Characteristics of Bleeding Complications in Patients with Severe COVID-19 Requiring Veno-venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Complications during veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) are associated with in-hospital mortality. Asian patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) have higher risks of bleeding and in-hospital mortality than Caucasian patients. This study aimed to characterize and identify bleeding complications and their associated factors related to in-hospital mortality in patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) requiring VV-ECMO in Japan. METHODS: In this retrospective observational analysis, the prospective nationwide multicenter registry was used to track real-time information from intensive care units throughout Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic. VV-ECMO patients' registry data between February 1, 2020 and October 31, 2022 were used. RESULTS: This study included 441 patients; 178 (40%) had bleeding complications in the following sites: 20% at the cannulation site, 16% in the gastrointestinal tract, 16% in the ear-nose-throat, 13% at the tracheostomy site, 9% intrathoracic, 6% intracranial, and 5% in the iliopsoas. Anticoagulation was discontinued in >50% of patients with intracranial, iliopsoas, and gastrointestinal tract bleeding. ECMO was discontinued in one-third of patients with intracranial, intramuscular, and iliopsoas hemorrhages. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that only gastrointestinal tract bleeding was associated with in-hospital mortality (odds ratio: 2.49; 95% confidence interval: 1.11-5.60; p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Incidence of bleeding complications was 40% in the Japanese population. Gastrointestinal tract bleeding emerged as a significant predictor of adverse outcomes, necessitating further research into preventive strategies and optimized care protocols. These findings can guide the management of VV-ECMO patients with COVID-19.

High Detectability of Prehospital 12-Lead Electrocardiogram in Diagnosing Spasm-Induced Acute Coronary Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: The importance of prehospital (PH) electrocardiograms (ECG) recorded by emergency medical services (EMS) for diagnosing coronary artery spasm-induced acute coronary syndrome (CS-ACS) remains unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS: We enrolled 340 consecutive patients with ACS who were transported by EMS within 12 h of symptom onset. According to Japanese Circulation Society guidelines, CS-ACS (n=48) was diagnosed with or without a pharmacological provocation test (n=34 and n=14, respectively). Obstructive coronary artery-induced ACS (OC-ACS; n=292) was defined as ACS with a culprit lesion showing 99% stenosis or >75% stenosis with plaque rupture or thrombosis observed via angiographic and intravascular imaging. Ischemic ECG findings included ST-segment deviation (elevation or depression) and negative T and U waves. In CS-ACS, the prevalence of ST-segment deviation decreased significantly from PH-ECG to emergency room (ER) ECG (77.0% vs. 35.4%; P<0.001), as did the prevalence of overall ECG abnormalities (81.2% vs. 45.8%; P<0.001). Conversely, in OC-ACS, there was a similar prevalence on PH-ECG and ER-ECG of ST-segment deviations (94.8% vs. 92.8%, respectively; P=0.057) and abnormal ECG findings (96.9% vs. 95.2%, respectively; P=0.058). Patients with abnormal PH-ECG findings that disappeared upon arrival at hospital without ER-ECG or troponin abnormalities were more frequent in the CS-ACS than OC-ACS group (20.8% vs. 1.0%; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: PH-ECG is valuable for detecting abnormal ECG findings that disappear upon arrival at hospital in CS-ACS patients.

Benefit of prehospital electrocardiogram on door-to-device time in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction with cardiogenic shock: Data from the Kanagawa Acute Cardiovascular Registry.

BACKGROUND: The benefit of prehospital 12­lead electrocardiogram (PH-ECG) performed by emergency medical service personnel at the site of first medical contact (FMC) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) with cardiogenic shock (CS-STEMI) remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of PH-ECG on door-to-device time in patients with CS-STEMI. METHODS: This study enrolled CS-STEMI (Killip class IV) patients who were transferred directly to hospitals by ambulance (n = 517) from the Kanagawa Acute Cardiovascular Registry database. Patients were divided into PH-ECG (+) (n = 270) and PH-ECG (-) (n = 247) groups. Patients who experienced out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, who did not undergo emergent coronary intervention, or whose data were missing were excluded. Patient characteristics, FMC-to-door time, door-to-device time, and in-hospital mortality were compared between the groups. RESULTS: The patient backgrounds of the PH-ECG (+) and PH-ECG (-) groups were comparable. The peak creatinine kinase level was greater in the PH-ECG (+) group than in the PH-ECG (-) group [2756 (1292-6009) IU/ml vs. 2270 (957-5258) IU/ml, p = 0.048]. The FMC-to-door time was similar between the two groups [25 (20-33) min vs. 27 (20-35) min, p = 0.530], while the door-to-device time was significantly shorter in the PH-ECG group [74 (52-103) min vs. 83 (62-111) min, p = 0.007]. In-hospital mortality did not differ between the two groups (18 % vs. 21 %, p = 0.405). Multivariable logistic regression analyses revealed that PH-ECG (+) was independently associated with a door-to-device time < 60 min [odds ratio (95 % confidence intervals): 1.88 (1.24-2.83), p = 0.003]. CONCLUSIONS: PH-ECG was significantly associated with shorter door-to-device times in patients with CS-STEMI. Further studies with larger populations and more defined protocols are required to evaluate the utility of PH-ECG in patients with CS-STEMI.

A comparison study of temporal trends of SARS-CoV2 RNAemia and biomarkers to predict success and failure of high flow oxygen therapy among patients with moderate to severe COVID-19.

Optimal timing for intubating patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been debated throughout the pandemic. Early use of high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) can help reduce the need for intubation, but delay can result in poorer outcomes. This study examines trends in laboratory parameters and serum severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA levels of patients with COVID-19 in relation to HFNC failure. Patients requiring HFNC within three days of hospitalization between July 1 and September 30, 2021 were enrolled. The primary outcome was HFNC failure (early failure ≤Day 3; late failure ≥Day 4), defined as transfer to intensive care just before/after intubation or in-hospital death. We examined changes in laboratory markers and SARS-CoV2-RNAemia on Days 1, 4, and 7, together with demographic data, oxygenation status, and therapeutic agents. We conducted a univariate logistic regression with the explanatory variables defined as 10% change rate in each laboratory marker from Day 1 to 4. We utilized the log-rank test to assess the differences in HFNC failure rates, stratified based on the presence of SARS-CoV2 RNAemia. Among 122 patients, 17 (13.9%) experienced HFNC failure (early: n = 6, late: n = 11). Seventy-five patients (61.5%) showed an initial SpO2/FiO2 ratio ≤243, equivalent to PaO2/FiO2 ratio ≤200, and the initial SpO2/FiO2 ratio was significantly lower in the failure group (184 vs. 218, p = 0.018). Among the laboratory markers, a 10% increase from Day 1 to 4 of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and interleukin (IL)-6 was associated with late failure (Odds ratio [OR]: 1.42, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.09-1.89 and OR: 1.04, 95%CI: 1.00-1.19, respectively). Furthermore, in patients with persistent RNAemia on Day 4 or 7, the risk of late HFNC failure was significantly higher (Log-rank test, p<0.01). In conclusion, upward trends in LDH and IL-6 levels and the persistent RNAemia even after treatment were associated with HFNC failure.

Verification of the termination of resuscitation rules in pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest cases.

Aim: Pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest has an unfavorable prognosis; therefore, making accurate predictions of outcomes is crucial for tailoring treatment plans. The termination of resuscitation rules must accurately predict unfavorable outcomes. In this study, we aimed to assess if the current termination of resuscitation rules for adults can predict factors associated with unfavorable outcomes in pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and examine the relationship between these factors and unfavorable outcomes. Methods: A retrospective nationwide cohort study of pediatric cases registered in the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine Multicenter Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Registry from June 1, 2014, to December 31, 2020, was conducted. The association between the current termination of resuscitation rules and outcomes, such as 30-day mortality and unfavorable 30-day neurological outcomes following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, was evaluated. Results: A total of 1,216 participants were included. The positive predictive value for predicting 30-day mortality for each termination of resuscitation rule exceeded 0.9. The specificity and positive predictive value for predicting unfavorable 30-day neurological outcomes were 1.00, indicating that no rules identified favorable outcomes. Factors such as no bystander witness, no return of spontaneous circulation before hospital arrival, no automated external defibrillator or defibrillator use, and no bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation were associated with poor 30-day mortality and neurological outcomes. Conclusion: Adult termination of resuscitation rules had a high positive predictive value for predicting pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. However, surviving cases make it challenging to use these rules for end-of-resuscitation decisions, indicating the need for identifying new rules to help predict neurological outcomes.

Risk factors for clinically important traumatic brain injury in minor head injury in older people.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The incidence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in older individuals is increasing with an increase in the older population. For older people, the required medical interventions and hospitalization following minor head injury have negative impacts, which have not been reported in literature up till now. We aimed to investigate the risk factors for clinically important traumatic brain injury (ciTBI) in older patients with minor head injury. METHODS: This is a retrospective single-center cohort study. Older patients aged ≥65 years presenting with head injury and a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of ≥13 upon arrival at the hospital between January 1, 2018, and October 31, 2021, were included. Patients with an injury duration of ≥24 h were excluded. The primary outcome was defined as ciTBI (including death, surgery, intubation, medical interventions, and hospital stays of ≥2 nights). Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the risk factors. RESULTS: A total of 296 patients were included initially, and 6 of them were excluded subsequently. ciTBI was identified in 62 cases. According to the results of the multiple logistic regression analysis, GCS scores of ≤14 (OR 3.72, 95% CI 1.89-7.30), high-risk mechanisms of injury (OR 2.80, 95% CI 1.39-5.64), vomiting (OR 5.01, 95% CI 1.19-21.1), and retrograde amnesia (OR 6.90, 95% CI 3.37-14.1) were identified as risk factors. CONCLUSION: In older patients with minor head injury, GCS ≤14, high-risk mechanisms of injury, vomiting, and retrograde amnesia are risk factors for ciTBI.

Usefulness of the Yokohama Advanced Cardiopulmonary Help Team in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Aim: To evaluate whether establishing an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) specialist team, termed the Yokohama Advanced Cardiopulmonary Help Team (YACHT), affected the outcomes and centralization of patients requiring ECMO in Yokohama-Yokosuka regions. Methods: This retrospective observational study included patients aged ≥18 years and treated with venovenous-ECMO for severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) from 2014 to 2023. The primary outcome was intensive care unit (ICU) mortality. The secondary outcomes included ICU-, mechanical ventilator-, and ECMO-free days and complications during the first 28 days. Results: This study included 46 (12 without- and 34 with-YACHT) patients. Among with-YACHT patients, 24 were transferred to our hospital from other hospitals, 14 were assessed by dispatched ECMO physicians, and 9 were transferred after ECMO introduction. No without-YACHT patients were transferred from other hospitals. With-YACHT patients experienced coronavirus disease 2019-associated respiratory failure more frequently (0 vs. 27, p < 0.001) and had higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores (19 vs. 24, p = 0.037) and lower Respiratory Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Survival Prediction scores (4 vs. 2, p = 0.021). ICU mortality was not significantly different between the groups (2 vs. 4, p = 0.67). ICU- (14 vs. 9, p = 0.10), ventilator- (11 vs. 5, p = 0.01), and ECMO-free days (20 vs. 14, p = 0.038) were higher before YACHT establishment. The incidences of complications were not significantly different between the groups. Conclusions: Mortality was not significantly different pre- and post-YACHT establishment; however, it helped promote regionalization and centralization in Yokohama-Yokosuka areas. We will collect more cases to demonstrate YACHT's usefulness.

Elevated Leukocyte Count and Platelet-Derived Thrombogenicity Measured Using the Total Thrombus-Formation Analysis System in Patients with ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

AIMS: High platelet-derived thrombogenicity during the acute phase of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is associated with poor outcomes; however, the associated factors remain unclear. This study aimed to examine whether acute inflammatory response after STEMI affects platelet-derived thrombogenicity. METHODS: This retrospective observational single-center study included 150 patients with STEMI who were assessed for platelet-derived thrombogenicity during the acute phase. Platelet-derived thrombogenicity was assessed using the area under the flow-pressure curve for platelet chip (PL-AUC), which was measured using the total thrombus-formation analysis system (T-TAS). The peak leukocyte count was evaluated as an acute inflammatory response after STEMI. The patients were divided into two groups: the highest quartile of the peak leukocyte count and the other three quartiles combined. RESULTS: Patients with a high peak leukocyte count (＞15,222/mm3; n=37) had a higher PL-AUC upon admission (420 [386-457] vs. 385 [292-428], p=0.0018), higher PL-AUC during primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) (155 [76-229] vs. 96 [29-170], p=0.0065), a higher peak creatine kinase level (4200±2486 vs. 2373±1997, p＜0.0001), and higher PL-AUC 2 weeks after STEMI (119 [61-197] vs. 88 [46-122], p=0.048) than those with a low peak leukocyte count (≤ 15,222/mm3; n=113). The peak leukocyte count after STEMI positively correlated with PL-AUC during primary PPCI (r=0.37, p＜0.0001). A multivariable regression analysis showed the peak leukocyte count to be an independent factor for PL-AUC during PPCI (ß=0.26, p=0.0065). CONCLUSIONS: An elevated leukocyte count is associated with high T-TAS-based platelet-derived thrombogenicity during the acute phase of STEMI.

Association between evolocumab use and slow progression of aortic valve stenosis.

No medications have been reported to inhibit the progression of aortic valve stenosis (AS). The present study aimed to investigate whether evolocumab use is related to the slow progression of AS evaluated by serial echocardiography. This was a retrospective observational study from 2017 to 2022 at Yokohama City University Medical Center. Patients aged ≥ 18 with moderate AS were included. Exclusion criteria were (1) mild AS; (2) severe AS defined by maximum aortic valve (AV) velocity ≥ 4.0 m/s; and/or (3) no data of annual follow-up echocardiography. The primary endpoint was the association between evolocumab use and annual changes in the maximum AV-velocity or peak AV-pressure gradient (PG). A total of 57 patients were enrolled: 9 patients treated with evolocumab (evolocumab group), and the other 48 patients assigned to a control group. During a median follow-up of 33 months, the cumulative incidence of AS events (a composite of all-cause death, AV intervention, or unplanned hospitalization for heart failure) was 11% in the evolocumab group and 58% in the control group (P = 0.012). Annual change of maximum AV-velocity or peak AV-PG from the baseline to the next year was 0.02 (- 0.18 to 0.22) m/s per year or 0.60 (- 4.20 to 6.44) mmHg per year in the evolocumab group, whereas it was 0.29 (0.04-0.59) m/s per year or 7.61 (1.46-16.48) mmHg per year in the control group (both P < 0.05). Evolocumab use was associated with slow progression of AS and a low incidence of AS events in patients with moderate AS.

Laparoscopy for emergency abdominal surgery is associated with reduced physical functional decline in older patients: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: An increasing number of older patients require emergency abdominal surgery for acute abdomen. They are susceptible to surgical stress and lose their independence in performing daily activities. Laparoscopic surgery is associated with faster recovery, less postoperative pain, and shorter hospital stay. However, few studies have examined the relationship between laparoscopic surgery and physical functional decline. Thus, we aimed to examine the relationship between changes in physical function and the surgical procedure. METHODS: In this was a single-center, retrospective cohort study, we enrolled patients who were aged ≥ 65 years and underwent emergency abdominal surgery for acute abdomen between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2021. We assessed their activities of daily living using the Barthel Index. Functional decline was defined as a decrease of ≥ 20 points in Barthel Index at 28 days postoperatively, compared with the preoperative value. We evaluated an association between functional decline and surgical procedures among older patients, using multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: During the study period, 852 patients underwent emergency abdominal surgery. Among these, 280 patients were eligible for the analysis. Among them, 94 underwent laparoscopic surgery, while 186 underwent open surgery. Patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery showed a less functional decline at 28 days postoperatively (6 vs. 49, p < 0.001). After adjustments for other covariates, laparoscopic surgery was an independent preventive factor for postoperative functional decline (OR, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.05-0.83; p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In emergency abdominal surgery, laparoscopic surgery reduces postoperative physical functional decline in older patients. Widespread use of laparoscopic surgery can potentially preserve patient quality of life and may be important for the better development of emergency abdominal surgery.

Influence of Obstructive Apnea Index on Persistent Left Ventricular Dysfunction in Patients with ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Background: We retrospectively investigated the effects of the severity and classification of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) on left ventricular (LV) function in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Methods: A total of 115 patients with STEMIs underwent a sleep study using a multichannel frontopolar electroencephalography recording device (Sleep Profiler) one week after STEMI onset. We evaluated LV global longitudinal strain (LV-GLS) using two-dimensional echocardiography at one week and seven months. Patients were classified as no SDB (AHI < 5 events/h), obstructive SDB (over 50% of apnea events are obstructive), and central SDB (over 50% of apnea events are central). Due to the device's limitations in distinguishing obstructive from central hypopnea, SDB classification was based on apnea index percentages. Results: The obstructive apnea index (OAI) was significantly associated with LV-GLS at one week (r = 0.24, p = 0.027) and seven months (r = 0.21, p = 0.020). No such correlations were found for the central apnea index and SDB classification. Multivariable regression analysis showed that the OAI was independently associated with LV-GLS at one week (ß = 0.24, p = 0.002) and seven months (ß = 0.20, p = 0.008). Conclusions: OAI is associated with persistent LV dysfunction assessed by LV-GLS in STEMI.

Post-extubation dysphagia in pediatric trauma patients: a single-center case-series study.

We aimed to investigate whether ventilator support time influences the occurrence of dysphagia in pediatric trauma patients. This case-series study was conducted in a single pediatric emergency and critical care center from April 2012 to March 2022. Trauma patients aged < 16 years who underwent tracheal intubation were divided into two groups based on the occurrence of dysphagia within 72 h after extubation, and their data were analyzed. Tracheal intubation was performed in 75 pediatric trauma patients, and 53 of them were included in the analysis. A total of 22 patients had post-extubation dysphagia and head trauma. The dysphagia group tended to have more severe head injuries (Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) 4 [4-5] vs. 4 [0-4]; p < 0.05), a longer ventilator support time (7 days [4-11] vs. 1 day [1-2.5]; p < 0.05), and a longer length of hospital stay (27 days [18.0-40.3] vs. 11 days [10.0-21.0]; p < 0.05). Severe head trauma and a long duration of tracheal intubation may be risk factors for dysphagia in pediatric trauma patients. Therefore, early recognition of these risk factors could assist in treatment planning for speech-language pathologist intervention and nutritional routes of administration.

Appropriate Endotracheal Tube Position for Percutaneous Dilatational Tracheostomy: A Single-Center Observational Study.

Aim This study aimed to investigate the appropriate endotracheal tube (ETT) position during percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT). Methods This single-center observational study included hospitalized patients who underwent surgical tracheostomy (ST) between August 2021 and October 2022. During ST, the trachea was opened, and the ETT was pulled out visually. It stopped when the ETT was no longer visible, and the tracheostomy tube was placed in the trachea. The ETT position was measured by considering the ETT position during ST to be the appropriate position during PDT. The correlation between the measured ETT position and patient characteristics was evaluated. A prediction equation for the ETT position was derived from the derivation group, and validation of the prediction equation was evaluated by the validation group. Results Forty-six and 15 patients were in the derivation and validation groups, respectively. Weight, duration of intubation, and in-hospital mortality were significantly different between the two groups. The measured ETT position correlated with body height (r=0.60, p<0.001) and sex (r=0.45, p=0.002), while the ETT position before ST showed a weak correlation (r=0.34, p=0.020). The predicted and measured values in the validation group correlated with each other (r=0.58, p=0.024). Conclusion The appropriate ETT position for PDT correlates with body height, and the equation "body height×0.112-0.323 cm" was derived. This predictive equation may be useful as a guide for ETT positioning during PDT puncture.

Prophylactic distal perfusion catheter and survival in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: Secondary analysis of the SAVE-J II study.

PURPOSE: The effect of a prophylactic distal perfusion catheter (DPC) after extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to clarify the association between prophylactic DPC and prognosis in patients with OHCA undergoing ECPR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A secondary analysis of the Study of Advanced Life Support for Ventricular Fibrillation with Extracorporeal Circulation in Japan (SAVE-J II) database was performed to compare groups of patients with and without prophylactic DPCs. A multivariate analysis of survival at discharge was performed using factors that were significant in the two-arm comparison. RESULTS: A total of 2044 patients were included in the analysis after excluding those who met the exclusion criteria. Survival at discharge was observed in 548 (26.9%) patients. In total, 100 (4.9%) patients developed limb ischemia, among whom 14 (0.7%) required therapeutic intervention. Multivariate analysis showed that prophylactic DPC did not result in a significant difference in survival at discharge (odds ratio: 0.898 [0.652-1.236], p = 0.509). CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of prophylactic DPC after ECPR for patients with OHCA may not contribute to survival at discharge.

Association between blood pressure recording in prehospital setting and patient outcome in pediatric trauma patients: A propensity score matching study.

BACKGROUND: Rapid identification of the severity of injuries in the field is important to ensure appropriate hospital care for better outcomes. Vital signs are used as a field triage tool for critically ill or injured patients in prehospital settings. Several studies have shown that recording vital signs, especially blood pressure, in pediatric patients is sometimes omitted in prehospital settings compared with that in adults. However, little is known about the association between the lack of measurement of prehospital vital signs and patient outcomes. In this study, we examined the association between the rate of vital sign measurements in the field and patient outcomes in injured children. METHODS: This study analyzed secondary data from the Japan Trauma Data Bank. We included pediatric patients (0-17 years) with injuries who were transported by emergency medical services. Hospital survival was the primary outcome. We performed a propensity-matched analysis with nearest-neighbor matching without replacement by adjusting for demographic and clinical variables to evaluate the effect of recording vital signs. RESULTS: During the study period, 13,413 pediatric patients were included. There were 9,187 and 1,798 patients with and without prehospital blood pressure records, respectively. After matching, there were no differences in the patient characteristics or disease severity. Hospital mortality was significantly higher in the nonrecorded group than in the recorded group (4.3% vs. 1.1%; p < 0.001). The multiple logistic regression analysis results showed no prehospital record of blood pressure being associated with death (odds ratio [OR], 6.82; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.40-19.33). Glasgow Coma Scale score and Injury Severity Score were also associated with death (OR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.63-0.81 and OR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.06-11.14, respectively). CONCLUSION: Pediatric patients without any blood pressure records in prehospital settings had higher mortality rates than those with prehospital blood pressure records. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic/Care Management; Level III.

Combining blood glucose and SpO2/FiO2 ratio facilitates prediction of imminent ventilatory needs in emergency room COVID-19 patients.

The increasing requirement of mechanical ventilation (MV) due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is still a global threat. The aim of this study is to identify markers that can easily stratify the impending use of MV in the emergency room (ER). A total of 106 patients with COVID-19 requiring oxygen support were enrolled. Fifty-nine patients were provided MV 0.5 h (interquartile range: 0.3 to 1.4) post-admission. Clinical and laboratory data before intubation were collected. Using a multivariate logistic regression model, we identified four markers associated with the impending use of MV, including the ratio of peripheral blood oxygen saturation to fraction of inspired oxygen (SpO2/FiO2 ratio), alanine aminotransferase, blood glucose (BG), and lymphocyte counts. Among these markers, SpO2/FiO2 ratio and BG, which can be measured easily and immediately, showed higher accuracy (AUC: 0.88) than SpO2/FiO2 ratio alone (AUC: 0.84), despite no significant difference (DeLong test: P = 0.591). Moreover, even in patients without severe respiratory failure (SpO2/FiO2 ratio > 300), BG (> 138 mg/dL) was predictive of MV use. Measuring BG and SpO2/FiO2 ratio may be a simple and versatile new strategy to accurately identify ER patients with COVID-19 at high risk for the imminent need of MV.

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had severe impact on the outcome of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients and the possibility of bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Previous studies focused only on the short periods of the pandemic and reported a significant increase in the number of infections. In a retrospective cohort study we aimed to compare the outcomes of OHCA patients 1 year before and 1 year after the onset of COVID-19. Data of 519 OHCA patients during the pre-pandemic (January-December 2019; 262 patients) and intra-pandemic (April 2020-March 2021; 257 patients) periods in Yokohama Municipal Hospital, Japan were collected and analysed retrospectively. The study outcomes were the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), admission to hospital, survival to discharge, and cerebral performance category at discharge. The intra-pandemic period was associated with decreased bystander CPR (P = 0.004), prolonged transport time (P < 0.001), delayed first adrenaline administration (P < 0.001), and decrease in ROSC (P = 0.023). Logistic regression analysis revealed that the following factors were significantly associated with ROSC: "pandemic", "shockable initial waveform", and "witness presence".

Effectiveness of call system implementation for postpartum hemorrhage in a tertiary emergency medical center: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Postpartum hemorrhage is the leading cause of maternal death and severe maternal morbidity worldwide. Previous studies have reported the importance of multidisciplinary treatment approaches for postpartum hemorrhage; however, only a few studies have shown a clear improvement in maternal outcomes. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the efficacy of a call system for postpartum hemorrhage in a tertiary emergency facility for rapid multidisciplinary treatment and its effect on maternal outcomes. METHODS: This single-center retrospective cohort study included patients transferred to our hospital due to postpartum hemorrhage between April 1, 2013, and March 31, 2019. The primary outcome was mortality, and the secondary outcomes were morbidity (duration of hospital stay, duration of intensive care unit stay, admission to the intensive care unit, respirator use, duration of ventilator support, acute kidney injury, transfusion-associated circulatory overload/transfusion-related acute lung injury, hysterectomy, composite adverse events, blood transfusion initiation time, blood transfusion volume, and treatment for postpartum hemorrhage). An in-hospital call system implementation commenced on April 1, 2016. The study outcomes were compared 3 years before and after implementing the call system. RESULTS: The blood transfusion initiation time and duration of hospital stay were significantly shortened after implementing the call system for postpartum hemorrhage. No maternal deaths were observed after implementing the system. CONCLUSIONS: Implementing call systems specialized for postpartum hemorrhage in tertiary emergency facilities may improve maternal outcomes.

Clinical Usefulness of Echocardiographic Measurement of Proximal Aortic Diameter in Early Differentiation Between Type A Acute Aortic Dissection and ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction.

Background Contradictions between management modalities of type A acute aortic dissection (TAAAD) and ST-elevation-myocardial infarction (STEMI) may result in clinical catastrophe. Therefore, we aimed to explore which 2-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) findings are optimal for differentiating TAAAD from STEMI. Methods and Results This study included 340 patients with STEMI and 340 patients with TAAAD who underwent 2DE in the emergency department between 2012 and 2021. The proximal ascending aorta (PAA) diameter and other echocardiographic parameters were analyzed. PAA diameters were measured at 4 levels in the parasternal view: Valsalva, the sinotubular junction (STJ), the PAA at 1 cm above the STJ, and the PAA at 2 cm above the STJ. Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis showed that Valsalva, STJ, PAA at 1 cm above the STJ, and PAA at 2 cm above the STJ were significant predictors of TAAAD (areas under the curve: 0.777, 0.924, 0.965, and 0.975, respectively; P<0.001) with the respective cutoff values of 39.4, 38.5, 39.8, and 41.2 mm. Multivariable analysis suggested that all 2DE parameters were significant predictors of TAAAD. Among the 2DE parameters examined, the incorporation of PAA at 2 cm above the STJ to clinical indicators exhibited the most significant diagnostic capability (C-statistics, 0.97; net reclassification improvement, 1.81; integrated discrimination improvement, 0.61). When only TAAAD with coronary malperfusion and STEMI were analyzed, the diagnostic utility of PAA at 1 cm above the STJ was evident (C-statistics, 0.99; net reclassification improvement, 1.79; integrated discrimination improvement, 0.67), with PAA at 2 cm above the STJ ranking second in diagnostic significance (C-statistics, 0.99; net reclassification improvement, 1.12; integrated discrimination improvement, 0.66). Conclusions PAA measurements were the most beneficial for diagnosing TAAAD in all 2DE findings and TAAAD from STEMI.

Continuous positive airway pressure treatment from the prehospital field in a Japanese regional Doctor Car system.

Background: Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is an effective treatment for patients with severe heart failure, and certain guidelines recommend its early initiation. However, the current Japanese law strictly prohibits paramedics from administering this treatment. To demonstrate the efficacy and safety of prehospital administration of CPAP therapy, this study was conducted by the Yokohama Medical Control Council (Yokohama MC). Methods: The Yokohama MC established a protocol for CPAP treatment and dispatched Doctor Cars to attend to patients with severe respiratory failure. The Boussignac CPAP system was installed in all Yokohama Doctor Cars, including Workstation-type Doctor Cars and Hospital-type Doctor Cars. Data from this study were collected and recorded in the Yokohama City Doctor Car Registry system from October 2020 to January 2022. Results: The Doctor Car was dispatched 661 times, and CPAP therapy was administered to 13 patients in the prehospital field. It is important to note that the number of CPAP cases was lower than anticipated due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, given concerns about aerosol production. When assessing changes over time in oxygen saturation (SpO2), the median (interquartile range), excluding missing values, was 89% (83%-93%) without oxygen, 95% (94%-99.3%) with oxygen, and 100% (97%-100%) with CPAP. The differences between these groups were statistically significant with a p-value of <0.0001. Respiratory distress was primarily attributed to heart failure in 10 patients (91%) and pneumothorax in 1 patient (9%). Notably, none of the patients' conditions worsened after the use of CPAP. Conclusion: We have detailed the administration of CPAP therapy in the prehospital field within a local city in Japan. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the inaugural report of a prospective observational study on the prehospital administration of CPAP therapy originating from Japan.