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Alba Ramírez-Sarmiento,1– 3 Orlando Aya,3,4 Diana Cáceres-Rivera,1,2 Carlos F Reyes,2– 4 Angela Espitia,1,2 Camilo Pizarro,3,4 Joaquim Gea,5,6 Victor R Castillo,7,8 Mauricio Orozco-Levi1– 3,6 1Respiratory Department, Instituto Cardiovascular y Hospital Internacional de Colombia, Fundación Cardiovascular de Colombia, Floridablanca, Santander, Colombia; 2EMICON Research Group MINCIENCIAS, Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Colombia; 3Universidad de Santander (UDES), Bucaramanga, Santander, Colombia; 4Department of Critical Care, Fundación Cardiovascular de Colombia, Floridablanca, Santander, Colombia; 5Respiratory Department, Parc de Salut Mar, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; 6CEXS-Universidad Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; 7Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Fundación Cardiovascular de Colombia, Floridablanca, Santander, Colombia; 8Biomedical and Translational Research Group, Fundación Cardiovascular de Colombia, Floridablanca, Santander, ColombiaCorrespondence: Mauricio Orozco-LeviRespiratory Department, ICV-HIC, Fundación Cardiovascular de Colombia, Calle 155a no. 23-58, El Bosque, Floridablanca, Santander, ColombiaTel +57 3175741421Email mauricioorozco@fcv.orgBackground: Bronchoaspiration of content that accumulates in the supraglottic area (eg, saliva, gastroesophageal reflux) is a risk factor for ventilator-associated pneumonia. A continuous supraglottic suction system may decrease the risk of bronchoaspiration in these patients.Objective: (1) Constructing a conceptual model and functional prototype of a continuous supraglottic suction device for use in humans; (2) defining functional characteristics in ex vivo swine head models; and (3) evaluating its efficacy and safety in mechanically ventilated patients.Methods: Study conducted in three phases. First phase: definition of distances and diameters of the triangle determined by dental arch, posterior oropharynx and vallecula, and diameter of the oropharynx in axial projection; and identification of the declining area of supraglottic suction. Second phase: design engineering and functional prototype evaluated in ex vivo models. Third phase: evaluation of device use in terms of safety and efficacy in ventilated patients.Results: We obtained a final functional model of the SUPRAtube device injected into PVC for medical use. Device effectiveness in in vitro simulation showed a high and fast suction capacity of liquid and thick volumes. Study of swine heads allowed to validate the shape, size and functional fenestration of the device. Study in intubated and mechanically ventilated patients showed a high supraglottic suction capacity and the absence of local adverse events during 72 (7– 240) hours of continuous operation.Conclusion: Our study describes the process of conceptualization, design and production of a practical, safe, low-cost continuous supraglottic suction device without representing antibiotic pressure, which appears to be a new complementary preventive strategy for the standard management of intubated and mechanically ventilated patients.Keywords: mechanical ventilation, bronchoaspiration, supraglottic suction, SUPRAtube, endotracheal tube, gastroesophageal reflux

Many respiratory diseases lead to impaired function of skeletal muscles, influencing quality of life and patient survival. Dysfunction of both respiratory and limb muscles in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has been studied in depth, and seems to be caused by the complex interaction of general (inflammation, impaired gas exchange, malnutrition, comorbidity, drugs) and local factors (changes in respiratory mechanics and muscle activity, and molecular events). Some of these factors are also present in cystic fibrosis and asthma. In obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, repeated exposure to hypoxia and the absence of reparative rest are believed to be the main causes of muscle dysfunction. Deconditioning appears to be crucial for the functional impairment observed in scoliosis. Finally, cachexia seems to be the main mechanism of muscle dysfunction in advanced lung cancer. A multidimensional therapeutic approach is recommended, including pulmonary rehabilitation, an adequate level of physical activity, ventilatory support and nutritional interventions.

Muscle abnormalities involved in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or the changes leading to muscle wasting and cachexia in neoplastic patients have a remarkable clinical impact, but their study is complex and findings are sometimes paradoxical. In this review, the main factors influencing muscle wasting and muscle abnormalities found in chronic diseases such as COPD are regarded in the light of a comprehensive approach. All this changes work in a complex, multifactorial manner, and experimental or observational approaches must take this fact into consideration. Two concepts that may be helpful in this regard are the "muscle compartment theory," by which different muscle groups, individual muscles, or muscle areas may react differently to a variety of stimuli and pathogenic factors, and the "oil well analogy," which reflects the complexity and variability of the energy resource depletion mechanisms in cells and tissues, leading to structural remodeling and functional adaptation or impairment.