Table 1 Patients’ characteristics at ICU admission and at enrollment, according to VAP occurrence within three days after TEE
Variables | Total (n = 100) | VAP (n = 19) | No VAP (n = 81) | p value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Age (years) | 64 (53–72) | 63 (58–68) | 64 (53–72) | 0.94 |
Female gender | 35 (35%) | 4 (21.1%) | 31 (38.3%) | 0.16 |
Body mass index (Kg/m2) | 28 (24–33) | 28 (24–32) | 27 (24–33) | 0.93 |
SAPS-II at admission | 52.6 (± 17.3) | 49.7 (± 15.3) | 53.2 (± 17.7) | 0.41 |
Comorbidities | ||||
COPD | 8 (8%) | 3 (15.8%) | 5 (6.2%) | 0.17 |
Diabetes mellitus | 33 (33%) | 9 (47.4%) | 24 (29.6%) | 0.14 |
Swallowing disorder | 5 (5%) | 2 (10.5%) | 3 (3.7%) | 0.24 |
ENT or esophageal surgery | 2 (2%) | 1 (5.3%) | 1 (1.2%) | 0.35 |
Cirrhosis | 1 (1%) | 0 | 1 (1.2%) | > 0.99 |
Immunodeficiency | 21 (21%) | 4 (21.1%) | 17 (21.0%) | > 0.99 |
Steroid therapy | 17 (17%) | 3 (15.8%) | 14 (17.3%) | > 0.99 |
Complications before TEE | ||||
Acute respiratory distress syndrome | 38 (38%) | 8 (42.1%) | 30 (37.0%) | 0.68 |
Shock | 74 (74%) | 13 (68.4%) | 61 (75.3%) | 0.54 |
VAP | 21 (21%) | 6 (31.6%) | 15 (18.5%) | 0.21 |
Endotracheal intubation characteristics | ||||
Reason for mechanical ventilation | 0.83 | |||
Acute respiratory distress | 47 (47%) | 10 (52.6%) | 37 (45.7%) | |
Shock | 17 (17%) | 3 (15.8%) | 14 (17.3%) | |
Coma | 25 (25%) | 5 (26.3%) | 20 (24.7%) | |
Others | 11 (11%) | 1 (5.3%) | 10 (12.4%) | |
ETT type | 0.13 | |||
Standard | 58 (58.6%) | 7 (38.9%) | 51 (63.0%) | |
Subglottic secretion drainage tube | 40 (40.4%) | 11 (61.1%) | 29 (35.8%) | |
Others | 1 (1.0%) | 0 | 1 (1.2%) | |
Tracheal tube size (mm) | 7.5 (7.5–8) | 8.0 (7.5–8) | 7.5 (7.5–8) | 0.02 |
Distance from ETT tip to the carina (cm) | 3.7 (2.5–5.0) | 3.1 (2.4–4.9) | 3.7 (2.7–5.3) | 0.50 |
At enrollment | ||||
SOFA | 10 (5–13) | 10 (5–13) | 10 (5–13) | 0.96 |
Duration of prior mechanical ventilation (d) | 3 (1–8) | 5 (1–9) | 2 (1–8) | 0.35 |
RASS | − 4 (− 5 to − 2) | − 5 (− 5 to − 2) | − 4 (− 5 to − 2) | 0.59 |
Oral decontamination-to-TEE time (h) | 3 (2–6) | 4 (1–6) | 3 (2–6) | 0.95 |
Ventilation parameters | ||||
Mode of ventilation | 0.88 | |||
Assist-control ventilation | 74 (74%) | 14 (73.7%) | 60 (74.1%) | |
Pressure support ventilation | 25 (25%) | 5 (26.3%) | 20 (24.7%) | |
Others | 1 (1%) | 0 | 1 (1.2%) | |
Tidal volume (mL) | 400 (370–450) | 415 (365–450) | 400 (367–445) | 0.68 |
Respiratory rate (/min) | 25 (22–32) | 26 (22–33) | 25 (21–31) | 0.36 |
Positive end-expiratory pressure (cmH2O) | 6 (5–10) | 5 (5–8) | 6 (5–10) | 0.19 |
Peak pressure (cmH2O) | 32 (± 10) | 32 (± 9) | 32 (± 10) | 0.91 |
Plateau pressure (cmH2O) | 21 (± 6) | 21 (± 6) | 21 (± 6) | 0.92 |