSSA-VAP (3.99), independently predicted the onset of other pathogen – VAP. Early and simple factors may help to identify patients with high-risk of MSSA-VAP relapse. [Display omitted] •MSSA-VAP relapse is frequent in brain injury patient and extends intubation.•MSSA-VAP treatment failure is associated with oropharyngeal flora identification.•Other pathogen – VAP is associated with the severity of the first MSSA-VAP (SDRA).

Background Whether dyspnea is present before starting a spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) and whether it may affect the outcome of the SBT is unknown. Mechanical Ventilation—Respiratory Distress Observation Scale (MV-RDOS) has been proposed as a reliable surrogate of dyspnea in non-communicative intubated patients. In the present study, we sought (1) to describe the evolution of the MV-RDOS during a SBT and (2) to investigate whether MV-RDOS can predict the outcome of the SBT. Methods Prospective, single-center study in a twenty-two bed ICU in a tertiary center. Patients intubated since more 48 h who had failed a first SBT were eligible if they meet classical readiness to wean criteria. The MV-RDOS was assessed before, at 2-min, 15-min and 30-min (end) of the SBT. The presence of clinically important dyspnea was inferred by a MV-RDOS value ≥  2.6. Results Fifty-eight patients (age 63 [51–70], SAPS II 66 [51–76]; med [IQR]) were included. Thirty-three (57%) patients failed the SBT, whose 18 (55%) failed before 15-min. Twenty-five (43%) patients successfully passed the SBT. A MV-RDOS ≥ 2.6 was present in ten (17%) patients before to start the SBT. All these ten patients subsequently failed the SBT. A MV-RDOS ≥ 2.6 at 2-min predicted a SBT failure with a 51% sensibility and a 88% specificity (AUC 0.741 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.616–0.866, p  = 0.002). Best cut-off value at 2-min was 4.3 and predicted SBT failure with a 27% sensibility and a 96% specificity. Conclusion Despite patients met classical readiness to wean criteria, respiratory distress assessed with the MV-RDOS was frequent at the beginning of SBT. Measuring MV-RDOS before to initiate a SBT could avoid undue procedure and reduce patient’s exposure to unnecessary mechanical ventilation weaning failure and distress.

Background Morphine relieves dyspnea in various clinical circumstances. Whether or not this applies to patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) for acute respiratory failure (ARF) is unknown. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of low-dose morphine on dyspnea in patients admitted to the ICU for ARF. Methods In this single-center, double-blind, phase 2, randomized, controlled trial, we assigned non-intubated adults admitted to the ICU for ARF with severe dyspnea, defined by a visual analog scale for dyspnea (dyspnea-VAS) from zero (no dyspnea) to 100 mm (worst imaginable dyspnea) ≥40 mm, to receive a low dose of Morphine Hydrochloride (intravenous titration followed by subcutaneous relay) or Placebo. All patients received standard therapy, including etiological treatment and non-invasive respiratory support. Results Twenty-two patients were randomized, 11 in each group. The average dyspnea (median [interquartile range]) over 24 hours did not significantly differ between the two groups (40 [25 – 43] mm in the Morphine group vs. 40 [36 – 49] mm in the Placebo group, p =0.411). Dyspnea-VAS was lower in the Morphine group than in the Placebo group at the end of intravenous titration (30 [11 – 30] vs. 35 [30 – 44], p =0.044) and four hours later (18 [10 – 29] vs. 50 [30 – 60], p =0.043). The cumulative probability of intubation was higher in the Morphine group than in the Placebo group ( p =0.046) Conclusion In this phase 2 pilot trial, morphine did not improve 24-hour average dyspnea in adult patients with ARF, even though it had a statistically significant immediate effect. Of concern, Morphine use was associated with a higher intubation rate. Trial registration The protocol was declared on the ClinicalTrial.gov database (no. NCT04358133) and was published in September 2022.

PurposeTo describe health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and dyspnea of COVID-19, 2 and 12 months after an intensive care unit (ICU) stay.MethodsPatients discharged from the ICU between April and June 2020 and subsequently transferred to an inpatient rehabilitation facility were assessed 2 months and 12 months after ICU admission. HRQoL was assessed by the EuroQoL EQ-5D-3L (visual analog scale and time trade-off normalized to the French population algorithm) and dyspnea was assessed by the modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale.ResultsWe enrolled 94 patients. Median EQ-5D-3L time trade-off was 0.80 (interquartile range, 0.36–0.91) at 2 months and 0.91 (0.52–1.00) at 12 months (P = 0.12). EQ-5D-3L visual analog scale was 70 (60–85) at 2 months and 70 (60–85) at 12 months (P = 0.07). The mMRC dyspnea scale was 3 (2–4) at ICU discharge, 1 (0–2), P < 0.001 at 2 months and 1 (1–2) at 12 months. At 12 months, 68 (76%) patients reported at least one symptom that was not present prior to ICU admission and 27 (61%) of the 44 patients who were previously working had returned to work. On multiple linear regression, factors associated with EQ-5D-3L were body mass index on ICU admission, tracheostomy, male gender and active smoking.ConclusionsTwelve months after ICU admission for COVID-19 and subsequent rehabilitation, a substantial proportion of patients reported alterations of HRQoL, dyspnea and symptoms that were not present prior to admission and a substantial proportion of these patients had not returned to work. Factors associated with a risk of poorer 12-month quality of life, may help to identify at-risk patients.

IntroductionDyspnea is common and often severe symptom in mechanically ventilated patients. Proportional assist ventilation (PAV) is an assist ventilatory mode that adjusts the level of assistance to the activity of respiratory muscles. We hypothesized that PAV reduce dyspnea compared to pressure support ventilation (PSV).Patients and methodsMechanically ventilated patients with clinically significant dyspnea were included. Dyspnea intensity was assessed by the Dyspnea—Visual Analog Scale (D-VAS) and the Intensive Care-Respiratory Distress Observation Scale (IC-RDOS) at inclusion (PSV-Baseline), after personalization of ventilator settings in order to minimize dyspnea (PSV-Personalization), and after switch to PAV. Respiratory drive was assessed by record of electromyographic activity of inspiratory muscles, the proportion of asynchrony was analyzed.ResultsThirty-four patients were included (73% males, median age of 66 [57–77] years). The D-VAS score was lower with PSV-Personalization (37 mm [20‒55]) and PAV (31 mm [14‒45]) than with PSV-Baseline (62 mm [28‒76]) (p < 0.05). The IC-RDOS score was lower with PAV (4.2 [2.4‒4.7]) and PSV-Personalization (4.4 [2.4‒4.9]) than with PSV-Baseline (4.8 [4.1‒6.5]) (p < 0.05). The electromyographic activity of parasternal intercostal muscles was lower with PAV and PSV-Personalization than with PSV-Baseline. The asynchrony index was lower with PAV (0% [0‒0.55]) than with PSV-Baseline and PSV-Personalization (0.68% [0‒2.28] and 0.60% [0.31‒1.41], respectively) (p < 0.05).ConclusionIn mechanically ventilated patients exhibiting clinically significant dyspnea with PSV, personalization of PSV settings and PAV results in not different decreased dyspnea and activity of muscles to a similar degree, even though PAV was able to reduce asynchrony more effectively.

We studied 50 patients with invasive nocardiosis treated during 2004-2023 in intensive care centers in France and Belgium. Most (65%) died in the intensive care unit or in the year after admission. Nocardia infections should be included in the differential diagnoses for patients in the intensive care setting.

Background Dyspnea is common and severe in intensive care unit (ICU) patients managed for acute respiratory failure. Dyspnea appears to be associated with impaired prognosis and neuropsychological sequels. Pain and dyspnea share many similarities and previous studies have shown the benefit of morphine on dyspnea in patients with end-stage onco-hematological disease and severe heart or respiratory disease. In these populations, morphine administration was safe. Here, we hypothesize that low-dose opioids may help to reduce dyspnea in patients admitted to the ICU for acute respiratory failure. The primary objective of the trial is to determine whether the administration of low-dose titrated opioids, compared to placebo, in patients admitted to the ICU for acute respiratory failure with severe dyspnea decreases the mean 24-h intensity of dyspnea score. Methods In this single-center double-blind randomized controlled trial with 2 parallel arms, we plan to include 22 patients (aged 18–75 years) on spontaneous ventilation with either non-invasive ventilation, high flow oxygen therapy or standard oxygen therapy admitted to the ICU for acute respiratory failure with severe dyspnea. They will be assigned after randomization with a 1:1 allocation ratio to receive in experimental arm administration of low-dose titrated morphine hydrochloride for 24 h consisting in an intravenous titration relayed subcutaneously according to a predefined protocol, or a placebo (0.9% NaCl) administered according to the same protocol in the control arm. The primary endpoint is the mean 24-h dyspnea score assessed by a visual analog scale of dyspnea. Discussion To our knowledge, this study is the first to evaluate the benefit of opioids on dyspnea in ICU patients admitted for acute respiratory failure. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04358133 . Registered on 24 April 2020.

Background Dyspnea is a key symptom of de novo acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. This study explores dyspnea and its association with intubation and mortality in this population. Methods This was a secondary analysis of a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial. Dyspnea was quantified by a visual analog scale (dyspnea-VAS) from zero to 100 mm. Dyspnea was measured in 259 of the 310 patients included. Factors associated with intubation were assessed with a competing risks model taking into account ICU discharge. The Cox model was used to evaluate factors associated with 90-day mortality. Results At baseline (randomization in the parent trial), median dyspnea-VAS was 46 (interquartile range, 16–65) mm and was ≥ 40 mm in 146 patients (56%). The intubation rate was 45%. Baseline variables independently associated with intubation were moderate (dyspnea-VAS 40–64 mm) and severe (dyspnea-VAS ≥ 65 mm) dyspnea at baseline (sHR 1.96 and 2.61, p  = 0.023), systolic arterial pressure (sHR 2.56, p  < 0.001), heart rate (sHR 1.94, p  = 0.02) and PaO 2 /FiO 2 (sHR 0.34, p  = 0.028). 90-day mortality was 20%. The cumulative probability of survival was lower in patients with baseline dyspnea-VAS ≥ 40 mm (logrank test, p  = 0.049). Variables independently associated with mortality were SAPS 2 ≥ 25 ( p  < 0.001), moderate-to-severe dyspnea at baseline ( p  = 0.073), PaO 2 /FiO 2 ( p  = 0.118), and treatment arm ( p  = 0.046). Conclusions In patients admitted to the ICU for de novo acute hypoxemic respiratory failure, dyspnea is associated with a higher risk of intubation and with a higher mortality. Trial registration : clinicaltrials.gov Identifier # NCT 01320384.