Clinical characteristics, multiorgan dysfunction and outcomes of patients with COVID-19: a prospective case series.

BACKGROUND: Characterizing the multiorgan manifestations and outcomes of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 will inform resource requirements to address the long-term burden of this disease. We conducted a descriptive analysis using prospectively collected data to describe the clinical characteristics and spectrum of organ dysfunction, and in-hospital and longer-term clinical outcomes of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 during the first wave of the pandemic at a Canadian centre. METHODS: We conducted a prospective case series involving adult patients (aged ≥ 18 yr) with COVID-19 admitted to 1 of 2 hospitals in London, Ontario, from Mar. 17 to June 18, 2020, during the first wave of the pandemic. We recorded patients' baseline characteristics, physiologic parameters, measures of organ function and therapies administered during hospitalization among patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) and in non-ICU settings, and compared the characteristics of hospital survivors and nonsurvivors. Finally, we recorded follow-up thoracic computed tomography (CT) and echocardiographic findings after hospital discharge. RESULTS: We enrolled 100 consecutive patients (47 women) hospitalized with COVID-19, including 32 patients who received ICU care and 68 who received treatment in non-ICU settings. Respiratory sequelae were common: 23.0% received high-flow oxygen by nasal cannula, 9.0% received noninvasive ventilation, 24.0% received invasive mechanical ventilation and 2.0% received venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Overall, 9.0% of patients had cerebrovascular events (3.0% ischemic stroke, 6.0% intracranial hemorrhage), and 6.0% had pulmonary embolism. After discharge, 11 of 19 patients had persistent abnormalities on CT thorax, and 6 of 15 had persistent cardiac dysfunction on echocardiography. INTERPRETATION: This study provides further evidence that COVID-19 is a multisystem disease involving neurologic, cardiac and thrombotic dysfunction, without evidence of hepatic dysfunction. Patients have persistent organ dysfunction after hospital discharge, underscoring the need for research on long-term outcomes of COVID-19 survivors.

Non-Invasive Monitoring of Core Body Temperature for Targeted Temperature Management in Post-Cardiac Arrest Care.

Importance: Accurate monitoring of core body temperature is integral to targeted temperature management (TTM) following cardiac arrest. However, there are no reliable non-invasive methods for monitoring temperature during TTM. Objectives: We compared the accuracy and precision of a novel non-invasive Zero-Heat-Flux Thermometer (SpotOn™) to a standard invasive esophageal probe in a cohort of patients undergoing TTM post-cardiac arrest. Design Setting and Participants: We prospectively enrolled 20 patients undergoing post-cardiac arrest care in the intensive care units at the London Health Sciences Centre in London, Canada. A SpotOn™ probe was applied on each patient's forehead, while an esophageal temperature probe was inserted, and both temperature readings were recorded at 1-min intervals for the duration of TTM. Main outcomes and Measures: We compared the SpotOn™ and esophageal monitors using the Bland-Altman analysis and the Pearson correlation, with accuracy set as a primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included precision and correlation. Bias exceeding 0.1°C and limits of agreement exceeding 0.5°C were considered clinically important. Results: Sixteen (80%) of patients had complete data used in the final analysis. The median (interquartile range) duration of recording was 38 (12-56) h. Compared to the esophageal probe, SpotOn™ had a bias of 0.06 ± 0.45°C and 95% limits of agreement of -0.83 to 0.95°C. The Pearson correlation coefficient was 0.97 (95% confidence interval 0.9663-0.9678), with a two-tailed p < 0.0001. Conclusion and Relevance: The SpotOn™ is an accurate method that may enable non-invasive monitoring of core body temperature during TTM, although its precision is slightly worse than the predefined 0.5°C when compared to invasive esophageal probe.

The Use of Central Venous to Arterial Carbon Dioxide Tension Gap for Outcome Prediction in Critically Ill Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we assessed whether a high CO2 gap predicts mortality in adult critically ill patients with circulatory shock. DATA SOURCES: A systematic search of MEDLINE and EMBASE electronic databases from inception to October 2019. STUDY SELECTION: Studies from adult (age ≥ 18 yr) ICU patients with shock reporting CO2 gap and outcomes of interest. Case reports and conference abstracts were excluded. DATA EXTRACTION: Data extraction and study quality assessment were performed independently in duplicate. DATA SYNTHESIS: We used the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale to assess methodological study quality. Effect sizes were pooled using a random-effects model. The primary outcome was mortality (28 d and hospital). Secondary outcomes were ICU length of stay, hospital length of stay, duration of mechanical ventilation, use of renal replacement therapy, use of vasopressors and inotropes, and association with cardiac index, lactate, and central venous oxygen saturation. CONCLUSIONS: We included 21 studies (n = 2,155 patients) from medical (n = 925), cardiovascular (n = 685), surgical (n = 483), and mixed (n = 62) ICUs. A high CO2 gap was associated with increased mortality (odds ratio, 2.22; 95% CI, 1.30-3.82; p = 0.004) in patients with shock, but only those from medical and surgical ICUs. A high CO2 gap was associated with higher lactate levels (mean difference 0.44 mmol/L; 95% CI, 0.20-0.68 mmol/L; p = 0.0004), lower cardiac index (mean difference, -0.76 L/min/m; 95% CI, -1.04 to -0.49 L/min/m; p = 0.00001), and central venous oxygen saturation (mean difference, -5.07; 95% CI, -7.78 to -2.37; p = 0.0002). A high CO2 gap was not associated with longer ICU or hospital length of stays, requirement for renal replacement therapy, longer duration of mechanical ventilation, or higher vasopressors and inotropes use. Future studies should evaluate whether resuscitation aimed at closing the CO2 gap improves mortality in shock.

Elevated C-peptide Levels Are Associated With Acute Rejection in Kidney Pancreas Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: We assessed whether allograft rejection or failure can be predicted by an acute increase in C-peptide production from the transplanted pancreas. METHODS: Patients with a minimum of 5 years of follow-up post simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant were identified. C-peptide levels were obtained during clinic visits routinely. Graft failure was defined as return to dependence on insulin therapy or return to dialysis for pancreas and kidney grafts, respectively. Protocol kidney allograft biopsies were performed at 3 and 12 months. For-cause biopsies were also performed. RESULTS: Acute rejections were detected in 11 patients on biopsy results of the renal allograft. C-peptide levels drawn prior to documented rejections were significantly higher in patients with acute rejection than patients with borderline or no rejection (P = .006). Receiver operating characteristics curves for C-peptide indicated greater accuracy in predicting rejection than simultaneously drawn serum creatinine or lipase. CONCLUSIONS: Higher C-peptide levels in simultaneous pancreas-kidney recipients is associated with acute rejection vs nonrejection.

Group B Streptococcal Cellulitis and Necrotizing Fasciitis in Infants: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: There is no consensus regarding approaches to infantile group B streptococcal (GBS) head and neck cellulitis and necrotizing fasciitis. We present a case of GBS necrotizing cellulitis and summarize the literature regarding the presentation and management of infantile head and neck GBS cellulitis and necrotizing fasciitis. METHODS: The literature was searched using PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE and Medline (inception to April 2017) by 2 independent review authors. Inclusion criteria encompassed case reports or case series of infants less than 12 months of age with GBS cellulitis of the head and neck or with GBS necrotizing fasciitis without restriction to the head and neck. Data were extracted using tables developed a priori by 2 independent review authors, and discrepancies were resolved by consensus. RESULTS: An infant presenting at 33 days of age with GBS facial necrotizing fasciitis was successfully treated conservatively with antibiotics. Our literature search identified 40 infants with GBS head and neck cellulitis. Late-onset (98%), male gender (65%) and prematurity (58%) predominated. Penicillin is the main therapy used (97%). The 12 identified cases of necrotizing fasciitis were associated with polymicrobial etiology (36%) and broad-spectrum antibiotic use. Seventy-five percent required debridement, including 4 of 5 (80%) cases involving the head and neck. CONCLUSIONS: Skin and soft tissue involvement is an uncommon manifestation of late-onset GBS infection which requires antibiotic therapy and possibly surgical debridement cases with necrotizing fasciitis.

A comparative review of common laxatives in the treatment of constipation.

INTRODUCTION: Constipation is a common condition that affects people all over the world. A frequently sought out solution to this problem consists of laxatives, especially since these medications are easily accessible over-the-counter in most pharmacies. This has led laxative spending in North America alone to be approximately $500 million per year. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: Due to this large expenditure, a review of the available laxative data was completed and common laxative classes were evaluated and contrasted for the purposes of evaluating cost-effectiveness. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Despite the wide use of laxatives, very little research has been done to evaluate their efficacy. Even less has been done to analyze these medications from a cost standpoint. CONCLUSIONS: Although laxatives are very commonly prescribed and used over-the-counter, more research attention should be granted on determining the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of laxative use.