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Background: Quality of life and mortality after percutaneous dilatational tracheotomy (PDT) has been poorly investigated. The aims of this study were to evaluate the independent risk factors for Intensive Care Unit (ICU) mortality and investigate quality of life over the first year after PDT in critically ill patients., Methods: This was a prospective, single-center, cohort study performed in a tertiary care University Hospital, enrolling consecutive ICU patients requiring elective PDT, collecting data during the tracheotomy procedure and the ICU stay. Follow-up was performed at three, six and twelve months after PDT. The medical interview included the Euro Quality of Life questionnaire comprising five dimensions (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, anxiety/depression)., Results: A total of 137 patients were included in the study. In the multivariate analysis, ICU mortality was independently associated with age (OR 1.089; P=0.003) and SAPS II (OR 1.047; P=0.003), and inversely with neurologic disease (OR 0.162; P=0.004). Mortality increased over time (ICU mortality 26.7%; in-hospital mortality 43.1%; 3-months mortality 47.4%; 6-months mortality 61.3%; and 1-year mortality 70.8%; P=0.0001). Tracheostomized patients due to respiratory disease had a higher ICU mortality (50%) compared to those with neurological disease (13.6%). quality of life (QoL) of tracheostomized patients was severely compromised at 3-months (QoL: 17, 15-19), 6-months (QoL: 17; 16-19), while moderately compromised at 1-year (QoL: 13; 9-16). A subgroup analysis showed better QoL at 3-months, 6-months and 1-year in respiratory compared to neurological tracheostomized patients (P=0.01)., Conclusions: Patients baseline characteristics and indication for PDT procedure are important determinants of in-ICU mortality and QoL in tracheostomized patients.

Case Report: A young man was admitted to the ICU for acute asthmatic respiratory failure. He was sedated with propofol, curarized with pancuronium and put on mechanical ventilation for 15 day because of the persistent asthmatics crisis. Drug therapy for asthma included high-dose corticosteroids. When sedation and paralysis were stopped, the patient, that was fully conscious, showed flaccid quadriplegia. A muscular biopsy showed elective loss of the myosin thick filaments. Electrophysiologic evaluation was compatible with both neurologic or muscular pathology. The evolution of the disease was good; a drop-out performed 5 months later showed a complete motor recovery., Discussion: This case report confirms that in some patients, intensive treatment of status asthmaticus may cause myopathy. Only recently this myopathy has been correlated to an interaction between steroids and neuromuscular blockers. Many experimental and clinical observations suggest a negative interaction between steroids and non-depolarizing curare derivatives. In the case reported here, diagnosis was based on electrophysiologic examination and above all on muscular biopsy., Conclusion: The occurrence of an acute toxic myopathy should always be taken into account, considering the high number of patients admitted with respiratory failure requiring steroid treatment and curare administrative for mechanical ventilation. It therefore seems reasonable to reduce steroid therapy as soon as possible with a periodic suspension of curare administration. Curare usage should be critically evaluated. Some basic examination such as serum CPK monitoring should allow early detection of muscular damage.

In a retrospective study on 145 patients who underwent anesthesia for thoracic surgery, perioperative variables and preoperative pulmonary function tests influencing mortality and morbidity were evaluated. 3 patients (2.07%) died and 6 (4.14%) had cardiac, respiratory and other complications in postoperative 48 hours. Clinical-statistic analysis has shown the perioperative variables predictive on mortality and morbidity and operative risk: the operation type, FEV1, MVV (% theoretical), postexclusion gas analysis, Motley index (TLC/RV), intraoperative PaCO2, muscle-relaxant dose, preoperative myocardial infarction, weight, ASA, abnormal ECG, hypercreatininemia and loss of blood. MVV, FEV1, Motley index and residual FEV1 are the useful preoperative pulmonary function tests for evaluation of operative risk and surgical resection. Evaluation of operative risk in thoracic surgery shows the necessity of preoperative pulmonary function tests.