Role of Transbronchial Lung Cryobiopsy in the Diagnosis of Interstitial Lung Disease: A Meta-analysis of 68 Studies and 6300 Patients.

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of interstitial lung disease (ILD) is based on multidisciplinary team discussion (MDD) with the incorporation of clinical, radiographical, and histopathologic information if available. We aim to evaluate the diagnostic yield and safety outcomes of transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC) in the diagnosis of ILD. METHODS: We conducted a meta-analysis by comprehensive literature search to include all studies that evaluated the diagnostic yields and/or adverse events with TBLC in patients with ILD. We calculated the pooled event rates and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the diagnostic yield by MDD, histopathologic diagnostic yield, and various clinical adverse events. RESULTS: We included 68 articles (44 full texts and 24 abstracts) totaling 6386 patients with a mean age of 60.7±14.1 years and 56% men. The overall diagnostic yield of TBLC to achieve a definite or high-confidence diagnosis based on MDD was 82.3% (95% CI: 78.9%-85.2%) and histopathologic diagnosis of 72.5% (95% CI: 67.7%-76.9%). The overall rate of pneumothorax was 9.6% (95% CI: 7.9%-11%), while the rate of pneumothorax requiring drainage by a thoracostomy tube was 5.3% (95% CI: 4.1%-6.9%). The rate of moderate bleeding was 11.7% (95% CI: 9.1%-14.9%), while the rate of severe bleeding was 1.9% (95% CI: 1.4%-2.6%). The risk of mortality attributed to the procedure was 0.9% (95% CI: 0.7%-1.3%). CONCLUSION: Among patients with undiagnosed or unclassified ILD requiring tissue biopsy for diagnosis, transbronchial cryobiopsy represents a reliable alternative to surgical lung biopsy with decreased incidence of various clinical adverse events.

Pre-Existing Psychiatric Illness Is Associated With an Increased Risk of Delirium in Patients With Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are highly susceptible to developing delirium for a multitude of reasons. Previous studies have linked pre-existing depression with an increased risk of postoperative delirium in patients undergoing cardiac and non-cardiac surgery. However, the evidence regarding the association between pre-existing psychiatric illnesses and delirium in ARDS patients is unknown. In this study, we aim to determine the relationship between pre-existing psychiatric illness and the risk of development of delirium amongst ARDS patients. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of a mixed group of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) between January 2016 and December 2019 with a diagnosis of ARDS per the Berlin definition. The study group was divided into 2 cohorts: subjects with delirium and subjects without delirium. Comparison between the 2 groups was conducted to examine the impact of pre-existing psychiatric illnesses including major depressive disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or post-traumatic stress disorder. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed adjusting for benzodiazepine use, sedatives, analgesics, sequential organ failure assessment score, and corticosteroid use to determine the association between pre-existing psychiatric disorders and delirium. RESULTS: 286 patients with ARDS were identified; 124 (43%) of whom were diagnosed with ICU delirium. In patients diagnosed with ICU delirium, 49.2% were found to have preexisting psychiatric illnesses, compared to 34.0% without any preexisting psychiatric illness (OR = 1.94, P = 0.01). In a subgroup analysis of individual psychiatric illnesses, GAD and MDD were associated with the development of delirium (OR = 1.88, P = 0.04 and OR = 1.76, P = 0.05 respectively). INTERPRETATION: ARDS patients with preexisting psychiatric illnesses, particularly GAD and MDD are associated with an increased risk of developing ICU delirium. Clinicians should be aware of the effect of psychiatric co-morbidities on developing delirium in critically ill patients.

Vitamin C, Thiamine, and Hydrocortisone in the Treatment of Sepsis: A Meta-Analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

BACKGROUND: There is a conflicting body of evidence regarding the benefit of vitamin C, thiamine, and hydrocortisone in combination as an adjunctive therapy for sepsis with or without septic shock. We aimed to assess the efficacy of this treatment among predefined populations. METHODS: A literature review of major electronic databases was performed to include randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating vitamin C, thiamine, and hydrocortisone in the treatment of patients with sepsis with or without septic shock in comparison to the control group. RESULTS: Seven studies met our inclusion criteria, and 6 studies were included in the final analysis totaling 839 patients (mean age 64.2 ± 18; SOFA score 8.7 ± 3.3; 46.6% female). There was no significant difference between both groups in long term mortality (Risk Ratio (RR) 1.05; 95% CI 0.85-1.30; P = 0.64), ICU mortality (RR 1.03; 95% CI 0.73-1.44; P = 0.87), or incidence of acute kidney injury (RR 1.05; 95% CI 0.80-1.37; P = 0.75). Furthermore, there was no significant difference in hospital length of stay, ICU length of stay, and ICU free days on day 28 between the intervention and control groups. There was, however, a significant difference in the reduction of SOFA score on day 3 from baseline (MD -0.92; 95% CI -1.43 to -.41; P < 0.05). In a trial sequential analysis for mortality outcomes, our results are inconclusive for excluding lack of benefit of this therapy. CONCLUSION: Among patients with sepsis with or without septic shock, treatment with vitamin C, thiamine, and hydrocortisone was not associated with a significant reduction in mortality, incidence of AKI, hospital and ICU length of stay, or ICU free days on day 28. There was a significant reduction of SOFA score on day 3 post-randomization. Further studies with a larger number of patients are needed to provide further evidence on the efficacy or lack of efficacy of this treatment.

A 67-Year-Old Woman With Abdominal Pain, Paresthesia, and Rapidly Expanding Lung Nodule.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 67-year-old woman with a medical history significant for hypertension, hyperlipidemia, type 2 diabetes mellitus, OSA, and schizophrenia was admitted multiple times the previous 3 months for generalized abdominal pain. Her most recent admission was unique for new onset bilateral upper and lower extremity weakness with paresthesia. Pertinent review of systems included malaise, fever, cough, left lower quadrant pain without weight loss, and rash. Previous evaluation included multiple CT scans of her abdomen that revealed colonic thickening. Ensuing colonoscopy revealed chronic ulcers with cytopathic changes consistent with cytomegalovirus.

A 36-Year-Old Woman Presenting With Left Upper Quadrant Discomfort, Encephalopathy, and Respiratory Failure.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 36-year-old woman with a history of hypertension and alcoholism reported 2 days of left upper quadrant pain and jaundice. Within hours of admission, she became somnolent and hypoxic. The patient was then intubated. She had no history of drug abuse, cigarette smoking, liver disease, autoimmune disease, or pancreatitis. She had no home medications.

Primary antiphospholipid syndrome associated Liebman-Sachs endocarditis leading to diffuse alveolar hemorrhage: A case report.

A 26 year old female presented for recurrent blood tinged sputum during the previous year with development of frank hemoptysis three days prior to admission. Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) was confirmed with serial lavages. The patient had no history of autoimmune disease, vascular thrombosis or pregnancy morbidity including miscarriages or pre-eclampsia. High dose steroids were initiated along with noninvasive ventilatory support. Transthoracic echocardiogram showed severe mitral regurgitation and a vegetation on the mitral valve; transesophageal echocardiogram determined the lesion highly suggestive of Libman-Sachs endocarditis. Blood cultures were negative. Immunological evaluation established the patient was negative for: anti-nuclear antibody, anti-double-stranded DNA antibody, rheumatoid factor, anti-smith antibody, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide, anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies, anti-glomerular basement membrane antibodies. Further evaluation revealed elevated levels of anticardiolipin immunoglobulin G and anti-beta 2 glycoprotein immunoglobulin G which continued to increase for months after hospitalization. She was diagnosed with DAH secondary to acute mitral regurgitation caused by Libman-Sachs endocarditis in the presence of primary antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. DAH is an important disease to understand given its high mortality rate. Few case reports relating the presence of Libman-Sachs endocarditis induced by antiphospholipid antibody syndrome leading to DAH have been published. Unique here is the absence of rheumatologic markers thus supporting a diagnosis of primary antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS). This patient had no findings associated with rheumatological disorders potentially making this diagnosis easily overlooked. This case further illustrates the importance of evaluating patients with APS presenting with DAH as there are multiple etiologies that lead to this pathology thus different treatment avenues are to be considered during management.

A 77-Year-Old Woman With Acute Shortness of Breath and Chest Pain.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 77-year-old woman presented to the hospital with symptoms of progressive shortness of breath with associated right-sided pleuritic pain. The patient had begun noting dyspnea on exertion, limiting her ability to go on hikes over the few days prior to admission. Her medical history is significant for carcinoid tumor status postresection in 2012 without recurrence. She has no history of thromboembolism or clotting disorders, and she has no history of smoking or drug abuse. Current medications include amlodipine, celecoxib, hydrochlorothiazide, and rosuvastatin.