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Table 2 Patients’ characteristics before, after, and at TEE, according to VAP occurrence within three days after TEE

From: Transesophageal echocardiography-associated tracheal microaspiration and ventilator-associated pneumonia in intubated critically ill patients: a multicenter prospective observational study

Variables

Total (n = 100)

VAP (n = 19)

No VAP (n = 81)

p value

Tracheal cuff pressure management (cmH2O)

    

Mechanical device controlling tracheal cuff pressure

6 (6%)

3 (15.8%)

3 (3.7%)

0.08

Tracheal cuff pressure before TEE

30 (25–30)

30 (25–30)

30 (25–30)

0.87

Tracheal cuff pressure after TEE

25 (20–30)

30 (23–41)

25 (20–30)

0.07

Enteral feeding

    

Use of nasogastric tube

28 (28.3%)

2 (10.5%)

26 (32.5%)

0.09

Use of orogastric tube

67 (67.7%)

16 (84.2%)

51 (63.8%)

0.11

Enteral feeding before TEE

64 (64%)

13 (68.4%)

51 (63.0%)

0.66

Discontinuing enteral feeding for TEE

24 (24%)

3 (15.8%)

21 (25.9%)

0.55

Evaluation of residual gastric volume

9 (9%)

1 (5.3%)

8 (9.9%)

> 0.99

Gastric tube removal for TEE

7 (7.7%)

0

7 (8.9%)

0.60

Use of transgastric view

78 (78%)

17 (89.5%)

61 (75.3%)

0.23

Concurrent treatment

    

Use of sedation

93 (93%)

18 (94.7%)

75 (92.6%)

> 0.99

Increase in sedation level

62 (62%)

13 (68.4%)

49 (60.5%)

0.61

Use of neuromuscular blocking agent

40 (40%)

8 (42.1%)

32 (39.5%)

0.84

Adding neuromuscular blocking agent for TEE

12 (12%)

2 (10.5%)

10 (12.4%)

> 0.99

Catecholamines

52 (52%)

11 (57.9%)

41 (50.6%)

0.62

Antibiotic therapy

86 (86%)

16 (84.2%)

70 (86.4%)

0.73

Use of proton pump inhibitor

64 (64.6%)

15 (78.9%)

49 (61.3%)

0.19

Anticoagulants

28 (28%)

9 (47.4%)

19 (23.5%)

0.04

TEE characteristics

    

Indications

   

0.20

Hemodynamic evaluation

22 (22%)

6 (31.6%)

16 (19.8%)

 

Severe hypoxemia

13 (13%)

2 (10.5%)

11 (13.6%)

 

Suspected endocarditis

42 (42%)

6 (31.6%)

36 (44.4%)

 

Before cardioversion

6 (6%)

3 (15.8%)

3 (3.7%)

 

Others

17 (17%)

2 (10.5%)

15 (18.5%)

 

Probe introduction

    

Mandible elevation

47 (49.0%)

13 (68.4%)

34 (44.2%)

0.06

Neck anteflexion

65 (67.7%)

15 (79.0%)

50 (64.9%)

0.29

Use of laryngoscope

15 (15.5%)

1 (5.3%)

14 (18.0%)

0.29

Number of attempts

2 (1–2)

2 (2–3)

1 (1–2)

0.03

More than one attempt

53 (55.2%)

15 (79.0%)

38 (49.4%)

0.02

Introduction duration (min)

1 (1–2)

2 (1–3)

1 (1–2)

0.13

Patient position

   

0.94

Completely supine position (0°)

17 (17%)

3 (15.8%)

14 (17.3%)

 

Semi-recumbent position (45°)

79 (79%)

15 (79.0%)

64 (79.0%)

 

Prone position

4 (4%)

1 (5.3%)

3 (3.7%)

 

TEE duration (min)

26 (18–35)

30 (22–33)

25 (17–35)

0.16

Total duration including introduction (min)

28 (21–36)

31 (23–34)

27 (21–37)

0.20

TEE-associated complications

    

Profound desaturation (< 80%)

1 (1%)

0

1 (1.2%)

> 0.99

Arterial hypotension

13 (13%)

0

13 (16.1%)

0.12

Arterial hypertension

1 (1%)

0

1 (1.2%)

> 0.99

Minor bleeding

11 (11%)

4 (21.1%)

7 (8.6%)

0.21

Major bleeding

0

0

0

-

Vomiting

2 (2%)

0

2 (2.5%)

> 0.99

  1. Values are expressed as mean (± SD) or median (IQR) as appropriate. TEE transesophageal echocardiography, VAP ventilator-associated pneumonia