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Background: Sleep deprivation alters respiratory muscle performance and may precipitate respiratory failure. This study aimed to assess sleep in subjects admitted to ICU for acute hypoxemic respiratory failure and its role in the risk of intubation. Methods: This was a prospective observational single-center cohort study including subjects admitted to ICU for de novo acute hypoxemic respiratory failure defined as breathing frequency ≥ 25 breaths/min or clinical signs of respiratory distress and ... < 300 mm Hg while receiving high-flow nasal oxygen. Subjects with altered consciousness, central nervous or psychiatric disorders, continuous sedation or neuroleptic medication, or were uncooperative were excluded. Sleep was assessed by complete polysomnography (PSG) the night following ICU admission. The main outcome was to assess sleep among subjects with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure and to compare sleep between subjects who eventually required intubation to those who did not. Results: Over a 24-month inclusion period, 34 subjects had complete PSG, among whom 5 (15%) required intubation in the ICU. Total sleep time was 4.2 h in median (interquartile range 2.9-6.8); deep-sleep duration was 70 min (34-127), and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep duration was 9 min (0-28). Among them, 13 subjects (38%) had no REM sleep. Total sleep time and duration of deep and REM sleep stages did not differ between subjects who required intubation and those successfully treated with high-flow nasal oxygen. Conclusions: Whereas total sleep time remained relatively preserved in critically ill subjects with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure, REM sleep time was uncommon or completely absent in a large number of subjects. Sleep did not differ between subjects who required intubation and those who did not. However, given a trend toward an increased risk of intubation in subjects with a complete absence of REM sleep, further studies are needed to better explore the impact of REM sleep on the risk of intubation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors comment on a study published within the issue which compared the efficacy of bronchodilators delivered through a standard face mask with a jet nebulizer or through a high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) system with vibrating mesh nebulizer (VMN) in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) subjects. Cited are the potential improved pulmonary deposition using VMN, and the role played by systemic absorption during delivery using HFNC.

Although non-invasive ventilation (NIV) is recommended for immunocompromised patients with acute respiratory failure in the intensive care unit (ICU), it might have deleterious effects in the most severe patients. High-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO) alone might be an alternative method to reduce mortality. We aimed to determine whether HFNO alone could reduce the rate of mortality at day 28 compared with HFNO alternated with NIV. FLORALI-IM is a multicentre, open-label, randomised clinical trial conducted in 29 ICUs (28 in France and one in Italy). Adult immunocompromised patients with acute respiratory failure, defined as respiratory rate of 25 breaths per min or more and a partial pressure of arterial oxygen to inspired fraction of oxygen ratio of 300 mm Hg or lower, were randomly assigned (1:1) to HFNO alone (HFNO alone group) or NIV alternating with HFNO (NIV group). Key exclusion criteria were severe hypercapnia above 50 mm Hg, patients who could strongly benefit from NIV (ie, those with underlying chronic lung disease, with cardiogenic pulmonary oedema, or who were postoperative), severe shock, impaired consciousness defined as Glasgow coma score ≤12, urgent need for intubation, do not intubate order, and contraindication to NIV. Patients were assigned using computer-generated permuted blocks and were stratified according to centre and to the type of immunosuppression using a centralised web-based management system. In the HFNO alone group, patients were continuously treated by HFNO with a gas flow rate of 60 L/min or the highest tolerated. In the NIV group, patients were treated with NIV with a first session of at least 4 h, and then by sessions for a minimal duration of 12 h a day, with a dedicated ventilator, targeting a tidal volume below 8 mL/kg of predicted bodyweight, and with a positive end-expiratory level of at least 8 cm H 2 O. NIV sessions were interspaced with HFNO delivered as in the HFNO alone group. The primary outcome was mortality at day 28 and was assessed in the intention-to-treat population. Secondary outcomes were mortality in the ICU, in hospital, at day 90 and at day 180, intubation at day 28, length of stay in the ICU and in hospital, number of ventilator-free days at day 28, number of oxygenation technique-free days at day 28, and efficacy and tolerance of oxygenation techniques. The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT02978300 , and is complete. Between Jan 21, 2017 to March 4, 2019, of 497 eligible patients, 300 were randomly assigned but one patient withdrew consent, leaving 299 patients included in the intention-to-treat analysis (154 assigned to the HFNO alone group and 145 assigned to NIV group). Mortality rate at day 28 was 36% (95% CI 29·2 to 44·2; 56 of 154 patients) in the HFNO alone group and 35% (27·9 to 43·2; 51 of 145 patients) in the NIV group (absolute difference 1·2% [95% CI −9·6 to 11·9]; p=0·83). None of the other prespecified secondary outcomes were different between groups except for greater decreased discomfort after initiation of HFNO than with NIV (−4 mm on visual analogic scale [IQR −18 to 4] vs 0 mm [–16 to 17]; p=0·040). In critically ill immunocompromised patients with acute respiratory failure, the mortality rate did not differ between HFNO alone and NIV alternating with HFNO. However, study power was limited, so results should be interpreted with caution. French Ministry of Health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Whereas high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) oxygen therapy is increasingly used in patients with exacerbation of COPD, the effectiveness of β2 agonist nebulization through HFNC has been poorly assessed. We hypothesized that salbutamol vibrating-mesh nebulization through HFNC improves pulmonary function tests in subjects with COPD. METHODS: We conducted a physiological crossover study including subjects admitted to the ICU for severe exacerbation of COPD. After subject improvement allowing a 3-h washout period without bronchodilator, pulmonary function tests were performed while breathing through HFNC alone and after salbutamol vibrating-mesh nebulization through HFNC. The primary end point consisted in the changes in FEV1 before and after salbutamol nebulization. Secondary end points included the changes in FVC, peak expiratory flow (PEF), airway resistance, and clinical parameters. RESULTS: Among the 15 subjects included, mean (SD) FEV1 significantly increased after salbutamol nebulization from 931 mL (383) to 1,019 (432), mean difference +87 mL (95% CI 30-145) (P 5 .006). Similarly, FVC and PEF significantly increased, +174 mL (95% CI 66-282) (P 5 .004) and +0.3 L/min (95% CI 0-0.6) (P 5 .037), respectively. Airway resistances and breathing frequency did not significantly differ, whereas heart rate significantly increased after nebulization. CONCLUSIONS: In subjects with severe exacerbation of COPD, salbutamol vibrating-mesh nebulization through HFNC induced a significant bronchodilator effect with volume and flow improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The use of high-flow oxygen therapy (HFOT) through nasal cannula for the management of acute respiratory failure at the emergency department (ED) has been only sparsely studied. We conducted a systematic review of randomized-controlled and quasi-experimental studies comparing the early use of HFOT versus conventional oxygen therapy (COT) in patients with acute respiratory failure admitted to EDs.Methods: A systematic research of literature was carried out for all published control trials comparing HFOT with COT in adult patients admitted in EDs. Eligible data were extracted from Medline, Embase, Pascal, Web of Science and the Cochrane database. The primary outcome was the need for mechanical ventilation, i.e. intubation or non-invasive ventilation as rescue therapy. Secondary outcomes included respiratory rate, dyspnea level, ED length of stay, intubation and mortality.Results: Out of 1829 studies screened, five studies including 673 patients were retained in the analysis (350 patients treated with HFOT and 323 treated with COT). The need for mechanical ventilation was similar in both treatments (RR = 0.75; 95% CI 0.41 to 1.35; P = 0.31; I2 = 16%). Respiratory rate was lower with HFOT (Mean difference (MD) = -3.14 breaths/min; 95% CI = -4.9 to -1.4; P < 0.001; I2 = 39%), whereas sensation of dyspnea did not differ. (MD = -1.04; 95% CI = -2.29 to -0.22; P = 0.08; I2 = 67%). ED length of stay and mortality were similar between groups.Conclusion: The early use of HFOT in patients admitted to an ED for acute respiratory failure did not reduce the need for mechanical ventilation as compared to COT. However, HFOT decreased respiratory rate.Registration: PROSPERO ID CRD42019125696. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The use of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is debated in de novo respiratory failure. Prolonged sessions, using a dedicated NIV ventilator, with high PEEP levels could be associated with better outcomes than shorter sessions using an ICU ventilator, with low PEEP levels. We performed a systematic review of randomized controlled trials to test whether the incidence of intubation was influenced by the NIV protocol in subjects admitted to the ICU for de novo respiratory failure. METHODS: We selected randomized trials on NIV indexed in medical literature databases from their inception to April 2018. Pediatric studies, those performed outside of the ICU, trials with subjects on NIV for a reason other than de novo respiratory failure, and studies in which NIV protocol was not specified were excluded. Two authors independently extracted intubation rates and the NIV protocol (prolonged or short sessions, type of ventilator, and PEEP levels). RESULTS: Fourteen studies, which included 750 subjects treated with NIV for de novo respiratory failure in ICU, were analyzed. Overall intubation rate was 38%, 95% CI 31-45% and was not influenced by prolonged NIV sessions or the type of ventilator. The 154 subjects treated with PEEP greater than the median overall PEEP (6 cm H2O) had a PEEP level of 8 = 2 cmH2O and a pressure support level of 7 = 2 cmH2O. Their intubation rate was lower than the 293 subjects treated with lower PEEP levels (25%, 95% CI 15--37% vs 43%, 95% CI 33--54%, respectively, P = .03). Inclusion criteria were heterogeneous, and critical information on NIV application were frequently lacking. CONCLUSIONS: Except for high PEEP levels that might be associated with lower intubation rates, the protocol for carrying out NIV does not seem to influence intubation rate in patients with de novo respiratory failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To compare clinical impact after early initiation of high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy (HFNC) versus standard oxygen in patients admitted to an emergency department (ED) for acute hypoxemic respiratory failure.Methods: We performed a prospective before-after study at EDs in two centers including patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure defined by a respiratory rate above 25 breaths/min or signs of increased breathing effort under additional oxygen for a pulse oximetry above 92%. Patients with cardiogenic pulmonary edema or exacerbation of chronic lung disease were excluded. All patients were treated with standard oxygen during the first period and with HFNC during the second. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with improved respiratory failure 1 h after treatment initiation (respiratory rate ≤ 25 breaths/min without signs of increased breathing effort). Dyspnea and blood gases were also assessed.Results: Among the 102 patients included, 48 were treated with standard oxygen and 54 with HFNC. One hour after treatment initiation, patients with HFNC were much more likely to recover from respiratory failure than those treated with standard oxygen: 61% (33 of 54 patients) versus 15% (7 of 48 patients), P < 0.001. They also showed greater improvement in oxygenation (increase in PaO2 was 31 mm Hg [0-67] vs. 9 [-9-36], P = 0.02), and in feeling of breathlessness.Conclusions: As compared to standard oxygen, patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure treated with HFNC at the ED had better oxygenation, less breathlessness and were more likely to show improved respiratory failure 1 h after initiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Background Non-invasive ventilation has never been compared with high-flow oxygen to determine whether it reduces the risk of severe hypoxaemia during intubation. We aimed to determine if preoxygenation with non-invasive ventilation was more efficient than high-flow oxygen in reducing the risk of severe hypoxaemia during intubation. Methods The FLORALI-2 multicentre, open-label trial was done in 28 intensive care units in France. Adult patients undergoing tracheal intubation for acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure (a partial pressure of arterial oxygen [PaO 2 ] to fraction of inspired oxygen [FiO 2 ] ratio of ≤300 mm Hg) were randomly assigned (1:1; block size, four participants) to non-invasive ventilation or high-flow oxygen during preoxygenation, with stratification by PaO 2 /FiO 2 ratio (≤200 mm Hg vs >200 mm Hg). Key exclusion criteria were intubation for cardiac arrest, altered consciousness (defined as a Glasgow coma score of less than eight points), other contraindications to non-invasive ventilation (recent laryngeal, oesophageal, or gastric surgery, and substantial facial fractures), pulse oximetry not available, pregnant or breastfeeding women, and refusal to participate. The primary outcome was the occurrence of severe hypoxaemia (pulse oximetry <80%) during the procedure, assessed in the intention-to-treat population. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov , number NCT02668458. Findings Between April 15, 2016, and Jan 8, 2017, 2079 patients were intubated in the 28 participating units, and 322 were enrolled. We excluded five patients with no recorded data, two who withdrew consent or were under legal protection, one who was not intubated, and one who had a cardiac arrest. Of the 313 patients included in the intention-to-treat analysis, 142 were assigned to non-invasive ventilation and 171 to high-flow oxygen therapy. Severe hypoxaemia occurred in 33 (23%) of 142 patients after preoxygenation with non-invasive ventilation and 47 (27%) of 171 with high-flow oxygen (absolute difference −4·2%, 95% CI −13·7 to 5·5; p=0·39). In the 242 patients with moderate-to-severe hypoxaemia (PaO 2 /FiO 2 ≤200 mm Hg), severe hypoxaemia occurred less frequently after preoxygenation with non-invasive ventilation than with high-flow oxygen (28 [24%] of 117 patients vs 44 [35%] of 125; adjusted odds ratio 0·56, 0·32 to 0·99, p=0·0459). Serious adverse events did not differ between treatment groups, with the most common immediate complications being systolic arterial hypotension (70 [49%] patients in the non-invasive ventilation group vs 86 [50%] patients in the high-flow oxygen group) and chest infiltrate on x-ray (28 [20%] vs 33 [19%]), and the most common late complications being death at day 28 (53 [37%] vs 58 [34%]) and ventilator-associated pneumonia during ICU stay (31 [22%] vs 35 [20%]). Interpretation In patients with acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure, preoxygenation with non-invasive ventilation or high-flow oxygen therapy did not change the risk of severe hypoxaemia. Future research should explore the effect of preoxygenation method in patients with moderate-to-severe hypoxaemia at baseline. Funding French Ministry of Health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Background The use of non-invasive ventilation is controversial in immunocompromised patients with acute respiratory failure, whereas the use of high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy is growing as an alternative to standard oxygen. We aimed to compare outcomes of immunocompromised patients with acute respiratory failure treated with standard oxygen with those treated with high-flow nasal cannula oxygen alone or high-flow nasal cannula oxygen associated with non-invasive ventilation. Methods We did a post-hoc subgroup analysis in a subset of immunocompromised patients with non-hypercapnic acute respiratory failure from a multicentre, randomised, controlled trial. In the trial, patients from 23 intensive care units in France and Belgium were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to receive either standard oxygen, high-flow nasal cannula alone, or non-invasive ventilation interspaced with high-flow nasal cannula between non-invasive ventilation sessions (non-invasive ventilation group). Patients with profound neutropenia, acute-on-chronic respiratory failure, cardiogenic pulmonary oedema, shock, or altered consciousness were excluded. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients who required endotracheal intubation within 28 days after randomisation. Findings Of the 82 immunocompromised patients, 30 were treated with standard oxygen, 26 with high-flow nasal cannula alone, and 26 with non-invasive ventilation plus interspaced high-flow nasal cannula. 8 (31%) of 26 patients treated with high-flow nasal cannula alone, 13 (43%) of 30 patients treated with standard oxygen, and 17 (65%) of 26 patients treated with non-invasive ventilation required intubation at 28 days (p=0·04). Odds ratios (ORs) for intubation were higher in patients treated with non-invasive ventilation than in those treated with high-flow nasal cannula: OR 4·25 (95% CI 1·33–13·56). ORs were not significantly different between patients treated with high-flow nasal cannula alone and standard oxygen: OR 1·72 (0·57–5·18). After multivariable logistic regression, the two factors independently associated with endotracheal intubation and mortality were age and use of non-invasive ventilation as first-line therapy. Interpretation Non-invasive ventilation might be associated with an increased risk of intubation and mortality and should be used cautiously in immunocompromised patients with acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure. Funding French Ministry of Health, the French societies of intensive care (Société de Réanimation de Langue Française, SRLF) and pneumology (Société de Pneumologie de Langue Française, SPLF), La Mutuelle de Poitiers, AADAIRC (Association pour l'Assistance à Domicile Aux Insuffisants Respiratoires Chroniques), and Fisher&Paykel Healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of humidified oxygen via high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) alternating with noninvasive ventilation (NIV) in acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF). METHODS: We performed a prospective observational study in a 12-bed ICU of a university hospital. All subjects with a PaO2 /FIO2 of ≤ 300 mm Hg with standard mask oxygen and a breathing frequency of > 30 breaths/min or signs of respiratory distress were included and treated with HFNC first and then NIV. Ventilatory parameters, blood gases, and tolerance were recorded during 2 consecutive sessions of NIV and HFNC. Outcome was assessed after continuation of this noninvasive strategy. RESULTS: Twenty-eight subjects with AHRF were studied, including 23 (82%) with ARDS. Compared with standard oxygen therapy, PaO2- significantly increased from 83 (68-97) mm Hg to 108 (83-140) mm Hg using HFNC and to 125 (97-200) mm Hg using NIV (P < .01), whereas breathing frequency significantly decreased. HFNC was significantly better tolerated than NIV, with a lower score on the visual analog scale. The non-intubated subjects received HFNC for 75 (27-127) h and NIV for 23 (8-31) h. Intubation was required in 10 of 28 subjects (36%), including 8 of 23 subjects with ARDS (35%). After HFNC initiation, a breathing frequency of ≥ 30 breaths/min was an early factor associated with intubation. CONCLUSIONS: HFNC was better tolerated than NIV and allowed for significant improvement in oxygenation and tachypnea compared with standard oxygen therapy in subjects with AHRF, a large majority of whom had ARDS. Thus, HFNC may be used between NIV sessions to avoid marked impairment of oxygenation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors discusses a study on noninvasive ventilation (NIV) and its benefits as first-line therapy for patients diagnosed with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPS) exacerbation. Topics include NIV's uses for acute hypercapnic respiratory failure, pressure-limited NIV such as support ventilation and bi-level positive airway pressure in home NIV ventilators, and a proposed volume-targeted mode of NIV which is a hybrid mode that factors in tidal volume and pressure support.

A response from the authors of the article "Effect of non-invasive oxygenation strategies in immunocompromised patients with severe acute respiratory failure: a post-hoc analysis of a randomised trial" is presented.