European Society of Anaesthesiology.

Tracheal intubation is one of the most commonly performed and high-risk interventions in critically ill patients. Limited information is available on adverse peri-intubation events.OBJECTIVE To evaluate the incidence and nature of adverse peri-intubation events and to assess current practice of intubation in critically ill patients. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTSThe International Observational Study to Understand the Impact and Best Practices of Airway Management in Critically Ill Patients (INTUBE) study was an international, multicenter, prospective cohort study involving consecutive critically ill patients undergoing tracheal intubation in the intensive care units (ICUs), emergency departments, and wards, from October 1, 2018, to July 31, 2019 (August 28, 2019, was the final follow-up) in a convenience sample of 197 sites from 29 countries across 5 continents. EXPOSURES Tracheal intubation.MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was the incidence of major adverse peri-intubation events defined as at least 1 of the following events occurring within 30 minutes from the start of the intubation procedure: cardiovascular instability (either: systolic pressure <65 mm Hg at least once, <90 mm Hg for >30 minutes, new or increase need of vasopressors or fluid bolus >15 mL/kg), severe hypoxemia (peripheral oxygen saturation <80%) or cardiac arrest. The secondary outcomes included intensive care unit mortality. RESULTSOf 3659 patients screened, 2964 (median age, 63 years; interquartile range [IQR], 49-74 years; 62.6% men) from 197 sites across 5 continents were included. The main reason for intubation was respiratory failure in 52.3% of patients, followed by neurological impairment in 30.5%, and cardiovascular instability in 9.4%. Primary outcome data were available for all patients. Among the study patients, 45.2% experienced at least 1 major adverse peri-intubation event. The predominant event was cardiovascular instability, observed in 42.6% of all patients undergoing emergency intubation, followed by severe hypoxemia (9.3%) and cardiac arrest (3.1%). Overall ICU mortality was 32.8%. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCEIn this observational study of intubation practices in critically ill patients from a convenience sample of 197 sites across 29 countries, major adverse peri-intubation events-in particular cardiovascular instability-were observed frequently.

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With 63,098 confirmed cases on 17 April 2020 and 11,384 deaths, Lombardy has been the most affected region in Italy by coronavirus disease 2019 (coviD-19). to cope with this emergency, the coviD-19 lombardy intensive care units (ICU) network was created. The network identified the need of defining a list of clinical recommendations to standardize treatment of patients with COVID-19 admitted to Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Three core topics were identified: 1) rational use of intensive care resources; 2) ventilation strategies; 3) non-ventilatory interventions. Identification of patients who may benefit from ICU treatment is challenging. Clinicians should consider baseline performance and frailty status and they should adopt disease-specific staging tools. Continuous positive airway pressure, mainly delivered through a helmet as elective method, should be considered as initial treatment for all patients with respiratory failure associated with coviD-19. in case of persisting dyspnea and/or desaturation despite 4-6 hours of noninvasive ventilation, endotracheal intubation and invasive mechanical ventilation should be considered. in the early phase, muscle relaxant use and volumecontrolled ventilation is recommended. Prone position should be performed in patients with Pao 2 /Fio 2 ≤100 mmHg. For patients admitted to icU with coviD-19 interstitial pneumonia, we do not recommend empiric antibiotic therapy for community-acquired pneumonia. consultation of an infectious disease specialist is suggested before start of any antiviral therapy. In conclusion, the COVID-19 Lombardy ICU Network identified a list of best practice statements supported by

These data suggest that training in palliative care and its clinical application should be implemented in Italy. Efforts should be made to improve and homogenize the management of dying patients in ICU.

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Despite the recognition of its iatrogenic potential, mechanical ventilation remains the mainstay of respiratory support for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The low volume ventilation has been recognized as the only method to reduce mortality of ARDS patients and plateau pressure as the lighthouse for delivering safe ventilation. Recent investigations suggest that a ventilation based on lung mechanics (tidal ventilation tailored to the available lung volume able to receive it, i.e., driving pressure) is a successful approach to improve outcome. However, currently available bedside mechanical variables do not consider regional mechanical properties of ARDS affected lungs, which include the role of local stress risers at the boundaries of areas with different aeration. A unifying approach considers lungrelated causes and ventilation-related causes of lung injury. These last may be incorporated in the mechanical power (i.e., amount of mechanical energy transferred per unit of time). Ventilation-induced lung injury (which includes the self-inflicted lung injury of a spontaneously breathing patient) can therefore be prevented by the adoption of measures promoting an increase of ventilable lung and its homogeneity and by delivering lower levels of mechanical power. Prone position promotes lung homogeneity without increasing the delivered mechanical power. This review describes the recent developments on respiratory mechanics in ARDS patients, providing both bedside and research insights from the most updated evidence.

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