Optimal Prone Position Duration in Patients With ARDS Due to COVID-19: The Omelette Pilot Trial.

BACKGROUND: Prone position (PP) has been widely used in the COVID-19 pandemic for ARDS management. However, the optimal length of a PP session is still controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of prolonged versus standard PP duration in subjects with ARDS due to COVID-19. METHODS: This was a single-center, randomized controlled, parallel, and open pilot trial including adult subjects diagnosed with severe ARDS due to COVID-19 receiving invasive mechanical ventilation that met criteria for PP between March-September 2021. Subjects were randomized to the intervention group of prolonged PP (48 h) versus the standard of care PP (∼16 h). The primary outcome variable for the trial was ventilator-free days (VFDs) to day 28. RESULTS: We enrolled 60 subjects. VFDs were not significantly different in the standard PP group (18 [interquartile range [IQR] 0-23] VFDs vs 7.5 [IQR 0-19.0] VFDs; difference, -10.5 (95% CI -3.5 to 19.0, P = .08). Prolonged PP was associated with longer time to successful extubation in survivors (13.00 [IQR 8.75-26.00] d vs 8.00 [IQR 5.00-10.25] d; difference, 5 [95% CI 0-15], P = .001). Prolonged PP was also significantly associated with longer ICU stay (18.5 [IQR 11.8-25.3] d vs 11.50 [IQR 7.75-25.00] d, P = .050) and extended administration of neuromuscular blockers (12.50 [IQR 5.75-20.00] d vs 5.0 [IQR 2.0-14.5] d, P = .005). Prolonged PP was associated with significant muscular impairment according to lower Medical Research Council values (59.6 [IQR 59.1-60.0] vs 56.5 [IQR 54.1-58.9], P = .02). CONCLUSIONS: Among subjects with severe ARDS due to COVID-19, there was no difference in 28-d VFDs between prolonged and standard PP strategy. However, prolonged PP was associated with a longer ICU stay, increased use of neuromuscular blockers, and greater muscular impairment. This suggests that prolonged PP is not superior to the current recommended standard of care.

Incidence, Risk Factors and Outcomes of Early Acute Kidney Injury After Heart Transplantation: An 18-year Experience.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI), as defined using the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcome classification, after heart transplantation (HT). Our objective was to evaluate the impact of AKI in a cohort of HT recipients. (Setting: University Hospital.) METHODS: We studied 310 consecutive HT recipients from 1999 to 2017, with AKI being defined according to the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcome criteria. Risk factors were analyzed by multivariable analyses, and survival by Kaplan-Meier curves and a risk-adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression model. RESULTS: One hundred twenty-five (40.3%) patients developed AKI, with 73 (23.5%), 18 (5.8%), and 34 (11%) patients having AKI stages 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Cardiac tamponade (odds ratio [OR], 16.82; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06-138), acute right ventricular failure (OR, 3.54; 95% CI, 1.82-6.88), and major bleeding (OR, 2.46; 95% CI, 1.18-5.1) were the principal risk factors for AKI. Patients with AKI had a greater hospital mortality (3.8% vs 16%, P < 0.05), especially those requiring renal replacement therapy (46.9% vs 5.4%, P = 0.006). Acute kidney injury requiring renal replacement therapy was independently associated with hospital mortality (OR, 11.03; 95% CI, 4.08-29.8). With a median follow-up after hospital discharge of 6.7 years (interquartile range, 2.4-11.6), overall survival at 1, 5, and 10 years was 95.4%, 85.1%, and 75.4% versus 85.2%, 69.8% and 63.5% among patients without AKI and with AKI stages 2 to 3, respectively (P = 0.08). CONCLUSIONS: The onset of AKI after HT is mainly associated with postoperative complications. Only severe AKI stage predicts worse short-term outcome, with this impact appearing to be lost at long-term follow-up.

Early enteral nutrition in patients with hemodynamic failure following cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: Enteral nutrition (EN) is controversial in patients with circulatory compromise. This study assesses the feasibility and safety of EN given early after cardiac surgery in patients with hemodynamic failure. METHODS: Prospective observational study conducted in a surgical intensive care unit (ICU) of a tertiary hospital over 17 months. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Cardiac surgery patients with hemodynamic failure (dependence on 2 or more vasoactive drugs and/or mechanical circulatory support) requiring more than 24 hours of mechanical ventilation. Variables Examined: Descriptive data, daily hemodynamic data, and variables related to the efficacy and safety of EN. EN was performed according to our EN protocol. RESULTS: Of 642 patients admitted to the ICU, 37 (5.8%) met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 11 (29.7%) required mechanical circulatory support, and 25 (68.0%) met the criteria for early multiorgan dysfunction. Mortality was 13.5%. Mean EN duration was 12.3 days (95% confidence interval [CI], 9.6-15.0). The mean EN diet volume delivered/patient/d was 1199 mL (95% CI, 1118.7-1278.8), and mean EN energy delivered/patient/d was 1228.4 kcal (95% CI, 1145.8-1311). The set energy target was achieved in 15 patients (40.4%). The most common EN-related complication was constipation. No case of mesenteric ischemia was detected. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that early EN is feasible in this type of patients and not associated with serious complications. However, it is difficult to attain an appropriate energy target by EN alone. These observations point to a need for monitoring of daily energy delivery and balance, as well as careful monitoring of warning signs of intestinal ischemia.

Early enteral nutrition in adults receiving venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: an observational case series.

BACKGROUND: Despite its benefits, early enteral nutrition (EN) is considered controversial in critically ill patients with severe hemodynamic failure. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the tolerance and safety of early EN in a consecutive group of patients receiving venoarterial (VA) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for severe hemodynamic failure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prospective observational study performed in a cardiac surgical intensive care unit (ICU) during a 1-year period. All adult patients receiving VA ECMO for severe hemodynamic failure unresponsive to conventional therapies were included. Nutrition support was provided during the study period following the established ICU nutrition protocol. Energy target was 25 kcal/kg, to be reached over 4 days. Nutrition tolerance was defined as the ratio of delivered nutrition to target nutrition, expressed as a percentage. Special interest was made to detect possible adverse effects attributable to EN. The authors performed a descriptive statistical analysis. RESULTS: Of 553 patients admitted in the cardiac surgical ICU during the study period, 7 were treated with ECMO. EN was the only nutrition source. More than 70% nutrition tolerance was achieved within the first week in all cases. No serious adverse events that could be attributable to EN were noted. CONCLUSION: The present study shows that, under proper medical supervision, early EN is possible and safe in patients with severe hemodynamic failure receiving VA ECMO. No serious adverse events were attributable to EN. More studies are warranted to confirm these findings.

Ductular cholestasis, an unusual form of intrahepatic cholestasis, associated with cardiogenic shock and ventricular assist device.

Ventricular assist devices have been shown to be effective in advanced heart failure selected patients. They often have borderline end-organ function, what facilitates organ dysfunction. Liver failure is difficult to manage and leads to increased morbidity and mortality. We report a case of ductular cholestasis, an unusual cholestatic hepatic failure with untractable coagulopathy, developed during the use of a magnetic levitation centrifugal pump, implanted as a bridge to heart transplantation, in a patient with cardiogenic shock (as an end-stage disease of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy). We discussed the pathophysiology of this entity and the possible related factors, including the assist device. Preemptive interventions have been advocated as the primary way of treatment. Preoperative optimization of heart function and avoidance of visceral hypoperfusion and sepsis may play a major role.

[Levosimendan for postoperative ventricular dysfunction following heart transplantation]. / Utilidad de levosimendán en la disfunción ventricular postoperatoria del injerto en el trasplante cardiaco.

The development of postoperative ventricular dysfunction immediately after heart transplantation is a serious complication that leads to low-output syndrome and which necessitates circulatory support. It is one of the most common causes of early morbidity and mortality. We present our experience with 6 heart transplant patients who were treated with intravenous levosimendan, a calcium sensitizer with inodilator properties, after regular hemodynamic therapy with sympathomimetic amines failed to result in a satisfactory hemodynamic status. Use of this drug was well tolerated and brought about hemodynamic improvements that were sufficient to enable patients to be weaned from inotropic support with amines and which led to clinical recovery, with 5 of the 6 patients being discharged from the intensive care unit.