Table 1 Baseline, ventilation and outcome details of 15 enrolled patients

Baseline characteristics

  Age

65 [56–76]

  Sex (male)

12 (80)

  Cardiovascular Disease

2 (13)

  COPD

0 (0)

  Diabetes

5 (33)

  Liver Disease

2 (13)

  CKD

1 (7)

Ventilation and airway management during AG connection

 AG connection, days

7 [5–10]

 Mean Pcuff value per patient, cmH₂O

27.7 [27–29.5]

 SS volume per patient, mL

170 [150–275]

 Mean daily SS volume per patient, mL

31 [21.5–37]

 ETI P/F ratio

84 [79–89]

 Pronation cycles per patient

4 [2–5]

 IMV, days

9 [6–19]

 PEEP, cmH20

9 [8–10]

 Shock during AG

7 (47)

 CRRT during AG

2 (13)

 Patients treated with antibiotics during AG

12 (80)

 Antibiotic therapy during AG, days

5 [3–8]

Outcome measures

 Mean Alpha-amylase level per patient, IU/L*

1774 [1651.5–3066]

 Mean Pepsin level per patient, ng/mL**

15.1 [7.95–22.35]

 Oropharyngeal microaspiration*

47 (55)

 Gastric microaspiration

0 (0)

 Abundant oropharyngeal microaspiration***

9 (60)

 VAP (n)

6 (40)

 Late VAP (n)

6 (100)

 Time between ETI and VAP (days)

8.5 [7.25–9.75]

 Extubation

8 (53)

 Tracheostomy

4 (27)

 Stridor

2 (13)

 ICU LOS (days)

16 [13–24]

 28-day mortality (n)

4 (27)