The effect of selenium on maximum inspiratory pressure in patients under mechanical ventilation in intensive care units

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of selenium on the maximum inspiratory pressure in patients under mechanical ventilation admitted to the intensive care units. Methods: In a clinical-trial study, 50 patients under mechanical ventilation in intensive care units of Alzahra hospital, Isfahan, Iran, were selected and randomly divided in to two groups. First group of patients received selenium 1 μg daily orally with meal when were connected to the ventilator; the second group did not received the drug. The two groups were compared in terms of time separating device parameters, respiratory, hemodynamic parameters, duration of weaning from ventilation, and outcomes. Findings: Weaning extubation was done in 17 (68) and 16 (64) cases of selenium and control groups, respectively, without any significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.77). The mean (± SD) maximum inspiratory pressure was -20.36 ± 2.73 and -21.04 ± 2.41 cmH2O at the beginning of ventilation (P = 0.360), -24.72 ± 2.73 and -22.16 ± 1.52 cmH2O at the pressure support ventilation (PSV) of 8 cmH2O (P < 0.001), and -24.52 ± 2.58 and -29.12 ± 4.61 cmH2O at the pressure support ventilation of 5 cmH2O (P < 0.001) in intervention and control groups, respectively, which showed the significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion: Prescribed selenium led to reduced airway resistance in patients receiving mechanical ventilation, but weaning of extubation and time of separation were not difference with and without selenium. More studies are recommended to be done in this case. © 2017, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved.