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Outcomes
1. Describe the vulnerability of patients undergoing the withdrawal of invasive mechanical ventilation
2. Describe the effectiveness clinical trial
Importance
The transition to spontaneous breathing puts patients who are undergoing ventilator withdrawal at highest risk for respiratory distress. The approach to this care process is often reliant on local unit custom. A patient-centered algorithmic approach is needed.
Objective(s)
Demonstrate that the algorithmic approach is effective to ensure greater patient respiratory comfort compared to usual care; determine whether algorithm-guided withdrawal will be associated with differences in opioid or benzodiazepine use compared to usual care.
Method(s)
Patients are randomly assigned to algorithm and usual care groups via a stepped-wedge cluster randomized clinical trial design. Sites crossed over to the algorithm in random order after usual care data were obtained. Patient comfort was measured with the Respiratory Distress Observation Scale (RDOS) at baseline, at ventilator off, and every 15 minutes for an hour. Parenteral morphine and lorazepam equivalents from the onset of the process until patient death were used. The algorithm prescribes either ventilator weaning or one-step cessation based on patient distress and baseline consciousness; medication use is guided by RDOS scores.
Results
Usual care data n = 120, algorithm data n = 48. Gender and race (White or Black) were evenly distributed. All patients in the usual care arm underwent a one-step ventilator cessation; 58% of patients in the algorithm arm were weaned over an average of 18 ± 27 minutes. Patients had lower RDOS scores in the algorithm arm at the time the ventilator was turned off (t = –2.8, p = .006), at 15 minutes (t = –2.34, p = .021), and at 30 minutes (t = –1.92, p = .057). More opioids (t = –2.30, p = .023) and benzodiazepines (t = –2.08, p = .040) were given in the control arm.
Conclusion(s)
The algorithm is effective in ensuring patient respiratory comfort. Of surprise, more medication was given in the usual care arm; however, less may be needed when distress is objectively measured (RDOS), as in the algorithm.
Impact
Ventilator withdrawal is a common procedure for dying patients in the critical care setting.
Article info
Publication history
Abstracts February 12-13, 2022
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 Published by Elsevier Inc.
