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Non-invasive mechanical ventilation weaning protocols: a systematic review

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review of studies that investigated non-invasive ventilation (NIV) weaning protocols in adult or hospitalized elderly individuals. Through a systematic review based on the Prisma protocol, studies of eight databases published in Portuguese, English or Spanish were considered. The primary outcomes of this review were the success rate of NIV weaning, NIV duration and duration of intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stay, and secondary endpoint were adverse events associated with protocols for NIV weaning. The methodological quality of clinical trials was assessed using the PEDro scale and for observational studies the Dows and Black scale. Four of the 18,476 initial references met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. Two of the four articles were randomized clinical trials and two were observational studies. The studies assessed elderly patients with respiratory failure, mainly due to exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema. High weaning success rates were observed in three of the four studies, and one study demonstrated the superiority of implementing an immediate protocol for weaning to reduce NIV duration and ICU stay. However, because of the heterogeneity and poor methodological quality of the studies, it is not possible to make recommendations on the implementation of weaning protocols in this population.

Keywords:
Non-invasive Ventilation; Positive-Pressure Respiration; Protocols; Weaning; Ventilator Weaning

RESUMO

O objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar revisão sistemática de estudos que investigaram protocolos de desmame da ventilação não invasiva (VNI) em indivíduos adultos ou idosos hospitalizados. Por meio dessa revisão, baseada no protocolo Prisma, foram selecionados estudos de oito bases de dados publicados em português, inglês ou espanhol. Os desfechos primários desta revisão foram taxa de sucesso de desmame da VNI, duração da VNI e duração da permanência na unidade de terapia intensiva (UTI) e no hospital, e como desfecho secundário foram considerados os efeitos adversos associados aos protocolos de desmame da VNI. A qualidade metodológica dos ensaios clínicos foi avaliada por meio da escala PEDro, e a escala de Downs e Black foi utilizada para a avaliação dos estudos observacionais. Das 18.476 referências iniciais, quatro atenderam aos critérios de inclusão e foram incluídas nesta revisão. Dois dos quatro artigos eram ensaios clínicos randomizados e os outros dois eram estudos observacionais. Os estudos envolveram pacientes idosos com insuficiência respiratória, principalmente por exacerbação da doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica (DPOC) e edema agudo de pulmão cardiogênico. Foram observadas elevadas taxas de sucesso de desmame em três dos quatro estudos, e um destes demonstrou a superioridade da implementação de um protocolo de desmame imediato na redução da duração da VNI e da permanência na UTI. No entanto, devido à heterogeneidade e à baixa qualidade metodológica dos estudos, não foi possível fazer recomendação sobre a implementação dos protocolos de desmame nessa população.

Descritores:
Ventilação não Invasiva; Respiração com Pressão Positiva; Protocolos; Desmame; Retirada do Respirador

RESUMEN

El objetivo de este trabajo ha sido realizar una revisión sistemática de estudios que investigaron protocolos de destete de la ventilación no invasiva (VNI) en individuos adultos o ancianos hospitalizados. A través de esta revisión, basada en el protocolo Prisma, se seleccionaron estudios de ocho bases de datos publicadas en portugués, inglés o español. Los resultados preliminares de esta revisión fueron la tasa de éxito de destete de la VNI, la duración de la VNI y la duración de la estancia en la unidad de cuidados intensivos (UCI) y en el hospital, y como resultado secundario se consideraron los efectos adversos asociados a los protocolos de destete de la VNI. La calidad metodológica de los ensayos clínicos ha sido evaluada a través de la escala PEDro, y la escala de Downs y Black ha sido utilizada para la evaluación de los estudios observacionales. De las 18.476 referencias iniciales, cuatro cumplieron los criterios de inclusión y se incluyeron en esta revisión. Dos de los cuatro artículos consistían en ensayos clínicos aleatorizados y los otros dos consistían en estudios observacionales. Los estudios incluyeron pacientes ancianos con insuficiencia respiratoria, principalmente por exacerbación de la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC) y edema agudo de pulmón cardiogénico. Se observaron elevadas tasas de éxito de destete en tres de los cuatro estudios, y uno de éstos demostró la superioridad de la implementación de un protocolo de destete inmediato en la reducción de la duración de la VNI y de la permanencia en la UTI. Sin embargo, debido a la heterogeneidad y a la baja calidad metodológica de los estudios, no se pudo hacer recomendación sobre la implementación de los protocolos de destete en esa población.

Palabras clave:
Ventilación no Invasiva; Respiración con Presión Positiva; Protocolos; Destete; Retirada del Respirador

INTRODUCTION

Non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIV) is considered a therapeutic option for the treatment of numerous clinical conditions, such as acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema (ACPE), exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), moderate and severe asthmatic attacks, adult respiratory distress syndrome, pneumonia, post-operative and weaning from mechanical ventilation11. Vital FM, Ladeira MT, Atallah AN. Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (CPAP or bilevel NPPV) for cardiogenic pulmonary oedema. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;(3):CD005351. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD005351.pub2
https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD00535...
), (22. Ram FS, Picot J, Lightowler J, Wedzicha JA. Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation for treatment of respiratory failure due to exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004;(3):CD004104. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD004104.pub3
https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD00410...
), (33. Lim WJ, Mohammed Akram R, Carson KV, Mysore S, Labiszewszi NA, Wedzicha JA, et al. Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation for treatment of respiratory failure due to severe acute exacerbations of asthma. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;(12):CD004360. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD004360.pub4
https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD00436...
), (44. Gupta D, Nath A, Agarwal R, Behera D. A prospective randomized controlled trial on the controlled trial on the efficacy of noninvasive ventilation in severe acute asthma. Respir Care. 2010;55(5):536-43.), (55. Agarwal R, Aggarwal AN, Gupta D. Role of noninvasive ventilation in acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome: a proportion meta-analysis. Respir Care. 2010;55(12):1653-60.), (66. Confalonieri M, Potena A, Carbone G, Porta RD, Tolley EA, Meduri UG. Acute respiratory failure in patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia. A prospective randomized evaluation of noninvasive ventilation. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1999;160(5Pt 1):1585-91. doi: 10.1164/ajrccm.160.5.9903015
https://doi.org/10.1164/ajrccm.160.5.990...
), 7), (88. Burns KEA, Meade MO, Premji A, Adhikari NKJ. Noninvasive ventilation as a weaning strategy for mechanical ventilation in adults with respiratory failure: a Cochrane systematic review. CMAJ. 2014;186(3):112-22. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.130974
https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.130974...
), (99. Ferrer M, Sellares J, Torres A. Noninvasive ventilation in withdrawal from mechanical ventilation. Semin Respir Crit Care Med. 2014;35(4):507-18. doi: 10.1055/s-0034-1383865
https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0034-1383865...
. It presents different degrees of recommendation for these conditions and is considered as level of evidence A for the treatment of ACPE and exacerbation of COPD1010. Biasi A, Ísola AM, Gama AMC, Duarte A, Vianna A, Serpa Neto A, et al. Diretrizes Brasileiras de Ventilação Mecânica. In: FÓRUM DE DIRETRIZES EM VENTILAÇÃO MECÂNICA, 1., 2013, São Paulo. Anais... São Paulo: Associação de Medicina Intensiva Brasileira;Sociedade Brasileira de Pneumologia e Tisiologia; 2013.), (1111. Carvalho CRR, Toufen Junior C, Franca SA. III Consenso Brasileiro de Ventilação Mecânica. Ventilação mecânica: princípios, análises gráficas e modalidades ventilatórias. J Bras Pneumol. 2007;33(Supl 2):54-70..

Although there are recommendations for the implementation of NIV1010. Biasi A, Ísola AM, Gama AMC, Duarte A, Vianna A, Serpa Neto A, et al. Diretrizes Brasileiras de Ventilação Mecânica. In: FÓRUM DE DIRETRIZES EM VENTILAÇÃO MECÂNICA, 1., 2013, São Paulo. Anais... São Paulo: Associação de Medicina Intensiva Brasileira;Sociedade Brasileira de Pneumologia e Tisiologia; 2013.), (1111. Carvalho CRR, Toufen Junior C, Franca SA. III Consenso Brasileiro de Ventilação Mecânica. Ventilação mecânica: princípios, análises gráficas e modalidades ventilatórias. J Bras Pneumol. 2007;33(Supl 2):54-70., there are no guidelines for weaning this type of ventilation. In 2008, the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) and the British Thoracic Society (BTS)1212. Roberts M, Young K, Plant P, Restrick L, Winter R, Reinhardt A, et al. The use of non-invasive ventilation in the management of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease admitted to hospital with acute type II respiratory failure. London: RCP/BTS/Intensive Care Society; 2008. (Concise Guidance to Good Practice series, 11). suggested a weaning protocol for NIV. However, this was not adopted as a guideline, in addition to not being followed worldwide. Usually, the weaning process of NIV is performed through the clinical judgment of the team involved and it is based on parameters, such as clinical improvement, heart rate, respiratory rate, level of consciousness and analysis of complementary exams1313. Khilnani G, Jain N. Do we need a protocol for weaning patients from noninvasive ventilation? Indian J Crit Med. 2014;18(12):775-7. doi: 10.4103/0972-5229.146298
https://doi.org/10.4103/0972-5229.146298...
.

One of the reasons for the lack of guidelines for NIV weaning may be that, unlike endotracheal intubation, it is considered easy to withdraw the patient from NIV and return the patient to it several times a day without causing harm. Thus, there is a tendency to prolong the duration of NIV, which can lead to prolonged hospital stay, increased hospital infections and, therefore, increased costs. On the other hand, early NIV weaning may also occur, which may lead to degradation of the patient’s clinical status condition and increase the incidence of intubation1313. Khilnani G, Jain N. Do we need a protocol for weaning patients from noninvasive ventilation? Indian J Crit Med. 2014;18(12):775-7. doi: 10.4103/0972-5229.146298
https://doi.org/10.4103/0972-5229.146298...
. For this reason, it is necessary to investigate NIV weaning protocols.

In this context, this article aimed to conduct a systematic review of clinical studies that investigated NIV weaning protocols in adults or hospitalized elderly individuals.

METHODOLOGY

Type of study

This is a systematic review that was performed according to the PRISMA protocol (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyzes)1414. Liberati A, Altman DG, Tetzlaff J, Mulrow C, Gotzsche P, Ioannidis JPA, et al. The PRISMA statement for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses of studies that evaluate healthcare interventions: explanation and elaboration. BJM. 2009;339:b2700. doi: 10.1136/bmj.b2700
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.b2700...
.

Eligibility criteria

The following inclusion criteria were considered: (1) participants: hospitalized individuals aged 18 years or older of both sexes; (2) type of intervention: VNI weaning protocol; (3) comparisons: (a) studies describing weaning protocols; (b) studies comparing two or more weaning protocols; (4) study design: (a) randomized controlled trials (RCTs); (b) quasi-experimental studies; (c) observational studies. Articles in Portuguese, English and Spanish languages were considered. Review articles, case studies, monographs, studies published only as annals of scientific events, chapters, guidelines, books and specialists’ point of views were excluded.

Primary Outcomes

NIV weaning success rate; NIV duration; duration of ICU and hospital stay.

Secondary outcome

Adverse effects associated with NIV weaning.

Sources of information

The search was performed from october 2015 to december 2015 in eight databases: MEDLINE (via PubMed and via OvidSP), PEDro, LILACS, SciELO, COCHRANE, CINAHL, Web of Science and Scopus retrospectively until their year of creation.

Search strategy

For the article search, the descriptors selected were based on the MeSH or DeCS terms, as well as other descriptors of articles with similar themes. The following search strategy was performed on the MEDLINE database via PubMed: (“Noninvasive Ventilation”[Mesh]) OR (“Positive-Pressure Respiration”[Mesh]) OR (“Continuous Positive Airway Pressure”[Mesh]) OR (“non-invasive ventilation”[tiab] OR “non invasive ventilation”[tiab] OR “NIV”[tiab] OR “non-invasive positive pressure ventilation”[tiab] OR “non invasive positive pressure ventilation”[tiab] OR “noninvasive positive pressure ventilation”[tiab] OR “NIPPV”[tiab] OR “CPAP”[tiab] OR “bi-level positive airway pressure”[tiab] OR “bi level positive airway pressure”[tiab] OR “bilevel positive airway pressure”[tiab] OR “BIPAP”[tiab] OR “non-invasive ventilatory support”[tiab] OR “non invasive ventilatory support”[tiab] OR “noninvasive ventilatory support”[tiab]) AND (“Weaning”[Mesh]) OR (“Ventilator weaning”[Mesh]) OR (“withdrawal”[tiab]). Journals of the area, theses and dissertations, as well as bibliography of existing revisions on NIV and the studies included in the review were manually searched.

Data selection and extraction processes

Two reviewers independently traced the title and abstract of each study. All potentially relevant articles were retrieved in full text form for evaluation by the two reviewers. In cases of disagreement, a third evaluator also independently participated in the evaluation. Data were extracted independently by two examiners using a standardized extraction form.

Quality assessment

For the clinical trials, the quality assessment was performed using the PEDro scale (www.pedro.org.au) and for the assessment of the observational studies, the Downs and Black1515. Downs SH, Black N. The feasibility of creating a checklist for the assessment of the methodological quality both of randomised and non-randomised studies of health care interventions. J Epidemiol Community Health. 1998;52(6):377-84. scale was used. This scale is composed of 27 items distributed in five subscales that cover reported information; external validity; internal validity (bias and confusion) and power. The maximum score is 31 points. The quality of the studies was evaluated by two independent evaluators and, in case of disagreement, a third evaluator also participated in the process independently.

Synthesis of results

A narrative synthesis of the data was used. The data were tabulated through tables comparing studies for their characteristics, characteristics of the population and the protocols used. A discussion on the impact of the methodological quality of the studies was conducted.

RESULTS

Figure 1 summarizes the identification and selection process that resulted in four studies1616. Lun CT, Chan VL, Leung WS, Cheung APS, Cheng SL, Tsui MSN, et al. A pilot randomized study comparing two methods of non-invasive ventilation withdrawal after acute respiratory failure in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Respirology. 2013;18(5):814-9. doi: 10.1111/resp.12080
https://doi.org/10.1111/resp.12080...
), (1717. Duan J, Tang X, Huang S, Jia J, Guo S. Protocol-directed versus physician-directed weaning from noninvasive ventilation: The impact in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2012;72(5):1271-75. doi: 10.1097/TA.0b013e318249a0d5
https://doi.org/10.1097/TA.0b013e318249a...
), (1818. Damas C, Andrade C, Araújo JP, Almeida J, Bettencourt P. Weaning from non-invasive positive pressure ventilation: experience with progressive periods of withdraw. Rev Port Pneumol. 2008;14(1):49-53.), (1919. Momii H, Tashima Y, Kadokami T, Narita S, Yoshida M, Ando S. Experience of step-wise protocol using noninvasive positive pressure ventilation for treating cardiogenic pulmonary edema. Eur J Emerg Med. 2012;19(4):267-70. doi: 10.1097/MEJ.0b013e32834ada48
https://doi.org/10.1097/MEJ.0b013e32834a...
included in the review.

Figure 1
Flowchart of search and selection of studies

Description of studies

The protocols used in the four included studies, as well as the criteria for initiating NIV weaning, are described in Table 1. Lun et al.1616. Lun CT, Chan VL, Leung WS, Cheung APS, Cheng SL, Tsui MSN, et al. A pilot randomized study comparing two methods of non-invasive ventilation withdrawal after acute respiratory failure in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Respirology. 2013;18(5):814-9. doi: 10.1111/resp.12080
https://doi.org/10.1111/resp.12080...
compared two weaning protocols, a progressive one and an immediate one, and Duan et al.1717. Duan J, Tang X, Huang S, Jia J, Guo S. Protocol-directed versus physician-directed weaning from noninvasive ventilation: The impact in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2012;72(5):1271-75. doi: 10.1097/TA.0b013e318249a0d5
https://doi.org/10.1097/TA.0b013e318249a...
compared one immediate weaning protocol with the withdrawal of NIV based on the decision of the medical team. On the other hand, in the studies of Damas et al.1818. Damas C, Andrade C, Araújo JP, Almeida J, Bettencourt P. Weaning from non-invasive positive pressure ventilation: experience with progressive periods of withdraw. Rev Port Pneumol. 2008;14(1):49-53. and Mommi et al.1919. Momii H, Tashima Y, Kadokami T, Narita S, Yoshida M, Ando S. Experience of step-wise protocol using noninvasive positive pressure ventilation for treating cardiogenic pulmonary edema. Eur J Emerg Med. 2012;19(4):267-70. doi: 10.1097/MEJ.0b013e32834ada48
https://doi.org/10.1097/MEJ.0b013e32834a...
, progressive weaning protocols were described. In all studies, NIV was used in bilevel mode.

Table 1
Description of protocols

The characteristics of the studies are described in Table 2. Two of the four articles were RCTs1616. Lun CT, Chan VL, Leung WS, Cheung APS, Cheng SL, Tsui MSN, et al. A pilot randomized study comparing two methods of non-invasive ventilation withdrawal after acute respiratory failure in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Respirology. 2013;18(5):814-9. doi: 10.1111/resp.12080
https://doi.org/10.1111/resp.12080...
), (1717. Duan J, Tang X, Huang S, Jia J, Guo S. Protocol-directed versus physician-directed weaning from noninvasive ventilation: The impact in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2012;72(5):1271-75. doi: 10.1097/TA.0b013e318249a0d5
https://doi.org/10.1097/TA.0b013e318249a...
) and two were observational studies1818. Damas C, Andrade C, Araújo JP, Almeida J, Bettencourt P. Weaning from non-invasive positive pressure ventilation: experience with progressive periods of withdraw. Rev Port Pneumol. 2008;14(1):49-53.), (1919. Momii H, Tashima Y, Kadokami T, Narita S, Yoshida M, Ando S. Experience of step-wise protocol using noninvasive positive pressure ventilation for treating cardiogenic pulmonary edema. Eur J Emerg Med. 2012;19(4):267-70. doi: 10.1097/MEJ.0b013e32834ada48
https://doi.org/10.1097/MEJ.0b013e32834a...
. The studies involved elderly patients with acute chronic respiratory insufficiency, mainly due to exacerbation of COPD and ACPE. The sample size ranged from 45 to 73 patients.

Tabela 2
Characteristics of the studies

Methodological Quality

The study by Lun et al.1616. Lun CT, Chan VL, Leung WS, Cheung APS, Cheng SL, Tsui MSN, et al. A pilot randomized study comparing two methods of non-invasive ventilation withdrawal after acute respiratory failure in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Respirology. 2013;18(5):814-9. doi: 10.1111/resp.12080
https://doi.org/10.1111/resp.12080...
received a score of 7/10 and the study by Duan et al.1717. Duan J, Tang X, Huang S, Jia J, Guo S. Protocol-directed versus physician-directed weaning from noninvasive ventilation: The impact in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2012;72(5):1271-75. doi: 10.1097/TA.0b013e318249a0d5
https://doi.org/10.1097/TA.0b013e318249a...
of 5/10. Both studies did not present masking of participants, therapists and examiners, and in the study by Duan et al.1717. Duan J, Tang X, Huang S, Jia J, Guo S. Protocol-directed versus physician-directed weaning from noninvasive ventilation: The impact in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2012;72(5):1271-75. doi: 10.1097/TA.0b013e318249a0d5
https://doi.org/10.1097/TA.0b013e318249a...
) no blinding was also performed on allocation and intention-to-treat analysis. The scores obtained for the observational studies were 10/31 for the study by Damas et al.1818. Damas C, Andrade C, Araújo JP, Almeida J, Bettencourt P. Weaning from non-invasive positive pressure ventilation: experience with progressive periods of withdraw. Rev Port Pneumol. 2008;14(1):49-53. and 13/31 for the study by Mommi et al.1919. Momii H, Tashima Y, Kadokami T, Narita S, Yoshida M, Ando S. Experience of step-wise protocol using noninvasive positive pressure ventilation for treating cardiogenic pulmonary edema. Eur J Emerg Med. 2012;19(4):267-70. doi: 10.1097/MEJ.0b013e32834ada48
https://doi.org/10.1097/MEJ.0b013e32834a...
. In these studies, limitations were observed regarding the description of outcomes and study findings; the representativity of the sample investigated; internal validity (absence of blindness of evaluators and subjects, lack of appropriate statistical tests, absence of randomization and adjustment of confounding factors) and power.

Primary Outcomes

Weaning success rate

This outcome was considered primary in the study by Lun et al.1616. Lun CT, Chan VL, Leung WS, Cheung APS, Cheng SL, Tsui MSN, et al. A pilot randomized study comparing two methods of non-invasive ventilation withdrawal after acute respiratory failure in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Respirology. 2013;18(5):814-9. doi: 10.1111/resp.12080
https://doi.org/10.1111/resp.12080...
, who did not find a statistically significant difference between the groups of progressive (74.3%) and immediate (56%) weaning protocols. In the study of Duan et al.1717. Duan J, Tang X, Huang S, Jia J, Guo S. Protocol-directed versus physician-directed weaning from noninvasive ventilation: The impact in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2012;72(5):1271-75. doi: 10.1097/TA.0b013e318249a0d5
https://doi.org/10.1097/TA.0b013e318249a...
, in the weaning protocol group, the weaning success rate was 57%, 27%, 13%, 0% and 3% on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th days after randomization, respectively. Regarding the observational studies, Damas et al.1818. Damas C, Andrade C, Araújo JP, Almeida J, Bettencourt P. Weaning from non-invasive positive pressure ventilation: experience with progressive periods of withdraw. Rev Port Pneumol. 2008;14(1):49-53. reported weaning failure in 16.3% of the patients. On the other hand, Momii et al.1919. Momii H, Tashima Y, Kadokami T, Narita S, Yoshida M, Ando S. Experience of step-wise protocol using noninvasive positive pressure ventilation for treating cardiogenic pulmonary edema. Eur J Emerg Med. 2012;19(4):267-70. doi: 10.1097/MEJ.0b013e32834ada48
https://doi.org/10.1097/MEJ.0b013e32834a...
did not evaluate this outcome.

NIV duration

This outcome was considered primary in the study by Duan et al.1717. Duan J, Tang X, Huang S, Jia J, Guo S. Protocol-directed versus physician-directed weaning from noninvasive ventilation: The impact in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2012;72(5):1271-75. doi: 10.1097/TA.0b013e318249a0d5
https://doi.org/10.1097/TA.0b013e318249a...
, who compared protocol-based weaning to weaning guided by the medical team. The study demonstrated that the group weaned from NIV via a protocol had a statistically significant reduction in NIV duration. In the study by Lun et al.1616. Lun CT, Chan VL, Leung WS, Cheung APS, Cheng SL, Tsui MSN, et al. A pilot randomized study comparing two methods of non-invasive ventilation withdrawal after acute respiratory failure in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Respirology. 2013;18(5):814-9. doi: 10.1111/resp.12080
https://doi.org/10.1111/resp.12080...
, NIV mean duration after randomization was significantly lower in the group submitted to the weaning protocol, as expected. In the study by Momii et al.1919. Momii H, Tashima Y, Kadokami T, Narita S, Yoshida M, Ando S. Experience of step-wise protocol using noninvasive positive pressure ventilation for treating cardiogenic pulmonary edema. Eur J Emerg Med. 2012;19(4):267-70. doi: 10.1097/MEJ.0b013e32834ada48
https://doi.org/10.1097/MEJ.0b013e32834a...
, NIV mean duration was 19.5±28 hours. Damas et al.1818. Damas C, Andrade C, Araújo JP, Almeida J, Bettencourt P. Weaning from non-invasive positive pressure ventilation: experience with progressive periods of withdraw. Rev Port Pneumol. 2008;14(1):49-53. did not report results for this outcome.

Duration of ICU and hospital stay

These outcomes were considered secondary in both RCTs. In the study by Duan et al.1717. Duan J, Tang X, Huang S, Jia J, Guo S. Protocol-directed versus physician-directed weaning from noninvasive ventilation: The impact in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2012;72(5):1271-75. doi: 10.1097/TA.0b013e318249a0d5
https://doi.org/10.1097/TA.0b013e318249a...
, the weaning protocol group presented a significant reduction in the duration of ICU stay compared to the group whose weaning was performed by the medical team. On the other hand, Lun et al.1616. Lun CT, Chan VL, Leung WS, Cheung APS, Cheng SL, Tsui MSN, et al. A pilot randomized study comparing two methods of non-invasive ventilation withdrawal after acute respiratory failure in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Respirology. 2013;18(5):814-9. doi: 10.1111/resp.12080
https://doi.org/10.1111/resp.12080...
did not find a statistically significant difference for the duration of hospital stay between the groups submitted to the progressive versus immediate weaning protocol. The observational studies did not report these outcomes.

Secondary outcome

Adverse effects

In none of the studies included in the review, a specific adverse effects analysis was performed.

DISCUSSION

This systematic review found only four studies investigating the use of NIV weaning protocols in hospitalized patients1616. Lun CT, Chan VL, Leung WS, Cheung APS, Cheng SL, Tsui MSN, et al. A pilot randomized study comparing two methods of non-invasive ventilation withdrawal after acute respiratory failure in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Respirology. 2013;18(5):814-9. doi: 10.1111/resp.12080
https://doi.org/10.1111/resp.12080...
), (1717. Duan J, Tang X, Huang S, Jia J, Guo S. Protocol-directed versus physician-directed weaning from noninvasive ventilation: The impact in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2012;72(5):1271-75. doi: 10.1097/TA.0b013e318249a0d5
https://doi.org/10.1097/TA.0b013e318249a...
), (1818. Damas C, Andrade C, Araújo JP, Almeida J, Bettencourt P. Weaning from non-invasive positive pressure ventilation: experience with progressive periods of withdraw. Rev Port Pneumol. 2008;14(1):49-53.), (1919. Momii H, Tashima Y, Kadokami T, Narita S, Yoshida M, Ando S. Experience of step-wise protocol using noninvasive positive pressure ventilation for treating cardiogenic pulmonary edema. Eur J Emerg Med. 2012;19(4):267-70. doi: 10.1097/MEJ.0b013e32834ada48
https://doi.org/10.1097/MEJ.0b013e32834a...
and only two of them were RCTs1616. Lun CT, Chan VL, Leung WS, Cheung APS, Cheng SL, Tsui MSN, et al. A pilot randomized study comparing two methods of non-invasive ventilation withdrawal after acute respiratory failure in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Respirology. 2013;18(5):814-9. doi: 10.1111/resp.12080
https://doi.org/10.1111/resp.12080...
), (1717. Duan J, Tang X, Huang S, Jia J, Guo S. Protocol-directed versus physician-directed weaning from noninvasive ventilation: The impact in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2012;72(5):1271-75. doi: 10.1097/TA.0b013e318249a0d5
https://doi.org/10.1097/TA.0b013e318249a...
. All studies evaluated adult or elderly individuals, three of which included patients with COPD exacerbation and one evaluated subjects with cardiogenic ACPE. There was no consent in the studies concerning the outcomes evaluated and the protocols investigated.

One of the RCTs included in this review demonstrated the superiority of protocol-based weaning performance with regard to NIV duration as well as ICU stay1717. Duan J, Tang X, Huang S, Jia J, Guo S. Protocol-directed versus physician-directed weaning from noninvasive ventilation: The impact in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2012;72(5):1271-75. doi: 10.1097/TA.0b013e318249a0d5
https://doi.org/10.1097/TA.0b013e318249a...
. Weaning protocol-based NIV significantly reduced these outcomes when compared to weaning guided by medical team. These results reinforce that the absence of weaning protocols can prolong the duration of hospitalization, with consequent increase in the risk of infections as well as associated costs1313. Khilnani G, Jain N. Do we need a protocol for weaning patients from noninvasive ventilation? Indian J Crit Med. 2014;18(12):775-7. doi: 10.4103/0972-5229.146298
https://doi.org/10.4103/0972-5229.146298...
.

Regarding the weaning success rate, studies by Duan et al.1717. Duan J, Tang X, Huang S, Jia J, Guo S. Protocol-directed versus physician-directed weaning from noninvasive ventilation: The impact in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2012;72(5):1271-75. doi: 10.1097/TA.0b013e318249a0d5
https://doi.org/10.1097/TA.0b013e318249a...
and Damas et al.1818. Damas C, Andrade C, Araújo JP, Almeida J, Bettencourt P. Weaning from non-invasive positive pressure ventilation: experience with progressive periods of withdraw. Rev Port Pneumol. 2008;14(1):49-53. demonstrated high weaning success rates independently of the used protocol, which was immediate in the case of the study by Duan et al.1717. Duan J, Tang X, Huang S, Jia J, Guo S. Protocol-directed versus physician-directed weaning from noninvasive ventilation: The impact in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2012;72(5):1271-75. doi: 10.1097/TA.0b013e318249a0d5
https://doi.org/10.1097/TA.0b013e318249a...
and progressive in the study by Damas et al.1818. Damas C, Andrade C, Araújo JP, Almeida J, Bettencourt P. Weaning from non-invasive positive pressure ventilation: experience with progressive periods of withdraw. Rev Port Pneumol. 2008;14(1):49-53.). In this perspective, Lun et al.1616. Lun CT, Chan VL, Leung WS, Cheung APS, Cheng SL, Tsui MSN, et al. A pilot randomized study comparing two methods of non-invasive ventilation withdrawal after acute respiratory failure in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Respirology. 2013;18(5):814-9. doi: 10.1111/resp.12080
https://doi.org/10.1111/resp.12080...
did not find a statistically significant difference for the weaning success rate between the group submitted to the progressive weaning protocol and the group submitted to immediate weaning. One of the reasons for this finding may have been the sample size of this study, considering that the statistical power for this outcome was only 43.6%.

Regarding the weaning protocols presented, three1616. Lun CT, Chan VL, Leung WS, Cheung APS, Cheng SL, Tsui MSN, et al. A pilot randomized study comparing two methods of non-invasive ventilation withdrawal after acute respiratory failure in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Respirology. 2013;18(5):814-9. doi: 10.1111/resp.12080
https://doi.org/10.1111/resp.12080...
), (1818. Damas C, Andrade C, Araújo JP, Almeida J, Bettencourt P. Weaning from non-invasive positive pressure ventilation: experience with progressive periods of withdraw. Rev Port Pneumol. 2008;14(1):49-53.), (1919. Momii H, Tashima Y, Kadokami T, Narita S, Yoshida M, Ando S. Experience of step-wise protocol using noninvasive positive pressure ventilation for treating cardiogenic pulmonary edema. Eur J Emerg Med. 2012;19(4):267-70. doi: 10.1097/MEJ.0b013e32834ada48
https://doi.org/10.1097/MEJ.0b013e32834a...
of the four included studies adopted progressive weaning protocols, similarly to that proposed by RCP/BTS1212. Roberts M, Young K, Plant P, Restrick L, Winter R, Reinhardt A, et al. The use of non-invasive ventilation in the management of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease admitted to hospital with acute type II respiratory failure. London: RCP/BTS/Intensive Care Society; 2008. (Concise Guidance to Good Practice series, 11). and two investigated protocols for immediate weaning1616. Lun CT, Chan VL, Leung WS, Cheung APS, Cheng SL, Tsui MSN, et al. A pilot randomized study comparing two methods of non-invasive ventilation withdrawal after acute respiratory failure in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Respirology. 2013;18(5):814-9. doi: 10.1111/resp.12080
https://doi.org/10.1111/resp.12080...
), (1717. Duan J, Tang X, Huang S, Jia J, Guo S. Protocol-directed versus physician-directed weaning from noninvasive ventilation: The impact in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2012;72(5):1271-75. doi: 10.1097/TA.0b013e318249a0d5
https://doi.org/10.1097/TA.0b013e318249a...
. However, there is great variation in the weaning progression. In the study by Duan et al.1717. Duan J, Tang X, Huang S, Jia J, Guo S. Protocol-directed versus physician-directed weaning from noninvasive ventilation: The impact in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2012;72(5):1271-75. doi: 10.1097/TA.0b013e318249a0d5
https://doi.org/10.1097/TA.0b013e318249a...
, patients were submitted to immediate weaning from NIV as soon as they met the weaning criteria and were placed in oxygen therapy. Patients in the study by Lun et al.1616. Lun CT, Chan VL, Leung WS, Cheung APS, Cheng SL, Tsui MSN, et al. A pilot randomized study comparing two methods of non-invasive ventilation withdrawal after acute respiratory failure in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Respirology. 2013;18(5):814-9. doi: 10.1111/resp.12080
https://doi.org/10.1111/resp.12080...
who underwent immediate weaning protocol were immediately withdrawn from NIV after randomization in the group and the authors did not mention supplemental O2 supply. On the other hand, the group in the study of Lun et al.1616. Lun CT, Chan VL, Leung WS, Cheung APS, Cheng SL, Tsui MSN, et al. A pilot randomized study comparing two methods of non-invasive ventilation withdrawal after acute respiratory failure in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Respirology. 2013;18(5):814-9. doi: 10.1111/resp.12080
https://doi.org/10.1111/resp.12080...
) who underwent progressive protocol, the reduction of NIV supply occurred over three days with a gradual reduction in NIV supply time on each day. However, the authors did not mention the progression of pressure parameters and the control of peripheral saturation of hemoglobin in oxygen (SpO2) during the process. In the study by Damas et al.1818. Damas C, Andrade C, Araújo JP, Almeida J, Bettencourt P. Weaning from non-invasive positive pressure ventilation: experience with progressive periods of withdraw. Rev Port Pneumol. 2008;14(1):49-53., the weaning progression was also performed over three days, and the reduction of NIV occurred gradually during the day and patients were remained in NIV overnight. And at the time of day without NIV, oxygen therapy was offered to maintain SpO2 ≥90%. On the other hand, in the study by Momii et al.1919. Momii H, Tashima Y, Kadokami T, Narita S, Yoshida M, Ando S. Experience of step-wise protocol using noninvasive positive pressure ventilation for treating cardiogenic pulmonary edema. Eur J Emerg Med. 2012;19(4):267-70. doi: 10.1097/MEJ.0b013e32834ada48
https://doi.org/10.1097/MEJ.0b013e32834a...
the SpO2 values served as the initial basis for the reduction of the inspired fraction of oxygen (FiO2) and as soon as the patients maintained SpO2 ≥95% with FiO2 of 40%, the authors progressively reduced the NIV pressure values until its withdrawal. As in the study by Damas et al.1818. Damas C, Andrade C, Araújo JP, Almeida J, Bettencourt P. Weaning from non-invasive positive pressure ventilation: experience with progressive periods of withdraw. Rev Port Pneumol. 2008;14(1):49-53., patients received supplemental O2 when out of NIV. In addition, as demonstrated in the protocol description table, there was variation regarding the criteria used by the authors to initiate weaning from NIV.

In addition to the heterogeneity regarding the investigated protocols and the design of the studies, an important finding of this review concerns the methodological quality. Some weaknesses have been observed, which may compromise the internal validity of the studies. Both included RCTs1616. Lun CT, Chan VL, Leung WS, Cheung APS, Cheng SL, Tsui MSN, et al. A pilot randomized study comparing two methods of non-invasive ventilation withdrawal after acute respiratory failure in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Respirology. 2013;18(5):814-9. doi: 10.1111/resp.12080
https://doi.org/10.1111/resp.12080...
), (1717. Duan J, Tang X, Huang S, Jia J, Guo S. Protocol-directed versus physician-directed weaning from noninvasive ventilation: The impact in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2012;72(5):1271-75. doi: 10.1097/TA.0b013e318249a0d5
https://doi.org/10.1097/TA.0b013e318249a...
did not have masked subjects and evaluators. In addition, in the study by Duan et al.1717. Duan J, Tang X, Huang S, Jia J, Guo S. Protocol-directed versus physician-directed weaning from noninvasive ventilation: The impact in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2012;72(5):1271-75. doi: 10.1097/TA.0b013e318249a0d5
https://doi.org/10.1097/TA.0b013e318249a...
, no “intention-to-treat” analysis was performed and the subjects’ distribution in the groups was not blinded. Potentially, if the distribution is not blind, the decision whether to include the subject in the study or not can be influenced by prior knowledge of the group to which the subject will be allocated. This can produce systematic deviations in the random distribution. Additionally, the observational studies presented low scores on the methodological scale of Downs and Black1515. Downs SH, Black N. The feasibility of creating a checklist for the assessment of the methodological quality both of randomised and non-randomised studies of health care interventions. J Epidemiol Community Health. 1998;52(6):377-84., with limitations both in respect to internal validity and external validity.

This review has some limitations. One of them is the lack of adequate methodological quality RCTs that investigated the efficacy of the use of NIV weaning protocols in hospitalized individuals. There was an extent of fragility in the internal validity of the studies, since important strategies to minimize bias risks were not employed. In addition, a recent RCT published in abstract2020. Sellares J, Ferrer M, Bencosome C, Loureiro H, Martinez P, Pajares V, et al. Withdrawal of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in acute hypercapnic respiratory failure (AHRF): randomized controlled trial. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2012;185:A6489. form could not be included in the review. The authors of the study were contacted, and they reported that the work had not been fully published so far. From the analysis of the abstract, we found that the authors did not find statistically significant differences between the NIV immediate weaning and a protocol of three additional nights of NIV for weaning success outcomes, hospital stay duration and mortality in COPD patients after an episode of acute respiratory failure. However, it was not possible to access the detailed study information.

CONCLUSION

This systematic review demonstrates the paucity of available evidence on NIV weaning protocols in hospitalized adult or elderly individuals. High success rates of weaning protocols were observed and only one study demonstrated the superiority of implementing an immediate weaning protocol in reducing NIV duration and ICU stay. However, due to the heterogeneity of the protocols and the demographic fragility of most of the studies, it is not possible to make recommendations on the implementation of weaning protocols in this population.

Thus, randomized controlled trials with more methodological rigor need to be performed. Further research on the impact of these protocols on clinical practice is necessary to avoid possible risks due to their inadequate application, prolonged use of technique and/or weaning, increased length of hospital stay, increased occurrence of hospital infections and increased hospital costs.

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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    Dec 2017

History

  • Received
    01 Feb 2017
  • Accepted
    01 Nov 2017
Universidade de São Paulo Rua Ovídio Pires de Campos, 225 2° andar. , 05403-010 São Paulo SP / Brasil, Tel: 55 11 2661-7703, Fax 55 11 3743-7462 - São Paulo - SP - Brazil
E-mail: revfisio@usp.br