The early use of sepsis scores to predict respiratory failure and mortality in non-ICU patients with COVID-19.

This observational retrospective study aimed to investigate the usefulness of Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA), Quick SOFA (qSOFA), National Early Warning Score (NEWS), and quick NEWS in predicting respiratory failure and death among patients with COVID-19 hospitalized outside of intensive care units (ICU). We included 237 adults hospitalized with COVID-19 who were followed-up on for one month or until death. Respiratory failure was defined as a PaO2/FiO2 ratio ≤200mmHg or the need for mechanical ventilation. Respiratory failure occurred in 77 patients (32.5%), 29 patients (12%) were admitted to the ICU, and 49 patients (20.7%) died. Discrimination of respiratory failure was slightly higher in NEWS, followed by SOFA. Regarding mortality, SOFA was more accurate than the other scores. In conclusion, sepsis scores are useful for predicting respiratory failure and mortality in COVID-19 patients. A NEWS score ≥4 was found to be the best cutoff point for predicting respiratory failure.

[The early use of sepsis scores to predict respiratory failure and mortality in non-ICU patients with COVID-19]. / Utilidad de las escalas de sepsis para predecir el fallo respiratorio y la muerte en pacientes con COVID-19 fuera de las Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos.

This observational retrospective study aimed to investigate the usefulness of Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA), Quick SOFA (qSOFA), National Early Warning Score (NEWS), and quick NEWS in predicting respiratory failure and death among patients with COVID-19 hospitalized outside of intensive care units (ICU). We included 237 adults hospitalized with COVID-19 who were followed-up on for one month or until death. Respiratory failure was defined as a PaO2/FiO2 ratio ≤ 200 mmHg or the need for mechanical ventilation. Respiratory failure occurred in 77 patients (32.5%), 29 patients (12%) were admitted to the ICU, and 49 patients (20.7%) died. Discrimination of respiratory failure was slightly higher in NEWS, followed by SOFA. Regarding mortality, SOFA was more accurate than the other scores. In conclusion, sepsis scores are useful for predicting respiratory failure and mortality in COVID-19 patients. A NEWS score ≥ 4 was found to be the best cutoff point for predicting respiratory failure.

Update on the imaging diagnosis of otosclerosis. / Actualización en el diagnóstico radiológico de la otosclerosis.

Otosclerosis is a primary osteodystrophy of the temporal bone that causes progressive conductive hearing loss. The diagnosis is generally clinical, but multidetector CT (MDCT), the imaging technique of choice, is sometimes necessary. The objective of this article is to systematically review the usefulness of imaging techniques for the diagnosis and postsurgical assessment of otosclerosis, fundamentally the role of MDCT, to decrease the surgical risk.

[Acute mastoiditis in children. A retrospective study and literature review]. / Mastoiditis aguda infantil. Estudio retrospectivo y revisión de la literatura.

OBJECTIVE: To review our experience and results in the diagnosis and treatment of acute mastoiditis, a pathology with an increasing incidence in the recent years. METHODS: The study reviewed 49 pediatric patients diagnosed and treated of acute mastoiditis between 1994 and 2003 in our hospital. We summarize epidemiologic, laboratory and clinical features. RESULTS: The mean age was 2.5 years. Seventy-five percent of cases were in autumn and winter months and nearly twenty-five percent had been diagnosed in the last year. S. pneumoniae was the most commonly isolated pathogen (28.6%), although a sterile result was the most frequent (38.1%). Twenty-four patients (48.9%) required surgical treatment. Only five patients (10.2%) developed complications. CONCLUSIONS: Acute mastoiditis is a pathology with an important incidence and is generally the consequence of an untreated otitis or an insufficient treatment. Due to the low number of complications, we can not estimate through statistical analysis valid markers like predictors for complication.