High incidence of common femoral Deep Vein Thrombosis in critically ill Covid19 patients.

Objective: To estimate the incidence and prevalence of deep venous thrombosis, and to evaluate the discriminative capacity of D-dimer in its diagnosis. METHODS: The prospective, observational study was conducted at the critical care unit of a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan from February to September 2021 and comprised consecutively admitted adult critically ill patients who were receiving therapeutic-dose anticoagulation therapy. All patients were screened on day one for deep venous thrombosis by colour doppler and compression ultrasonography. Patients who did not have deep venous thrombosis on the first scan were followed every 72 hours. Data was analysed using SPSS 26. RESULTS: Of the 142 patients, 99(69.7%) were male and 43(30.3%) were female. The overall mean age was 53.20+/-13.3 years. On the first scan, 25(17.6%) patients had deep venous thrombosis. Of the remaining 117 patients, 78(68.4%) were followed every 72 hours, and 23(29.48%) of them developed deep venous thrombosis. The most common site for DVT was the common femoral vein 46(95.8%) and most deep venous thrombosis cases were unilateral 28(58.33%). D-dimer levels showed no discriminative capacity for diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis (p=0.79). There were no significant risk factors for the development of deep venous thrombosis. Conclusion: There was a high incidence and prevalence of deep venous thrombosis despite therapeutic-dose anticoagulation therapy. The most common affected site was the common femoral vein and most deep venous thrombosis were unilateral. D-dimer levels had no discriminative capacity for the diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis DVT.

Echocardiogram in Critically ill Patients with COVID-19: ECOVID Study

Abstract Background Literature is scarce on echocardiographic characteristics of COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Objectives To describe echocardiographic characteristics of ICU COVID-19 patients and associate them with clinical signals/symptoms, laboratory findings and outcomes. Methods Patients with RT-PCR-confirmed COVID-19, admitted to the ICU, who underwent echocardiography were included. Clinical characteristics associated with an abnormal echocardiogram (systolic ventricular dysfunction of any degree — left and/or right ventricle — and/or high filling pressures and/or moderate to severe pericardial effusion) were analyzed. Groups were compared using the Student's t-test, chi-square, and logistic regression. A p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results A total of 140 patients met inclusion criteria, and 74 (52.9%) had an abnormal echocardiogram. A low number of left and right ventricular systolic dysfunction was observed, and 35% of the population had a normal diastolic function. In the univariate analysis, characteristics associated with abnormal echocardiogram were age, chronic kidney disease, elevated troponin, previous heart failure, and simplified acute physiology score 3 (SAPS 3). In the regression model, troponin and SAPS3 score were independent markers of abnormal echocardiogram. An abnormal echocardiogram was associated with a higher prevalence of in-hospital death (RR 2.10; 95% CI 1.04-4.24) and orotracheal intubation (RR 2.3; 95% CI 1.14-4.78). Conclusions COVID-19 has little effect on ventricular function, but it is common to find increased filling pressures. Elevated serum troponin level and SAPS3 score were the independent markers of an abnormal echocardiogram. In addition, the prevalence of in-hospital death and need for mechanical ventilation were higher in patients with abnormal echocardiogram.

Intervenções de enfermagem na prevenção de complicações na manobra prona em pacientes com COVID-19 / Intervenciones de Enfermería en la prevención de complicaciones durante la maniobra de pronación en pacientes con COVID-19 / Nursing interventions in the prevention of complications during the pronation maneuver in patients with COVID-19

Objetivo: identificar e descrever as intervenções implementadas na assistência de enfermagem para prevenir complicações no paciente, em posição prona, com COVID-19. Método: pesquisa transversal, conduzida em um hospital de grande porte, referência para atendimentos de infecções por SARS CoV-2 durante a pandemia. A amostra foi composta por 83 prontuários (físicos e eletrônicos) de pacientes internados em cuidados intensivos e que demandaram a realização da manobra prona enquanto estratégia ventilatória. Os dados foram coletados por meio das variáveis relativas às intervenções de enfermagem. Resultados: identificou-se a predominância do sexo masculino, idosos, com hipertensão e diabetes. A complicação prevalente foi a lesão por pressão em tórax e face. As intervenções relatadas incluíram: cuidados com a pele, monitorização hemodinâmica, cuidados com os dispositivos médicos, via aérea e medidas de higiene. Conclusão: a aplicação dos cuidados de enfermagem identificados contribui para prevenção de complicações relacionadas ao procedimento de posição prona.

Objective: To identify and describe the interventions implemented in Nursing care to prevent complications in pronated COVID-19 patients. Method: a cross-sectional study conducted in a large-sized hospital that is a reference for the care of SARS-CoV-2 infection during the pandemic. The sample consisted of 83 medical records (physical and electronic) of patients admitted to intensive care units who required the prone maneuver as a ventilatory strategy. The data were collected by means of the variables related to Nursing interventions. Results: predominance of the male gender was identified, as well as of older adults with hypertension and diabetes. The prevalent complication corresponded to pressure injury in the thorax and face. The interventions reported included the following: skin care, hemodynamic monitoring, care related to the medical devices, airways and hygiene measures. Conclusion: applying the Nursing care measures identified contributed to preventing complications related to the pronation procedure.

Objetivo: identificar y describir las intervenciones implementadas en la atención de Enfermería para prevenir complicaciones en pacientes pronados con COVID-19. Método: investigación transversal realizada en un hospital de gran porte que es referencia en la atención de infecciones por SARS-CoV-2 durante la pandemia. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 83 historias clínicas (impresas y electrónicas) de pacientes internados en cuidados intensivos y que requirieron la maniobra de pronación como estrategia de ventilación. Los datos se recolectaron por medio de las variables relacionadas con las intervenciones de Enfermería. Resultados: se identificó predominio del sexo masculino, ancianos y personas con hipertensión y diabetes. La complicación prevalente fueron las úlceras por presión en el tórax y el rostro. Entre las intervenciones informadas se incluyen las siguientes: cuidado de la piel, control hemodinámico, precauciones relacionadas con los dispositivos médicos, vías aéreas y medidas de higiene. Conclusión: aplicar las medidas de atención de Enfermería que se identificaron ayuda a prevenir complicaciones relacionadas con el procedimiento de pronación.

Point-of-Care Echocardiography and Hemodynamic Monitoring in Cirrhosis and Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure in the COVID-19 Era.

Point-of-Care (POC) transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is transforming the management of patients with cirrhosis presenting with septic shock, acute kidney injury, hepatorenal syndrome and acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) by correctly assessing the hemodynamic and volume status at the bedside using combined echocardiography and POC ultrasound (POCUS). When POC TTE is performed by the hepatologist or intensivist in the intensive care unit (ICU), and interpreted remotely by a cardiologist, it can rule out cardiovascular conditions that may be contributing to undifferentiated shock, such as diastolic dysfunction, myocardial infarction, myocarditis, regional wall motion abnormalities and pulmonary embolism. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a delay in seeking medical treatment, reduced invasive interventions and deferment in referrals leading to "collateral damage" in critically ill patients with liver disease. Thus, the use of telemedicine in the ICU (Tele-ICU) has integrated cardiology, intensive care, and hepatology practices across the spectrum of ICU, operating room, and transplant healthcare. Telecardiology tools have improved bedside diagnosis when introduced as part of COVID-19 care by remote supervision and interpretation of POCUS and echocardiographic data. In this review, we present the contemporary approach of using POC echocardiography and offer a practical guide for primary care hepatologists and gastroenterologists for cardiac assessment in critically ill patients with cirrhosis and ACLF. Evidenced based use of Tele-ICU can prevent delay in cardiac diagnosis, optimize safe use of expert resources and ensure timely care in the setting of critically ill cirrhosis, ACLF and liver transplantation in the COVID-19 era.

Unintended consequences of long-sleeved gowns in a critical care setting during the COVID-19 pandemic.

At the peak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, hand hygiene audits indicated decreased compliance in a 12-bed critical care (CC) area with ventilated COVID-19 patients, where staff used personal protective equipment (PPE), including sessional use of long-sleeved gowns in accordance with the recommendations of Public Health England. There was also a cluster of three central venous catheter (CVC) infections along with increases in the number of patients from whom enteric Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) were isolated from sterile sites. Environmental sampling of near-patient surfaces and frequently touched sites demonstrated that 11.5% of areas were contaminated with enteric GNB in the COVID-19 CC area, compared with 2.6% and 2.7% in COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 general wards, respectively. Following a risk assessment, hospital policy was changed to replace long-sleeved gowns with short-sleeved gowns. The CC unit underwent enhanced cleaning with hypochlorite-based disinfectant and was resampled 8 days later. On resampling, no GNB were isolated from the CC unit. Following this change in PPE, hand hygiene compliance returned to baseline standards and no further CVC infections were identified. Staff reported a preference for short-sleeved gowns. No evidence currently exists that PPE beyond that recommended for pandemic influenza (respiratory protection plus standard PPE) adds to the protection of healthcare workers (HCWs) from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2. Long-sleeved gowns prevent HCWs performing hand hygiene effectively. While it is imperative that HCWs are adequately protected, protection of patients from infection hazards is equally important. Further studies are necessary to establish risks from PPE to inform a review of current guidance.