The analysis of patients under mechanical ventilation support in intensive care unit with the diagnosis of H1N1 infection: retrospective study

The aim of this study is to analyze the demographic data of the patients followed in intensive care unit, under mechanical ventilation support, with a proved diagnosis of H1N1 infection. Our secondary aim is to determine the similarities and differences of these data with previous outbreaks. Seventeen patients followed in anesthesiology and reanimation intensive care unit under mechanical ventilation support due to H1N1 infection were conducted in the study. The diagnosis was proved with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and virus culture. Patients’ ages, comorbidities, vaccination stories, complications, mechanical ventilation period and pathological laboratory results were retrospectively recorded. Nine of the patients were male and mean age was calculated as 58.6 ± 19.4. Most common comorbidities were chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Mean duration for onset of respiratory insufficiency was 9.2 ± 3.9 days. The duration was significantly lower in elderly patients. Most frequently seen complication at mechanically ventilated patients was acute respiratory distress syndrome and septic shock. Mean period for mechanical ventilation support was calculated as 15.9 ± 9.2 days. There was a weak correlation between age and mortality. When we analyzed the laboratory results, all patients’ creatine kinase levels were found to be high. We found our patients to have a long mechanical ventilation period. Older patients were shown to have a higher risk for mortality. The risk groups should be well known and vaccination programmes should be increased to prevent complications.