Management of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome and Refractory Hypoxemia. A Multicenter Observational Study

Rationale: Clinicians' current practice patterns in the management of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and refractory hypoxemia are not well described. Objectives: To describe mechanical ventilation strategies and treatment adjuncts for adults with ARDS, including refractory hypoxemia. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study (March 2014‐February 2015) of mechanically ventilated adults with moderate‐to‐severe ARDS requiring an FiO2 of 0.50 or greater in 24 intensive care units. Results: We enrolled 664 patients: 222 (33%) with moderate and 442 (67%) with severe ARDS. On Study Day 1, mean Vt was 7.5 (SD = 2.1) ml/kg predicted body weight (n = 625); 80% (n = 501) received Vt greater than 6 ml/kg. Mean positive end‐expiratory pressure (PEEP) was 10.5 (3.7) cm H2O (n = 653); 568 patients (87%) received PEEP less than 15 cm H2O. Treatment adjuncts were common (n = 440, 66%): neuromuscular blockers (n = 276, 42%), pulmonary vasodilators (n = 118, 18%), prone positioning (n = 67, 10%), extracorporeal life support (n = 29, 4%), and high‐frequency oscillatory ventilation (n = 29, 4%). Refractory hypoxemia, defined as PaO2 less than 60 mm Hg on FiO2 of 1.0, occurred in 138 (21%) patients. At onset of refractory hypoxemia, mean Vt was 7.1 (SD = 2.0) ml/kg (n = 124); 95 patients (77%) received Vt greater than 6 ml/kg. Mean PEEP was 12.1 (SD = 4.4) cm H2O (n = 133); 99 patients (74%) received PEEP less than 15 cm H2O. Among patients with refractory hypoxemia, 91% received treatment adjuncts (126/138), with increased use of neuromuscular blockers (n = 87, 63%), pulmonary vasodilators (n = 57, 41%), and prone positioning (n = 32, 23%). Conclusions: Patients with moderate‐to‐severe ARDS receive treatment adjuncts frequently, especially with refractory hypoxemia. Paradoxically, therapies with less evidence supporting their use (e.g., pulmonary vasodilators) were over‐used, whereas those with more evidence (e.g., prone positioning, neuromuscular blockade) were under‐used. Patients received higher Vts and lower PEEP than would be suggested by the evidence.

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