Journal Article

Mechanical ventilation in patients with acute brain injury: a systematic review with meta-analysis

Mascia, Luciana, Rooze, Paul, Bouras, Marwan, Robba, Chiara, Cinotti, Raphaël, Asehnoune, Karim, Pelosi, Paolo, Roquilly, Antoine

2023

Overview

Objective To describe the potential effects of ventilatory strategies on the outcome of acute brain-injured patients undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation. Design Systematic review with an individual data meta-analysis. Setting Observational and interventional (before/after) studies published up to August 22nd, 2022, were considered for inclusion. We investigated the effects of low tidal volume Vt < 8 ml/Kg of IBW versus Vt >  = 8 ml/Kg of IBW, positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) < or >  = 5 cmH 2 O and protective ventilation (association of both) on relevant clinical outcomes. Population Patients with acute brain injury (trauma or haemorrhagic stroke) with invasive mechanical ventilation for ≥ 24 h. Main outcome measures The primary outcome was mortality at 28 days or in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes were the incidence of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), the duration of mechanical ventilation and the partial pressure of oxygen (PaO 2 )/fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO 2 ) ratio. Results The meta-analysis included eight studies with a total of 5639 patients. There was no difference in mortality between low and high tidal volume [Odds Ratio, OR 0.88 (95%Confidence Interval, CI 0.74 to 1.05), p  = 0.16, I 2  = 20%], low and moderate to high PEEP [OR 0.8 (95% CI 0.59 to 1.07), p  = 0.13, I 2  = 80%] or protective and non-protective ventilation [OR 1.03 (95% CI 0.93 to 1.15), p  = 0.6, I 2  = 11]. Low tidal volume [OR 0.74 (95% CI 0.45 to 1.21, p  = 0.23, I 2  = 88%], moderate PEEP [OR 0.98 (95% CI 0.76 to 1.26), p  = 0.9, I 2  = 21%] or protective ventilation [OR 1.22 (95% CI 0.94 to 1.58), p  = 0.13, I 2  = 22%] did not affect the incidence of acute respiratory distress syndrome. Protective ventilation improved the PaO 2 /FiO 2 ratio in the first five days of mechanical ventilation ( p  < 0.01). Conclusions Low tidal volume, moderate to high PEEP, or protective ventilation were not associated with mortality and lower incidence of ARDS in patients with acute brain injury undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation. However, protective ventilation improved oxygenation and could be safely considered in this setting. The exact role of ventilatory management on the outcome of patients with a severe brain injury needs to be more accurately delineated.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
• Subject: Artificial respiration / Brain / Brain Injuries - therapy / Critical care / Critical Care Medicine / Demographics / Editorials / Emergency Medicine / Humans / Injuries / Intensive / Life Sciences / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Meta-analysis / Mortality / Oxygen / Patient outcomes / Patients / Pneumonia / Prevention / Respiration, Artificial / Respiratory distress syndrome / Respiratory Distress Syndrome - therapy / Risk factors / Standard deviation / Statistical analysis / Stroke (Disease) / Systematic review / Tidal Volume / Traumatic brain injury / Variables / Ventilators