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Objectives: In this study, it was aimed to determine demographic and clinical characteristics, supportive treatments in intensive care unit (ICU), mortality rates and factors affecting mortality by grouping COVID-19 intensive care patients as octogenarian and nonagenarian groups, and patients younger than 80-years-old. Methods: The patients aged ≥18 years diagnosed with COVID-19 with PCR positivity in ICUs between March 19, 2020 and March 31, 2021 were included in this retrospective observational study. Results: Of the 1004 PCR positive patients, 58.7% were male. The youngest patient was 20, the oldest patient was 100-years-old. There were 738 patients in Group 1 (20-79 years) and 266 patients in Group 2 (≥80 years). Between the two groups, gender, APACHE II score, need for intubation, need for vasopressor/inotrope, and patients in need of care were higher in Group 2 (p<0.001 for all). Only the patients in Group 1 were established ECMO. Hypertension (HT), cardiovascular, respiratory and neurological diseases, number of comorbidity, and mortality rate were higher significantly in Group 2 (p<0.001, p=0.001, p=0.006, p<0.001, p<0.001, and p<0.001; respectively). Age, male gender, HT, intubation, and vasopressor/inotrope requirement were found to be predictors of mortality. Conclusion: COVID-19 may have a more severe and fatal course in the octogenerian and nonagenerian age group with high comorbidity in the ICU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuromuscular blocking agents can be used for purposes such as eliminating ventilator-patient dyssynchrony, facilitating gas exchange by reducing intra-abdominal pressure and improving chest wall compliance, reducing risk of lung barotrauma, decreasing contribution of muscles to oxygen consumption by preventing shivering and limiting elevations in intracranial pressure caused by airway stimulation in patients supported with mechanical ventilation in intensive care units. Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), status asthmaticus, increased intracranial pressure and therapeutic hypothermia following ventricular fibrillation--associated cardiac arrest are some of clinical conditions that can be sustained by neuromuscular blockade. Appropriate indication and clinical practice have gained importance considering side effects such as ICU-acquired weakness, masking seizure activity and longer durations of hospital and ICU stays. We mainly aimed to review the current literature regarding neuromuscular blockade in up-to-date clinical conditions such as improving oxygenation in early ARDS and preventing shivering in the therapeutic hypothermia along with summarising the clinical practice in adult ICU in this report. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neuromuscular blocking agents can be used for purposes such as eliminating ventilator-patient dyssynchrony, facilitating gas exchange by reducing intra-abdominal pressure and improving chest wall compliance, reducing risk of lung barotrauma, decreasing contribution of muscles to oxygen consumption by preventing shivering and limiting elevations in intracranial pressure caused by airway stimulation in patients supported with mechanical ventilation in intensive care units. Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), status asthmaticus, increased intracranial pressure and therapeutic hypothermia following ventricular fibrillation--associated cardiac arrest are some of clinical conditions that can be sustained by neuromuscular blockade. Appropriate indication and clinical practice have gained importance considering side effects such as ICU-acquired weakness, masking seizure activity and longer durations of hospital and ICU stays. We mainly aimed to review the current literature regarding neuromuscular blockade in up-to-date clinical conditions such as improving oxygenation in early ARDS and preventing shivering in the therapeutic hypothermia along with summarising the clinical practice in adult ICU in this report. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]