Objective To study the advantages of heat and moisture exchangers compared with heated humidifiers in reducing the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia ( VAP) . Methods We searched PubMed as well as reference lists from publications to collect randomized controlled trials which comparing heat and moisture exchangers with heated humidifiers in preventing VAP for mechanically ventilated patients. Meta-analysis was performed using software Review Manager 5. 0. Results Fifteen randomized controlled trials were included. There was no difference in incidence of VAP among the patients managed with moisture exchangers or heated humidifiers ( OR1. 18, 95% CI [ 0. 96, 1. 44] ) . The subgroup of patients using moisture exchangers had lower VAP incidence compared with those using heated humidifiers without heated wire circuits ( OR 1. 39, 95% CI [ 1. 08, 1. 79] ) . There were no differences between the compared groups in mortality, length of intensive care unit stay, or duration of mechanical ventilation. Conclusion The available evidence indicates that moisture exchangers are superior to heated humidifiers without heated wire circuits, and not to heated humidifiers with heated wire circuits to prevent VAP.
Objective To evaluate the effects of neuromuscular blocking agents( NMBAs) in acute respiratory distress syndrome( ARDS) . Methods Randomized controlled trials( RCTs) and non-RCTs were recruited fromPubMed( 1966. 1-2012. 3) , EMBASE( all the years) , Cochrane Library( all the years) and CNKI Database( 1979-2012) . Related published studies and attached references were hand searched. All the RCTs and non-RCTs ( including prospective and retrospective studies) about NMBAs for the patients with ARDS were included. Then a meta-analysis and statistic descriptions for RCTs( using RevMan5. 0 software) and non-RCTs were performed. Jadad and NEWCASTLE-OTTAWA QUALITY ASSESSMENT SCALE were used to assess the methodological quality of the included RCTs and non-RCTs. Results Three eligible RCTs and four non-RCTs were enrolled. The quality of the included trials was high. Pooled analysis for three RCTs showed that NMBAs significantly reduced 28-day mortality [ OR 0. 58, 95% CI( 0. 39, 0. 86) , P = 0. 007] and increased ventilator-free days within 28 days [ WMD 1. 91 d, 95% CI( 0. 28,3. 55) , P =0. 02] in ARDS compared with the control group. Conclusion The present meta-analysis indicates that NMBAs reduce the 28-day mortality and increase ventilator-free days within 28 days in ARDS.
Objective To investigate the values of pneumonia severity index ( PSI) , CURB-65,plasma procalcitonin ( PCT) , C-reactive protein ( CRP) measurements for evaluation the severity of healthcare-associated pneumonia ( HCAP) .Methods A retrospective observational study was conducted on 92 hospitalized patients with HCAP admitted between June 2010 and December 2011. They were divided into different groups according to different severity assessment criteria. The variance and correlation of PCT,CRP,WBC and percent of neutrophil ( Neu% ) levels were compared among different groups. ROC curvewas established to analyze PSI, CURB-65, PCT and CRP levels for predicting the motality of HCAP patients.Results In the severe HCAP group, PSI and CURB-65 scoring and serum PCT, CRP, WBC, Neu% levels were significantly higher than those in the non-severe HCAP group( P lt; 0. 05) . In the high-risk HCAP group, PCT, CRP, WBC and Neu% levels were significantly higher than those in the low-risk HCAP group according to the PSI and CURB-65 scoring criteria( P lt;0. 05) .WBC and Neu% levels were also significantly higher than those in the moderate-risk group. PSI and CURB-65 scoring were positively correlated with PCT and CRP levels. PSI scoring gt;120 points or CURB-65 scoring gt;2 points on admission were predictors of mortality. Conclusions PSI and CURB-65 scoring are correlated with severity of HCAP. Combining serum PCT and CRP levels can improve the predictive accuracy of the severity of HCAP.