Background/Aims: Tracheostomy is a crucial intervention for severe pneumonia patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation (MV). However, debate persists regarding the influence of tracheostomy timing and performance on long-term survival outcomes. This study utilized propensity score matching to assess the impact of tracheostomy timing and performance on patient survival outcomes. Methods: A retrospective observational study employing propensity score matching was conducted of respiratory intensive care unit (ICU) patients who underwent prolonged acute MV due to severe pneumonia from 2008 to 2023. The primary outcome was the 90-day cumulative mortality rate, with secondary outcomes including ICU medical resource utilization rates. Results: Out of 1,078 patients, 545 underwent tracheostomy with a median timing of 7 days. The tracheostomy group exhibited lower 90-day cumulative mortality and a higher survival probability (hazard ratio [HR] 0.52, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.43–0.63) than the no-tracheostomy group. The tracheostomy group had higher ICU medical resource utilization rates and medical expenditures. The early tracheostomy group (≤ 7 days) had lower ICU medical resource utilization rates and medical expenditures than the late tracheostomy group (> 7 days). However, there were no significant differences in the 90-day cumulative mortality rate and survival probability based on tracheostomy timing (HR 0.94, 95% CI 0.70–1.28). Conclusions Tracheostomy in patients with severe pneumonia requiring prolonged MV significantly reduced the 90-day mortality rate, and early tracheostomy may offer additional benefits for resource utilization efficiency. These findings underscore the importance of considering tracheostomy timing in optimizing patient outcomes and healthcare resource allocation.

Background/Aims: Tracheostomy is a crucial intervention for severe pneumonia patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation (MV). However, debate persists regarding the influence of tracheostomy timing and performance on long-term survival outcomes. This study utilized propensity score matching to assess the impact of tracheostomy timing and performance on patient survival outcomes. Methods: A retrospective observational study employing propensity score matching was conducted of respiratory intensive care unit (ICU) patients who underwent prolonged acute MV due to severe pneumonia from 2008 to 2023. The primary outcome was the 90-day cumulative mortality rate, with secondary outcomes including ICU medical resource utilization rates. Results: Out of 1,078 patients, 545 underwent tracheostomy with a median timing of 7 days. The tracheostomy group exhibited lower 90-day cumulative mortality and a higher survival probability (hazard ratio [HR] 0.52, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.43–0.63) than the no-tracheostomy group. The tracheostomy group had higher ICU medical resource utilization rates and medical expenditures. The early tracheostomy group (≤ 7 days) had lower ICU medical resource utilization rates and medical expenditures than the late tracheostomy group (> 7 days). However, there were no significant differences in the 90-day cumulative mortality rate and survival probability based on tracheostomy timing (HR 0.94, 95% CI 0.70–1.28). Conclusions Tracheostomy in patients with severe pneumonia requiring prolonged MV significantly reduced the 90-day mortality rate, and early tracheostomy may offer additional benefits for resource utilization efficiency. These findings underscore the importance of considering tracheostomy timing in optimizing patient outcomes and healthcare resource allocation.

Background/Aims: Tracheostomy is a crucial intervention for severe pneumonia patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation (MV). However, debate persists regarding the influence of tracheostomy timing and performance on long-term survival outcomes. This study utilized propensity score matching to assess the impact of tracheostomy timing and performance on patient survival outcomes. Methods: A retrospective observational study employing propensity score matching was conducted of respiratory intensive care unit (ICU) patients who underwent prolonged acute MV due to severe pneumonia from 2008 to 2023. The primary outcome was the 90-day cumulative mortality rate, with secondary outcomes including ICU medical resource utilization rates. Results: Out of 1,078 patients, 545 underwent tracheostomy with a median timing of 7 days. The tracheostomy group exhibited lower 90-day cumulative mortality and a higher survival probability (hazard ratio [HR] 0.52, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.43–0.63) than the no-tracheostomy group. The tracheostomy group had higher ICU medical resource utilization rates and medical expenditures. The early tracheostomy group (≤ 7 days) had lower ICU medical resource utilization rates and medical expenditures than the late tracheostomy group (> 7 days). However, there were no significant differences in the 90-day cumulative mortality rate and survival probability based on tracheostomy timing (HR 0.94, 95% CI 0.70–1.28). Conclusions Tracheostomy in patients with severe pneumonia requiring prolonged MV significantly reduced the 90-day mortality rate, and early tracheostomy may offer additional benefits for resource utilization efficiency. These findings underscore the importance of considering tracheostomy timing in optimizing patient outcomes and healthcare resource allocation.

Background/Aims: Tracheostomy is a crucial intervention for severe pneumonia patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation (MV). However, debate persists regarding the influence of tracheostomy timing and performance on long-term survival outcomes. This study utilized propensity score matching to assess the impact of tracheostomy timing and performance on patient survival outcomes. Methods: A retrospective observational study employing propensity score matching was conducted of respiratory intensive care unit (ICU) patients who underwent prolonged acute MV due to severe pneumonia from 2008 to 2023. The primary outcome was the 90-day cumulative mortality rate, with secondary outcomes including ICU medical resource utilization rates. Results: Out of 1,078 patients, 545 underwent tracheostomy with a median timing of 7 days. The tracheostomy group exhibited lower 90-day cumulative mortality and a higher survival probability (hazard ratio [HR] 0.52, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.43–0.63) than the no-tracheostomy group. The tracheostomy group had higher ICU medical resource utilization rates and medical expenditures. The early tracheostomy group (≤ 7 days) had lower ICU medical resource utilization rates and medical expenditures than the late tracheostomy group (> 7 days). However, there were no significant differences in the 90-day cumulative mortality rate and survival probability based on tracheostomy timing (HR 0.94, 95% CI 0.70–1.28). Conclusions Tracheostomy in patients with severe pneumonia requiring prolonged MV significantly reduced the 90-day mortality rate, and early tracheostomy may offer additional benefits for resource utilization efficiency. These findings underscore the importance of considering tracheostomy timing in optimizing patient outcomes and healthcare resource allocation.

Background/Aims: Tracheostomy is a crucial intervention for severe pneumonia patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation (MV). However, debate persists regarding the influence of tracheostomy timing and performance on long-term survival outcomes. This study utilized propensity score matching to assess the impact of tracheostomy timing and performance on patient survival outcomes. Methods: A retrospective observational study employing propensity score matching was conducted of respiratory intensive care unit (ICU) patients who underwent prolonged acute MV due to severe pneumonia from 2008 to 2023. The primary outcome was the 90-day cumulative mortality rate, with secondary outcomes including ICU medical resource utilization rates. Results: Out of 1,078 patients, 545 underwent tracheostomy with a median timing of 7 days. The tracheostomy group exhibited lower 90-day cumulative mortality and a higher survival probability (hazard ratio [HR] 0.52, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.43–0.63) than the no-tracheostomy group. The tracheostomy group had higher ICU medical resource utilization rates and medical expenditures. The early tracheostomy group (≤ 7 days) had lower ICU medical resource utilization rates and medical expenditures than the late tracheostomy group (> 7 days). However, there were no significant differences in the 90-day cumulative mortality rate and survival probability based on tracheostomy timing (HR 0.94, 95% CI 0.70–1.28). Conclusions Tracheostomy in patients with severe pneumonia requiring prolonged MV significantly reduced the 90-day mortality rate, and early tracheostomy may offer additional benefits for resource utilization efficiency. These findings underscore the importance of considering tracheostomy timing in optimizing patient outcomes and healthcare resource allocation.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Ventilating patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in the prone position has been shown to improve arterial oxygenation, but prolonged prone positioning frequently requires continuous deep sedation, which may be harmful to patients. We evaluated the meaning of early gas exchange in patients with severe ARDS under prolonged (> or = 12 hours) prone positioning. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 96 patients (mean age, 60.1 +/- 15.6 years; 75% men) with severe ARDS (PaO2/FiO2 < or = 150 mmHg) admitted to a medical intensive care unit (MICU). The terms "PaO2 response" and "PaCO2 response" represented responses that resulted in increases in the PaO2/FiO2 ratio of > or = 20 mmHg and decreases in PaCO2 of > or = 1 mmHg, respectively, 8 to 12 hours after first placement in the prone position. RESULTS: The mean duration of prone positioning was 78.5 +/- 61.2 hours, and the 28-day mortality rate after MICU admission was 56.3%. No significant difference in clinical characteristics was observed between PaO2 and PaCO2 responders and non-responders. The PaO2 responders after prone positioning showed an improved 28-day outcome, compared with non-responders by Kaplan-Meier survival estimates (p < 0.05 by the log-rank test), but the PaCO2 responders did not. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the early oxygenation improvement after prone positioning might be associated with an improved 28-day outcome and may be an indicator to maintain prolonged prone positioning in patients with severe ARDS.
Adult ; Aged ; Carbon Dioxide/blood ; Female ; Humans ; Intensive Care/methods ; Kaplan-Meiers Estimate ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oxygen/*blood ; Positive-Pressure Respiration ; *Posture ; Pulmonary Gas Exchange ; *Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult/blood/mortality/therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Severity of Illness Index ; Tidal Volume

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of early tracheostomy on clinical outcomes in patients requiring prolonged acute mechanical ventilation (≥96 hours).METHODS: Data from 575 patients (69.4% male; median age, 68 years), hospitalized in the medical intensive care unit (ICU) of a university-affiliated tertiary care hospital March 2008–February 2017, were retrospectively evaluated. Early and late tracheostomy were designated as 2–10 days and >10 days after translaryngeal intubation, respectively.RESULTS: The 90-day cumulative mortality rate was 47.5% (n=273) and 258 patients (44.9%) underwent tracheostomy. In comparison with the late group (n=115), the early group (n=125) had lower 90-day mortality (31.2% vs. 47.8%, p=0.012), shorter stays in hospital and ICU, shorter ventilator length of stay (median, 43 vs. 54; 24 vs. 33; 23 vs. 28 days; all p<0.001), and a higher rate of transfer to secondary care hospitals with post-intensive care settings (67.2% vs. 43.5% p<0.001). Also, the total medical costs of the early group were lower during hospital stays than those of the late group (26,609 vs. 36,973 USD, p<0.001).CONCLUSION: Early tracheostomy was associated with lower 90-day mortality, shorter ventilator length of stay and shorter lengths of stays in hospital and ICU, as well as lower hospital costs than late tracheostomy.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of early tracheostomy on clinical outcomes in patients requiring prolonged acute mechanical ventilation (≥96 hours). METHODS: Data from 575 patients (69.4% male; median age, 68 years), hospitalized in the medical intensive care unit (ICU) of a university-affiliated tertiary care hospital March 2008–February 2017, were retrospectively evaluated. Early and late tracheostomy were designated as 2–10 days and >10 days after translaryngeal intubation, respectively. RESULTS: The 90-day cumulative mortality rate was 47.5% (n=273) and 258 patients (44.9%) underwent tracheostomy. In comparison with the late group (n=115), the early group (n=125) had lower 90-day mortality (31.2% vs. 47.8%, p=0.012), shorter stays in hospital and ICU, shorter ventilator length of stay (median, 43 vs. 54; 24 vs. 33; 23 vs. 28 days; all p<0.001), and a higher rate of transfer to secondary care hospitals with post-intensive care settings (67.2% vs. 43.5% p<0.001). Also, the total medical costs of the early group were lower during hospital stays than those of the late group (26,609 vs. 36,973 USD, p<0.001). CONCLUSION Early tracheostomy was associated with lower 90-day mortality, shorter ventilator length of stay and shorter lengths of stays in hospital and ICU, as well as lower hospital costs than late tracheostomy.

Background: The present study evaluated the association between participation in a rehabilitation program during a hospital stay and 1-year survival of patients requiring at least 21 days of mechanical ventilation (prolonged mechanical ventilation [PMV]) with various respiratory diseases as their main diagnoses that led to mechanical ventilation. Methods: Retrospective data of 105 patients (71.4% male, mean age 70.1±11.3 years) who received PMV in the past 5 years were analyzed. Rehabilitation included physiotherapy, physical rehabilitation, and dysphagia treatment program that was individually provided by physiatrists. Results: The main diagnosis leading to mechanical ventilation was pneumonia (n=101, 96.2%) and the 1-year survival rate was 33.3% (n=35). One-year survivors had lower Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score (20.2±5.8 vs. 24.2±7.5, p=0.006) and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score (6.7±5.6 vs. 8.5±2.7, p=0.001) on the day of intubation than non-survivors. More survivors participated in a rehabilitation program during their hospital stays (88.6% vs. 57.1%, p=0.001). The rehabilitation program was an independent factor for 1-year survival based on the Cox proportional hazard model (hazard ratio, 3.513; 95% confidence interval, 1.785 to 6.930; p<0.001) in patients with APACHE II scores ≤23 (a cutoff value based on Youden’s index). Conclusion Our study showed that participation in a rehabilitation program during hospital stay was associated with an improvement of 1-year survival of PMV patients who had less severe illness on the day of intubation.

Background: Many chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients receiving monotherapy continue to experience symptoms, exacerbations and poor quality of life. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of direct switch from once-daily tiotropium (TIO) 18 μg to indacaterol/glycopyrronium (IND/GLY) 110/50 μg once-daily in COPD patients in Korea. Methods: This was a randomized, open-label, parallel group, 12-week trial in mild-to-moderate COPD patients who received TIO 18 μg once-daily for ≥12 weeks prior to study initiation. Patients aged ≥40 years, with predicted postbronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) ≥50%, post-bronchodilator FEV1/forced vital capacity <0.7 and smoking history of ≥10 pack-years were included. Eligible patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either IND/GLY or TIO. The primary objective was to demonstrate superiority of IND/GLY over TIO in pre-dose trough FEV1 at week 12. Secondary endpoints included transition dyspnea index (TDI) focal score, COPD assessment test (CAT) total score, and rescue medication use following the 12-week treatment, and safety assessment. Results: Of the 442 patients screened, 379 were randomized and 347 completed the study. IND/GLY demonstrated superiority in pre-dose trough FEV1 versus TIO at week 12 (least squares mean treatment difference [Δ], 50 mL; p=0.013). Also, numerical improvements were observed with IND/GLY in the TDI focal score (Δ, 0.31), CAT total score (Δ, –0.81), and rescue medication use (Δ, –0.09 puffs/day). Both treatments were well tolerated by patients. Conclusion A direct switch from TIO to IND/GLY provided improvements in lung function and other patient-reported outcomes with an acceptable safety profile in patients with mild-to-moderate airflow limitation.