Respiratory failure and spontaneous hypoglycemia during noninvasive rewarming from 24.7°C (76.5°F) core body temperature after prolonged avalanche burial.

Clinical reports on management and rewarming complications after prolonged avalanche burial are not common. We present a case of an unreported combination of respiratory failure and unexpected spontaneous hypoglycemia during noninvasive rewarming from severe hypothermia. We collected anecdotal observations in a 42-year-old, previously healthy, male backcountry skier admitted to the ICU at a tertiary care center after 2 hours 7 minutes of complete avalanche burial, who presented with a patent airway and a core body temperature of 25.0°C (77.0°F) on extrication. There was no decrease in core body temperature during transport (from 25.0°C [77.0°F] to 24.7°C [76.5°F]). Atrial fibrillation occurred during active noninvasive external rewarming (to 37.0°C [98.6°F] during 5 hours), followed by pulmonary edema and respiratory failure (SaO(2) 73% and PaO(2)/FIO(2) 161 mm Hg), which resolved with endotracheal intubation and continuous positive end-respiratory pressure. Moreover, a marked spontaneous glycemic imbalance (from 22.2 to 1.4 mmol/L) was observed. Despite a possible favorable outcome, clinicians should be prepared to identify and treat severe respiratory problems and spontaneous hypoglycemia during noninvasive rewarming of severely hypothermic avalanche victims.

Lung Ultrasound and Respiratory Pathophysiology in Mechanically Ventilated COVID-19 Patients-an Observational Trial.

The relationship between respiratory system mechanics, lung ultrasound (LUS) abnormalities, and mortality in mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19-associated respiratory failure is unknown. We assessed the pattern of respiratory mechanics and LUS, their changes over time, and the differences between survivors and non-survivors. We additionally analyzed the relationship between LUS findings and the severity of gas exchange impairment and interleukin 6 (IL-6). This was a two-center retrospective, observational trial carried out in the intensive care units of the hospitals of Bolzano and Merano, Italy, from March 15 to April 20, 2020. We enrolled 41 consecutive patients. Seven patients (17%, 95% CI 8.5-31.3%) died. Mean compliance of the respiratory system on ICU admission was 41.6 (± 18.8) ml/mbar (42.5 (± 19.6) for survivors, 38.0 (± 16.3) for deceased, p = 0.605). Non-survivors had a significantly lower compliance over time, decreasing from day 14 after symptom onset, compared with survivors (p = 0.008). Mean LUS score on admission was 11.2 (± 3.7) and survivors had lower LUS scores on admission than non-survivors (10.5 (± 3.6), 13.9 (2.8), respectively, t test, p = 0.029). LUS score correlated with IL-6 concentrations (r = 0.52, p = 0.001) and arterial pCO2 (r = 0.30, p = 0.033) and was inversely correlated with oxygenation (r = - 0.34, p = 0.001). No correlation was found between LUS and respiratory system compliance (r = - 0.02, p = 0.299). Non-survivors from COVID-19-associated respiratory failure had a significant decrease in compliance after day 14 of symptom onset. Compliance did not correlate with the degree of abnormalities found in LUS, but LUS score correlated with oxygenation, pCO2, and IL-6.

Fatal interstitial pneumonitis associated with docetaxel administration in a patient with hormone-refractory prostate cancer.

Taxanes are widely used chemotherapeutic agents with the potential to induce pulmonary injury through a variety of mechanisms. Patients receiving these agents are at risk of acute or subacute pulmonary damage. The case is presented of a 72-year-old man with hormone-refractory prostate cancer and weekly administration of 30 mg/m2 docetaxel who developed subacute interstitial pneumonitis-related pulmonary fibrosis after seven doses and died despite mechanical ventilation and high-dose corticosteroid treatment. Even though only a few cases of this adverse event have been reported in the literature, severe docetaxel-induced pulmonary toxicity needs to be considered in the differential diagnosis when such patients present with respiratory symptoms.

Four years experience in bladder preserving management for muscle invasive bladder cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the bladder preservation strategy in invasive bladder cancer particularly relapse, progression and complications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2000 to May 2004 a total of 24 patients (mean age of 81 years; range 68-92) with muscle invasive bladder cancer who had refused or were not eligible for cystectomy were followed up for a period of up to four years. RESULTS: 24 (21 M/3 F) patients were followed up for a mean time of 680 (182-1253) days. All patients complained of frequency, urgency and severe nocturia. The second most frequent complication was bleeding which required a salvage cystectomy in 7 cases. Other major complications were intestinal occlusion in three cases, an enterovesical fistula, brain metastasis requiring neurosurgical intervention and radiation therapy of the brain, bone metastasis in the cervical spinal column and chronic renal failure. The mean re-admission rate was 8 per patient and the mean time spent at the hospital was 109 (range 13-253) days. CONCLUSION: In our series the bladder preserving strategy does not confirm the optimistic results of other authors. The complications forced us to carry out a salvage cystectomy in nearly half of the cases. The other half of the patients complained of other severe complications reducing the quality of life of the remaining life span.