BACKGROUND: Postoperative pulmonary complications often lead to increased mortality and financial burden. Residual paralysis plays a critical role in postoperative pulmonary complications. This meta-analysis was performed to determine whether sugammadex overmatches neostigmine in reducing postoperative pulmonary complications. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Medline through Ovid, Cochrane Library, Wanfang, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Chinese BioMedical Literature Databases were searched from their inception to 24 June, 2021. Random effects models were used for all analyses. Cochrane risk of bias tool was used to assess the quality of RCTs, while Newcastle Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale was used to assess for the quality of cohort studies. RESULTS: Seventeen studies were included in the meta-analysis. Pooled data from cohort studies showed reversing neuromuscular blocking with sugammadex had less risk of compound postoperative pulmonary complications (relative risk [RR]: 0.73; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.60-0.89; P  = 0.002; I2  = 81%), pneumonia (RR: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.48-0.86; I2  = 42%) and respiratory failure (RR: 0.48; 95% CI: 0.41-0.56; I2  = 0%). However, pooled data from RCTs did not show any difference between the two groups in pneumonia (RR: 0.58; 95% CI: 0.24-1.40; I2  = 0%) and no respiratory failure was reported in the included RCTs. The difference was not found between sugammadex and neostigmine about atelectasis in pooled data from either RCTs (RR: 0.85; 95% CI: 0.69-1.05; I2  = 0%) or cohort studies (RR: 1.01; 95% CI: 0.87-1.18; I2  = 0%). CONCLUSION: The evidence of superiority of sugammadex was limited by the confounding factors in cohort studies and small scale of RCTs. Whether sugammadex precedes neostigmine in preventing pulmonary complications after surgery is still unknown. Well-designed RCTs with large scale are needed. REGISTRATION PROSPERO ( https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/ ); CRD 42020191575.
Humans ; Sugammadex/therapeutic use* ; Neostigmine/therapeutic use* ; Neuromuscular Blockade ; Postoperative Complications/prevention & control* ; Pneumonia ; Respiratory Insufficiency

Acute Disease ; Humans ; Pneumonia ; prevention & control ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; complications ; Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; therapy ; Ventilators, Mechanical ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate clinical effects of strategy by stages for preventing respiratory complications of patients with acute cervical spinal cord injury (ACSCI).

METHODSFrom September 2009 to May 2013,the clinical data of 91 patients with ACSCI underwent surgery were retrospectively analyzed. Among the patients, 42 patients were divided into in-stages group, including 30 males and 12 females with an average age of 50 years old (ranged 28 to 76) which were treated with strategy by stages for preventing respiratory complications; others 49 patients which were not treated with the strategy regarded as control group, including 38 males and 11 females with an average age of 47 years old (ranged 30 to 77). All of them had definite history of trauma, and were admitted to orthopaedics within 48 h after trauma. In in-stages group, respiratory muscle strength training, high-dose ambroxol using and other treatment were performed to prevent respiratory complilcations according to preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative stage. While in control group, there were no systematic and effective measures utilized. Chi-square test was used to evaluate the difference for respiratory complications rate, the rate of tracheostomy or intubation and mortality caused by the respiratory complications between two groups.

RESULTSTen patients developed with respiratory complications in in-stages group (7 patients with pneumonia, 1 with atelectasis and 2 with respiratory failure), among which 3 patients underwent tracheostomy or intubation. In control group, 24 patients developed with respiratory complilcations (15 with pneumonia,3 with atelectasis and 6 with respiratory failure), among which 11 patients underwent tracheostomy or intubation. There was significant difference between two groups (χ2 = 6.12, 4.07; P = 0.013, 0.044). Five patients died because of respiratory complications, one case were in in-stages group and 4 in control group. There was significant difference between two groups (χ2 = l.39, P = 0.238).

CONCLUSIONThe strategy by stages is an effective method for preventing respiratory complications of ACSCI and can reduce the respiratory complications rate and improve the prognosis of respiratory complications.

Acute Disease ; Adult ; Aged ; Cervical Cord ; injuries ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonia ; prevention & control ; Pulmonary Atelectasis ; prevention & control ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; prevention & control ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; complications ; Tracheostomy

OBJECTIVETo identify the risk factors of early postoperative death after total correction of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF).

METHODSA retrospective analysis was conducted among 356 patients undergoing total correction of TOF by opening heart surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass. Of these patients, 20 died in the early postoperative period, and the possible risk factors for early postoperative death were analyzed in view of the surgical indication, surgical approaches, myocardial protection and postoperative management.

RESULTSOf the 20 fatal cases, death occurred due to low cardiac output syndrome in 11 cases, respiratory failure in 4 cases, kidney failure or multiple organ failure in 3 cases, acute left heart failure in 1 case, and cerebrovascular accident in 1 case.

CONCLUSIONYoung age at repair and poor development of the pulmonary vessels and left ventricle are high risk factors for postoperative low cardiac output syndrome. Postoperative death following surgical correction of TOF is associated mainly with the surgical skills and approaches. Appropriate cardiopulmonary bypass and effective measures for myocardial protection are critical to ensure the surgical success, and proper postoperative management and close monitoring may help reduce postoperative death in surgical patients with TOF.

Cardiac Output, Low ; prevention & control ; Cardiac Surgical Procedures ; adverse effects ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Cause of Death ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Postoperative Period ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; prevention & control ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Tetralogy of Fallot ; surgery

Since 2001, financial support has been provided for all patients with neuromuscular disease (NMD) who require ventilatory support due to the paralysis of respiratory muscles in Korea. The purpose of this study was to identify ventilator usage status and appropriateness in these patients. We included 992 subjects with rare and incurable NMD registered for ventilator rental fee support. From 21 February 2011 to 17 January 2013, ventilator usage information, regular follow-up observation, and symptoms of chronic hypoventilation were surveyed by phone. Home visits were conducted for patients judged by an expert medical team to require medical examination. Abnormal ventilatory status was assessed by respiratory evaluation. Chronic respiratory insufficiency symptoms were reported by 169 of 992 subjects (17%), while 565 subjects (57%) did not receive regular respiratory evaluation. Ventilatory status was abnormal in 102 of 343 home-visit subjects (29.7%). Although 556 subjects (56%) reported 24-hour ventilator use, only 458 (46%) had an oxygen saturation monitoring device, and 305 (31%) performed an airstacking exercise. A management system that integrates ventilator usage monitoring, counselling and advice, and home visits for patients who receive ventilator support could improve the efficiency of the ventilator support project.
Adult ; Aged ; Disease Management ; Female ; Home Care Services ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neuromuscular Diseases/complications/economics/*psychology ; Republic of Korea ; Respiratory Insufficiency/complications/*prevention & control ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Ventilators, Mechanical

OBJECTIVEWe retrospectively analyzed the cause and death risk of 114 postoperative respiratory failure patients found in 3519 patients with esophageal cancer and 1495 patients with carcinoma of gastric cardia surgically treated between January 1992 and May 2003.

METHODSTo analyze the reasons causing postoperative respiratory failure in surgically treated esophageal or gastric cardia cancer patients, and the correlation between the death risk of postoperative respiratory failure and preoperative pulmonary function tests, postoperative complications, operation modes, history of preoperative accompanying diseases and so on using Binary Logistic Regression analysis and Chi-square tests (chi(2)) in SSPS statistics software.

RESULTSIn this series, postoperative respiratory failure developed in 97 of 3519 (2.76%) esophageal cancer patients and 17 of 1495 (1.14%) gastric cardia cancer patients, which were mainly caused by severe respiratory tract infection (37.7%, 43/114) and operative complications (35.1%, 40/114) such as: anastomotic leakage or perforation of thoracic stomach, extensive bleeding during operation, chylothorax, etc, totally accounting for 72.8% (83/114). In contrast with lung cancer patients, most of the postoperative respiratory failure (69.3%) occurred in the patients who had perioperative complications but almost always normal preoperative pulmonary function tests. Other reasons to cause postoperative respiratory failure were: extubation in unconscious patients at the end of general anesthesia; over-infusion during operation; pulmonary artery embolism; severe arrhythmia and so on. All patients except 2 were treated in ICU by mechanic ventilation through intubation and/or tracheotomy. Eighty patients (70.2%) were intubated and/or had tracheotomy within 3 days postoperatively. Seventy patients (61.4%) were rescued successfully, whereas 44 cases (38.6%) died of postoperative respiratory failure and/or other postoperative complications. Univariate analysis and multivariate analysis by binary logistic regression indicated that: severe perioperative complications, more postoperative complications, poor preoperative pulmonary function, radical preoperative radiotherapy, intubation and/or tracheotomy after the second postoperative day and long period of mechanic ventilation were the major risk factors leading to death once the postoperative respiratory failure developed. The former 3 factors were independent risk factors leading to death with OR of 2.50, 2.37, 1.68, respectively. Age, sex, operation modes, history of preoperative accompanying disease, prophylactic antibiotics were not demonstrated as statistically significant risk factors correlated with death.

CONCLUSIONSevere perioperative complications and respiratory tract infection are the two major causes of postoperative respiratory failure in patients with cancer of esophagus and gastric cardia. Patients with severe perioperative complications or poor preoperative pulmonary function or association with more than two kinds of postoperative complications have much higher death risk than other patients when they develop postoperative respiratory failure. Careful manipulation during operation and effective perioperative management are the most important measures to avoid postoperative respiratory failure and high mortality.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cardia ; China ; epidemiology ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; epidemiology ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Stomach Neoplasms ; physiopathology ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical therapeutic effect of anisodamine on respiratory function after severe brain injury.

METHODSNinety patients with respiratory dysfunction following severe brain injury were divided into two groups: a treatment group (n = 45, treated with routine therapy plus anisodamine) and a control group (n = 45, treated with routine therapy only). The pulmonary ventilation function and oxygenation function were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSIn the treatment group, 12 hours after treatment the respiratory rate reduced, the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO(2)), the partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood (PaO(2)) and oxygenation exponent increased, the dead space ventilation dose and the pulmonary alveolus-partial pressure of arterial oxygen difference decreased, and the ventilation function of the respiratory tract and pulmonary oxygenation function improved. There was a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01). No side-effect was found except a slight increase of intracranial pressure and heart rate.

CONCLUSIONSAnisodamine can improve pulmonary ventilation function and oxygenation function and decrease the incidence of hypoxemia markedly. It is effective in treating respiratory dysfunction after severe brain injury.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Brain Injuries ; complications ; diagnosis ; mortality ; Child ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Injury Severity Score ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Primary Prevention ; methods ; Probability ; Pulmonary Gas Exchange ; Reference Values ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; etiology ; mortality ; prevention & control ; Solanaceous Alkaloids ; administration & dosage ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome

Patients admitted to medical intensive care unit (MICU) are at increased risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE); and prophylaxis is recommended. However, the actual range and frequency of VTE prophylaxis administered to MICU patients are not well defined. Patients over 40 yr of age and expected MICU stay of more than 48 hr were eligible for this observational cohort study of 23 MICUs in Korea. Patients already on anticoagulation therapy or those requiring anticoagulation for reasons other than VTE were excluded. Among 830 patients, VTE prophylaxis was given to 560 (67.5%) patients. Among 560 patients, 323 (38.9%) received pharmacoprophylaxis, 318 (38.4%) received mechanical prophylaxis and 81 (9.8%) received both forms of prophylaxis. About 74% of patients in the pharmacoprophylaxis group received low molecular weight heparin and 53% of the patients in the mechanical prophylaxis group used intermittent pneumatic compression. Most of the patients (90%) had more than one risk factor for VTE and the most common risk factor was old age, followed by heart and respiratory failure. In this observational cohort study of 23 MICUs in Korea, 67.5% of patients received thromboprophylaxis. Further studies are needed to clarify the role and efficacy of VTE prophylaxis in Korean critically ill patients.
Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Heart Failure/complications ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight/therapeutic use ; Humans ; *Intensive Care Units ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Mechanical Thrombolysis ; Middle Aged ; Republic of Korea ; Respiratory Insufficiency/complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Venous Thromboembolism/complications/*prevention & control/therapy