Early High-Titer Plasma Therapy to Prevent Severe Covid-19 in Older Adults.

BACKGROUND: Therapies to interrupt the progression of early coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) remain elusive. Among them, convalescent plasma administered to hospitalized patients has been unsuccessful, perhaps because antibodies should be administered earlier in the course of illness. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of convalescent plasma with high IgG titers against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in older adult patients within 72 hours after the onset of mild Covid-19 symptoms. The primary end point was severe respiratory disease, defined as a respiratory rate of 30 breaths per minute or more, an oxygen saturation of less than 93% while the patient was breathing ambient air, or both. The trial was stopped early at 76% of its projected sample size because cases of Covid-19 in the trial region decreased considerably and steady enrollment of trial patients became virtually impossible. RESULTS: A total of 160 patients underwent randomization. In the intention-to-treat population, severe respiratory disease developed in 13 of 80 patients (16%) who received convalescent plasma and 25 of 80 patients (31%) who received placebo (relative risk, 0.52; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.29 to 0.94; P = 0.03), with a relative risk reduction of 48%. A modified intention-to-treat analysis that excluded 6 patients who had a primary end-point event before infusion of convalescent plasma or placebo showed a larger effect size (relative risk, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.20 to 0.81). No solicited adverse events were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Early administration of high-titer convalescent plasma against SARS-CoV-2 to mildly ill infected older adults reduced the progression of Covid-19. (Funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Fundación INFANT Pandemic Fund; Dirección de Sangre y Medicina Transfusional del Ministerio de Salud number, PAEPCC19, Plataforma de Registro Informatizado de Investigaciones en Salud number, 1421, and ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04479163.).

Primer simulacro de amputación traumática de miembro superior de necesidad y rescate en un escenario inhóspito. Base Marambio, Antártida Argentina. 9 de diciembre de 2011 / First simulacrum of traumatic upper limb amputation of necessity and rescue a bleak scenario. Bse Marambio, Antarctica Argentina. December 9, 2011

Se efectuó un simulacro de amputación de necesidad y rescate en dependencias de la Base Marambio (Antártida Argentina). La amputación de una extremidad constituye un dilema al cual está sujeto un médico en determinadas situaciones críticas. Además, los intentos infructuosos para salvar una extremidad irrecuperable están asociados a una alta morbilidad y muchas veces son letales para el paciente. Existen innumerables discusiones en relación con los criterios de predicción para conservar un miembro lesionado, por lo que se han propuesto varios índices de valoración para determinar qué extremidad puede ser conservada o cuál amputada. Por ello en el presente trabajo se efectúa una revisión bibliográfica sobre el uso de tablas y/o criterios para la toma de tal decisión. Se efectuó un ejercicio simulado en el cual se consideró la escena (situación de aislamiento geográfico, características inhóspitas y recursos limitados en la Antártida) y el estado de atrapamiento de la víctima, más la irrecuperabilidad de la porción distal del miembro superior, en donde debía priorizarse la vida del paciente, respecto a la pérdida de la extremidad que ya se encontraba mutilada en forma irreversible, con el fin de ser estabilizado y extricado del lugar para ser trasladado a otro espacio para completar con mejores medios su tratamiento definitivo. Dicho ejercicio se realizó como parte de la capacitación continua del personal que se desempeña en las Bases Antárticas, que dadas las características del escenario antártico, hacen necesaria tal preparación para afrontar situaciones de extrema gravedad en un lugar inhóspito y alejado del continente.

We conducted a mock amputation and rescue agencies need the Marambio Base (Antarctica Argentina). The amputation of a limb is a dilemma which is subject to a doctor in certain critical situations. In addition, unsuccessful attempts to save a limb unrecoverable are associated with high morbidity and are often lethal to the patient. There are countIess discussions regarding prediction criteria to retain an injured limb, so that several indices have been proposed assessment to determine what can be preserved limb amputated or what, why in the present study the authors reviewed the literature on use of tables and/or criteria for making such a decision. We conducted a simulation exercise, which was considered the scene (geographical isolation, limited resources and inhospitable features in Antarctica) and the state of entrapment of the victim, plus the irrecoverable from the distal upper limb, where needed to prioritize the patient's life, about the loss of the limb that was already irreversibly mutilated, in order to be stabilized and extricated the place to be moved to a place with better ways to complete definitive treatment. This exercise was conducted as part of the continuous training of personnel working in the Antarctic Bases, that given the characteristics of the Antarctic scenario necessitates such a preparation to deal with situations of extreme gravity in an inhospitable place and away from the continent.