Saudi Guideline for Mechanical Ventilation in Adults

Area of Science:

• Critical Care Medicine
• Respiratory Therapy
• Evidence-Based Practice

Background:

• Mechanical ventilation is crucial for respiratory failure management.
• Saudi Arabia has seen advancements in ventilation practices.
• This guideline is the first national evidence-based framework.

Purpose of the Study:

• Provide evidence-based recommendations for adult mechanical ventilation in Saudi ICUs.
• Improve patient outcomes and standardize care.
• Incorporate best practices into clinical settings.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the GRADE-ADOLOPMENT methodology for guideline development.
• A multidisciplinary task force conducted a systematic literature review.
• Recommendations were contextualized for Saudi Arabian healthcare settings.

Main Results:

• Strong recommendations for low tidal volume, PEEP, and head-of-bed elevation.
• Conditional recommendations for V-V ECMO, sedation interruption, SBT, prone positioning, subglottic drainage ETT, light sedation, and early tracheostomy.
• Conditional recommendation against nitric oxide; neutral on recruitment maneuvers and early mobility.

Conclusions:

• Establishes a framework for optimizing mechanical ventilation in Saudi Arabia.
• Highlights the need for research on implementation, cost-effectiveness, and adherence.
• Aims to enhance patient care and outcomes in intensive care settings.