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. 2014 Jun;40(6):769-87.
doi: 10.1007/s00134-014-3272-1. Epub 2014 Mar 26.

Effects of interventions on survival in acute respiratory distress syndrome: an umbrella review of 159 published randomized trials and 29 meta-analyses

Adriano R Tonelli  1 , Joe Zein, Jacob Adams, John P A Ioannidis
Affiliations

Effects of interventions on survival in acute respiratory distress syndrome: an umbrella review of 159 published randomized trials and 29 meta-analyses

Adriano R Tonelli et al. Intensive Care Med. 2014 Jun.

Abstract

Purpose: Multiple interventions have been tested in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We examined the entire agenda of published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in ARDS that reported on mortality and of respective meta-analyses.

Methods: We searched PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Knowledge until July 2013. We included RCTs in ARDS published in English. We excluded trials of newborns and children; and those on short-term interventions, ARDS prevention, or post-traumatic lung injury. We also reviewed all meta-analyses of RCTs in this field that addressed mortality. Treatment modalities were grouped in five categories: mechanical ventilation strategies and respiratory care, enteral or parenteral therapies, inhaled/intratracheal medications, nutritional support, and hemodynamic monitoring.

Results: We identified 159 published RCTs of which 93 had overall mortality reported (n = 20,671 patients)--44 trials (14,426 patients) reported mortality as a primary outcome. A statistically significant survival benefit was observed in eight trials (seven interventions) and two trials reported an adverse effect on survival. Among RCTs with more than 50 deaths in at least one treatment arm (n = 21), two showed a statistically significant mortality benefit of the intervention (lower tidal volumes and prone positioning), one showed a statistically significant mortality benefit only in adjusted analyses (cisatracurium), and one (high-frequency oscillatory ventilation) showed a significant detrimental effect. Across 29 meta-analyses, the most consistent evidence was seen for low tidal volumes and prone positioning in severe ARDS.

Conclusions: There is limited supportive evidence that specific interventions can decrease mortality in ARDS. While low tidal volumes and prone positioning in severe ARDS seem effective, most sporadic findings of interventions suggesting reduced mortality are not corroborated consistently in large-scale evidence including meta-analyses.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow chart of published randomized trials in ARDS
Figure 2
Figure 2. Calculated unadjusted risk ratios for mortality in randomized trials in ARDS that had more than 50 deaths in at least one arm
When multiple metrics were provided we focused in the follow-up that defined the primary mortality outcome. In the event that this was not available we considered the time point of the secondary outcome and if none available the longer follow-up time. Abbreviations: CVP: central venous pressure, HFOV: high-frequency oscillatory ventilation, PAOP: pulmonary artery occlusion pressure, PEEP: positive end-expiratory pressure, PGE1: prostaglandin E1.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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