Application of Fiberoptic Bronchscopy in Patients with Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease During Sequential Weaning of Invasive-noninvasive Mechanical Ventilation

Background: Early withdrawal of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) followed by noninvasive MV (NIMV) is a new strategy for changing modes of treatment in patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) with acute respiratory failure (ARF). Using pulmonary infection control window (PIC window) as the switch point for transferring from invasive to noninvasive MV, the time for early extubation can be more accurately judged, and therapy efficacy can be improved. This study aimed to prospectively investigate the clinical effectiveness of fiberoptic bronchscopy (FOB) in patients with AECOPD during sequential weaning of invasive-noninvasive MV.

Methods: Since July 2006 to January 2011, 106 AECOPD patients with ARF were treated with comprehensive medication and IMV after hospitalization. Patients were randomly divided into two groups according to whether fiberoptic bronchoscope is used (group A, n=54) or not (group B, n=52) during sequential weaning from invasive to noninvasive MV. In group A, for sputum suction and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), a fiberoptic bronchoscope was put into the airway from the outside of an endotracheal tube, which was accompanied with uninterrupted use of a ventilator. After achieving PIC window, patients of both groups changed to NIMV mode, and weaned from ventilation. The following listed indices were used to compare between the groups after treatment: 1) the occurrence time of PIC, the duration of MV, the length of ICU stay, the success rate of weaning from MV for the first time, the rate of reventilation and the occurrence rate of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP); 2) the convenience and safety of FOB manipulation. The results were compared using Student's t test and the Chi-square test.

Results: The occurrence time of PIC was (5.01±1.49) d, (5.87±1.87) d in groups A and B, respectively (P<0.05); the duration of MV was (6.98±1.84) d, (8.69±2.41) d in groups A and B, respectively (P<0.01); the length of ICU stay was (9.25±1.84) d, (11.10±2.63) d in groups A and B, respectively (P<0.01); the success rate of weaning for the first time was 96.30%, 76.92% in groups A and B, respectively (P<0.01); the rate of reventilation was 5.56%, 19.23% in groups A and B, respectively (P<0.05); and the occurrence rate of VAP was 3.70%, 23.07% in groups A and B, respectively (P<0.01). Moreover, it was easy and safe to manipulate FOB, and no side effect was observed.

Conclusions: The application of FOB in patients with AECOPD during sequential weaning of invasive-noninvasive MV is effective in ICU. It can decrease the duration of MV and the length of ICU stay, increase the success rate from weaning MV for the first time, reduce the rate of reventilation and the occurrence rate of VAP. In addition, such a method is convenient and safe in patients of this kind.