Accuracy of alpha amylase in diagnosing microaspiration in intubated critically-ill patients.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Amylase concentration in respiratory secretions was reported to be a potentially useful marker for aspiration and pneumonia. The aim of this study was to determine accuracy of α-amylase in diagnosing microaspiration in critically ill patients.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data collected in a medical ICU. All patients requiring mechanical ventilation for at least 48 h, and included in a previous randomized controlled trial were eligible for this study, provided that at least one tracheal aspirate was available for α-amylase measurement. As part of the initial trial, pepsin was quantitatively measured in all tracheal aspirates during a 48-h period. All tracheal aspirates were frozen, allowing subsequent measurement of α-amylase for the p

SUBMITTER: Dewavrin F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3946401 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature