Background Pressure support ventilation (PSV) is the prevalent weaning method. Proportional assist ventilation (PAV) is an assisted ventilation mode, which is recently being applied to wean the patients from mechanical ventilation. Whether PAV or PSV is superior for weaning remains unclear. Methods Eligible randomized controlled trials published before April 2020 were retrieved from databases. We calculated the risk ratio (RR) and mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results Seven articles, involving 634 patients, met the selection criteria. Compared to PSV, PAV was associated with a significantly higher rate of weaning success (fixed-effect RR 1.16; 95% CI 1.07–1.26; I2 = 0.0%; trial sequential analysis-adjusted CI 1.03–1.30), and the trial sequential monitoring boundary for benefit was crossed. Compared to PSV, PAV was associated with a lower proportion of patients requiring reintubation (RR 0.49; 95% CI 0.28–0.87; I2 = 0%), a shorter ICU length of stay (MD − 1.58 (days), 95% CI − 2.68 to − 0.47; I2 = 0%), and a shorter mechanical ventilation duration (MD − 40.26 (hours); 95% CI − 66.67 to − 13.84; I2 = 0%). There was no significant difference between PAV and PSV with regard to mortality (RR 0.66; 95% CI 0.42–1.06; I2 = 0%) or weaning duration (MD − 0.01 (hours); 95% CI − 1.30–1.28; I2 = 0%). Conclusion The results of the meta-analysis suggest that PAV is superior to PSV in terms of weaning success, and the statistical power is confirmed using trial sequential analysis. Graphical abstract

We aimed to investigate the association between the plasma anion gap (AG) and in-hospital mortality among patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). In total, 1236 AIS patients were enrolled using the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care Database IV. Primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. The patients were divided into four groups according to AG category. The mean age and Charlson comorbidity index increased as the AG category increased. The fourth AG category was most related to the in-hospital mortality (hazards ratio (HR), 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.77, 1.60–4.71), even after adjusting for possible confounding variables (Model 1: HR, 95% CI: 3.37, 1.81–6.09; Model 2: HR, 95% CI: 3.57, 1.91–6.69). Moreover, intensive care unit mortality (p = 0.008) was higher in the highest AG category, but the intracranial hemorrhage (p = 0.071) did not associate with the plasma AG. The plasma AG had a satisfactory predictive ability for in-hospital mortality among AIS patients (areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve: 0.631). The plasma AG is an independent risk factor that can satisfactorily predict the in-hospital mortality among AIS patients.

Background/Objective: The aim of study is to assess the efficacy of each ventilator weaning method for ventilated patients in intensive care units (ICUs).Methods: A systematic search was conducted using PubMed, Embase, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure to identify randomized control studies on ventilated patients regarding extubation associated outcomes (weaning success or failure, proportion requiring re-intubation, or mortality) from inception until April 01, 2020. Commonly used ventilation modes involved pressure support ventilation, synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation, automatic tube compensation, continuous positive airway pressure, adaptive support ventilation, neurally adjusted ventilatory assist, proportional assisted ventilation, and SmartCare. Pooled estimates regarding extubation associated outcomes were calculated using network meta-analysis.Results: Thirty-nine randomized controlled trials including 5,953 patients met inclusion criteria. SmartCare and proportional assist ventilation were found to be effective methods in increasing weaning success (odds ratio, 2.72, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.33–5.58, P-score: 0.84; odds ratio, 2.56, 95% CI, 1.60–4.11, P-score: 0.83; respectively). Besides, proportional assist ventilation had superior in reducing proportion requiring re-intubation rate (odds ratio, 0.48, 95% CI, 0.25–0.92, P-score: 0.89) and mortality (odds ratio, 0.48, 95% CI, 0.26–0.92, P-score: 0.91) than others.Conclusion: In general consideration, our study provided evidence that weaning with proportional assist ventilation has a high probability of being the most effective ventilation mode for patients with mechanical ventilation regarding a higher rate of weaning success, a lower proportion requiring reintubation, and a lower mortality rate than other ventilation modes.

The study compared immunogenicity and safety between alternative higher-dose and standard-dose trivalent vaccines in immunocompromised individuals. A literature search was performed using the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases from inception until March 2019 to identify studies comparing the immunogenicity of alternative higher-dose (including high-dose, double-dose, and booster-dose vaccines) and standard-dose trivalent influenza vaccines in patients who underwent transplantation or chemotherapy. Effect estimates from the individual studies were derived and calculated using the DerSimonian and Laird random-effect model. The protocol for this systematic review is registered with PROSPERO (number CRD42019129220). Eight relevant studies involving 1020 patients were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. The meta-analysis demonstrated that the higher-dose strategy provided had significantly superior seroconversion and seroprotection for A/H1N1 strains than the standard dose. Regarding H3N2 and B strains, no differences in immunogenicity responses were noted. No differences in safety were observed between the vaccination strategies. Alternative higher-dose vaccination strategies appear to associate with superior immunogenicity responses for A/H1N1 strains, and the strategies were generally well tolerated in immunocompromised populations. Future studies should clarify the optimal timing, frequency and dose of vaccination and assess whether these strategies improve vaccine immunogenicity and clinical outcomes.

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We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the clinical efficacy of high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) therapy as apneic oxygenation in critically ill patients who require endotracheal intubation in the intensive care unit (ICU). This systematic review and meta-analysis included six randomized controlled trials and a prospective study identified in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and the Web of Science until August 18, 2019. In this meta-analysis including 956 participants, HFNC was noninferior to standard of care during endotracheal intubation regarding incidence of severe hypoxemia, mean lowest oxygen saturation, and in-hospital mortality. HFNC significantly shortened the ICU stay by a mean of 1.8 days. In linear meta-regression interaction analysis, the risk ratio of severe hypoxemia decreased with increasing baseline partial oxygen pressure (PaO 2 ) to fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO 2 ) ratio. In subgroup analysis, HFNC significantly reduced the incidence of severe hypoxemia during endotracheal intubation in patients with mild hypoxemia (PaO 2 /fio 2 > 200 mmHg; risk difference, −0.06; 95% confidence interval, −0.12 to −0.01; number needed to treat = 16.7). In conclusion, HFNC was noninferior to standard of care for oxygen delivery during endotracheal intubation and was associated with a significantly shorter ICU stay. The beneficial effect of HFNC in reducing the incidence of severe hypoxemia was observed in patients with mild hypoxemia.Each year in the United States, approximately 1.5 million patients are estimated to receive endotracheal intubation and the rate of intubation is increasing in the hospital 1 . Hypoxemia, a frequently reported complication of intubation, is considered a predisposing factor for cardiac arrest and death 2-5 . Therefore, oxygenation during endotracheal intubation plays an important role in prolonging the maintenance of acceptable oxygen saturation levels.In 1959, Frumin et al. 6 were the first to develop apneic oxygenation, which delivered supplemental oxygen via nasal cannulation during surgery and anesthesia to allow for sustained levels of sufficient oxygen in alveoli and blood. A recent clinical trial convincingly demonstrated that apneic oxygenation during endotracheal intubation

Background: Endoscopic combined intrarenal surgery (ECIRS) adds ureteroscopic vision to percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL), which can be helpful when dealing with complex renal stones. Yet, there is still no consensus on the superiority of ECIRS. We aimed to critically analyze the available evidence of studies comparing efficacy, safety, bleeding risk, and efficiency of ECIRS and PCNL. Methods: We searched for studies comparing efficacy (initial and final stone-free rate), safety (postoperative fever, overall and severe complications), efficiency (operative time and hospital stay) and bleeding risk between ECIRS and PCNL. Meta-analysis was performed. Results: Seven studies (919 patients) were identified. ECIRS provided a significantly higher initial stone-free rate, higher final stone-free rate, lower overall complications, lower severe complications, and lower rate of requiring blood transfusion. There was no difference between the two groups in terms of postoperative fever, hemoglobin drop, operative time, and hospital stay. In the subgroup analysis, both minimally invasive and conventional ECIRS were associated with a higher stone-free rate and lower complication outcomes. Conclusions: When treating complex renal stones, ECIRS has a better stone-free rate, fewer complications, and requires fewer blood transfusions compared with PCNL. Subgroups either with minimally invasive or conventional intervention showed a consistent trend.

Background/ObjectiveThis study was conducted to investigate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with acute ischemic stroke and atrial fibrillation (AF) in intensive care units (ICUs).MethodsIn the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV database, 1,662 patients with acute ischemic stroke were identified from 2008 to 2019. Of the 1,662 patients, 653 had AF. The clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with and without AF were compared using propensity score matching (PSM). Furthermore, univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyzes were performed.ResultsOf the 1,662 patients, 39.2% had AF. The prevalence of AF in these patients increased in a stepwise manner with advanced age. Patients with AF were older and had higher Charlson Comorbidity Index, CHA2DS2-VASc Score, HAS-BLED score, and Acute Physiology Score III than those without AF. After PSM, 1,152 patients remained, comprising 576 matched pairs in both groups. In multivariate analysis, AF was not associated with higher ICU mortality [hazard ratio (HR), 0.95; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.64–1.42] or in-hospital mortality (HR, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.79–1.47). In Kaplan–Meier analysis, no difference in ICU or in-hospital mortality was observed between patients with and without AF.ConclusionsAF could be associated with poor clinical characteristics and outcomes; however, it does not remain an independent short-term predictor of ICU and in-hospital mortality among patients with acute ischemic stroke after PSM with multivariate analysis.