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Background: Tracheal intubation in critical care is a high-risk procedure requiring significant expertise and airway strategy modification. We hypothesise that awake tracheal intubation is associated with a lower incidence of severe adverse events compared to standard tracheal intubation in critical care patients., Methods: Records were acquired for all tracheal intubations performed from 2020 to 2022 for critical care patients at a tertiary hospital. Each awake tracheal intubation case, using a videolaryngoscope with a hyperangulated blade (McGrath ® MAC X-Blade), was propensity matched with two controls (1:2 ratio; standard intubation videolaryngoscopy (VL) and direct laryngoscopy (DL) undergoing general anaesthesia). The primary endpoint was the incidence of adverse events, defined as a mean arterial pressure of <55 mmHg (hypotension), SpO 2 < 80% (desaturation) after sufficient preoxygenation, or peri-interventional cardiac arrest., Results: Of the 135 tracheal intubations included for analysis, 45 involved the use of an awake tracheal intubation. At least one adverse event occurred after tracheal intubation in 36/135 (27%) of patients, including awake 1/45 (2.2%; 1/1 hypotension), VL 10/45 (22%; 6/10 hypotension and 4/10 desaturation), and DL 25/45 (47%; 10/25 hypotension, 12/25 desaturation, and 3/25 cardiac arrest; p < 0.0001)., Conclusions: In this retrospective observational study of intubation practices in critical care patients, awake tracheal intubation was associated with a lower incidence of severe adverse events than anaesthetised tracheal intubation.

The optimal ventilation strategy during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) has eluded scientists for years. This porcine study aims to validate the hypothesis that ultra-low tidal volume ventilation (tidal volume 2-3 mL kg -1 ; ULTVV) minimizes renal and hepatic end-organ damage when compared to standard intermittent positive pressure ventilation (tidal volume 8-10 mL kg -1 ; IPPV) during CPR. After induced ventricular fibrillation, the animals were ventilated using an established CPR protocol. Upon return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), the follow-up was 20 h. After sacrifice, kidney and liver samples were harvested and analyzed histopathologically using an Endothelial, Glomerular, Tubular, and Interstitial (EGTI) scoring system for the kidney and a newly developed scoring system for the liver. Of 69 animals, 5 in the IPPV group and 6 in the ULTVV group achieved sustained ROSC and were enlisted, while 4 served as the sham group. Creatinine clearance was significantly lower in the IPPV-group than in the sham group ( p < 0.001). The total EGTI score was significantly higher for ULTVV than for the sham group ( p = 0.038). Aminotransferase levels and liver score showed no significant difference between the intervention groups. ULTVV may be advantageous when compared to standard ventilation during CPR in the short-term ROSC follow-up period.

Background: Invasive ventilation during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is very complex due to unique thoracic pressure conditions. Current guidelines do not provide specific recommendations for ventilation during ongoing chest compressions regarding positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP). This trial examines the cardiopulmonary effects of PEEP application during CPR. Methods: Forty-two German landrace pigs were anaesthetised, instrumented, and randomised into six intervention groups. Three PEEP levels (0, 8, and 16 mbar) were compared in high standard and ultralow tidal volume ventilation. After the induction of ventricular fibrillation, mechanical chest compressions and ventilation were initiated and maintained for thirty minutes. Blood gases, ventilation/perfusion ratio, and electrical impedance tomography loops were taken repeatedly. Ventilation pressures and haemodynamic parameters were measured continuously. Postmortem lung tissue damage was assessed using the diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) score. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS, and p values <0.05 were considered significant. Results: The driving pressure (Pdrive) showed significantly lower values when using PEEP 16 mbar than when using PEEP 8 mbar (p = 0.045) or PEEP 0 mbar (p < 0.001) when adjusted for the ventilation mode. Substantially increased overall lung damage was detected in the PEEP 0 mbar group (vs. PEEP 8 mbar, p = 0.038; vs. PEEP 16 mbar, p = 0.009). No significant differences in mean arterial pressure could be detected. Conclusion: The use of PEEP during CPR seems beneficial because it optimises ventilation pressures and reduces lung damage without significantly compromising blood pressure. Further studies are needed to examine long-term effects in resuscitated animals.

The calcium sensitiser levosimendan, which is used as an inodilator to treat decompensated heart failure, may also exhibit anti-inflammatory properties. We examined whether treatment with levosimendan improves cardiopulmonary function and is substantially beneficial to the inflammatory response in acute respiratory response syndrome (ARDS). Levosimendan was administered intravenously in a new experimental porcine model of ARDS. For comparison, we used milrinone, another well-known inotropic agent. Our results demonstrated that levosimendan intravenously improved hemodynamics and lung function in a porcine ARDS model. Significant beneficial alterations in the inflammatory response and lung injury were not detected.