Search

Background: Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) is the preferred method for managing critically ill patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation. We aimed to compare the safety of PDT performed by intensivists versus surgeons. Methods: This retrospective, single center, cohort study included all the patients who underwent PDT from 2014 to 2023. Propensity score matching was performed to adjust the imbalances of covariates between the groups. The primary outcome was the occurrence of early complications after PDT. Secondary outcomes were the development of late complications of PDT and mortality directly related to tracheostomy. Results: 1685 consecutive patients with critical illness were included in the analysis. Of these, 1396 (82.8%) PDTs were performed by surgeons and 289 (17.2%) by intensivists with background residency training in internal medicine. Early complications were reported in 80 (5.7%) of the patients in the surgeon group and in 13 (4.5%) patients in the intensivist group (p = 0.40). Minor hemorrhage was the most common early complication. Secondary outcomes were comparable in both groups. In a propensity score‐matched cohort, the findings remained consistent. Conclusions: This study suggests that PDT can be performed by intensivists, as well as surgeons, with the same safety profile. Our findings underscore the importance of incorporating PDT into the intensive care unit (ICU) training syllabus, ensuring the procedure is readily accessible with reliance on the expertise of ICU staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Liberation from mechanical ventilation is a cardinal landmark during hospitalization of ventilated patients. Decreased muscle mass and sarcopenia are associated with a high risk of extubation failure. A low level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) is a known biomarker of sarcopenia. This study aimed to determine whether low levels of ALT are associated with increased risk of extubation failure among critically ill patients. Methods: This was a retrospective single-center cohort study of mechanically ventilated patients undergoing their first extubation. The study's outcome was extubation failure within 48 h and 7 days. Multivariable logistic and Cox regression were performed to determine whether ALT was an independent predictor of these outcomes. Results: The study included 329 patients with a median age of 62.4 years (IQR 48.1–71.2); 210 (63.8%) patients were at high risk for extubation failure. 66 (20.1%) and 83 (25.2%) failed the extubation attempt after 48 h and 7 days, respectively. Low ALT values were more common among patients requiring reintubation (80.3–61.5% vs. 58.6–58.9%, p < 0.002). Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified ALT as an independent predictor of extubation failure at 48 h and 7 days. ALT ≤ 21 IU/L had an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 2.41 (95% CI 1.31–4.42, p < 0.001) for extubation failure at 48 h and ALT ≤ 16 IU/L had adjusted HR of 1.94 (95% CI 1.25–3.02, p < 0.001) for failure after 7 days. Conclusions: Low ALT, an established biomarker of sarcopenia and frailty, is an independent risk factor for extubation failure among hospitalized patients. This simple laboratory parameter can be used as an effective adjunct predictor, along with other weaning parameters, and thereby facilitate the identification of high-risk patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]