Spectrum of Vascular Thrombosis in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients: From Bench to the Bedside.

Proinflammatory cytokines and procoagulant factors released by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) lead to thrombosis and ischemia. Pathogenesis and clinical significance of hypercoagulability and an ensuing gamut of vascular complications are explained here. How to cite this article: Vadi S, Pednekar A, Raut A. Spectrum of Vascular Thrombosis in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients: From Bench to the Bedside. Indian J Crit Care Med 2022;26(12):1237-1243.

Post coronavirus disease- 19 invasive renal and gastrointestinal mucormycosis.

A 68-year-old female patient who was treated with anti-viral, steroids and biologics for coronavirus disease- 19 (COVID- 19) infection presented to our facility following right abdominal and flank pain since a week. Initially attributed to pancreatitis and right sided pyelonephritis, it was diagnosed as mucormycosis on KOH mount following CT-guided renal biopsy. She underwent right total nephrectomy and Whipple's surgery followed by Isavuconazole and liposomal Amphotericin B. This is a rare presentation of renal and gastrointestinal mucormycosis in a patient without diabetes mellitus following COVID- 19 infection. High suspicion and early diagnosis help in timely treatment of this life-threatening infection.

The mystery behind a 1000 day fever in a young male.

This case is of a 23 year old diabetic male who presented with fever and splenic lesions. He continued to have fever off and on over the next 3 years despite empirical antibiotics and anti-tubercular therapy. No definitive diagnosis could be made despite exhaustive investigations. Finally, a splenectomy resulted in sustained defervescence. The splenic histopathology showed caseating granulomas but aerobic cultures, Xpert MTB/Rif ULTRA, TB and fungal cultures were negative. A final diagnosis of splenic melioidosis was made based on the clinical features, radiology, histopathology, literature review and absence of an alternative diagnosis.

Peri-operative, Functional, Quality of Life, and Oncological Outcomes After Robot-Assisted Radical Cystectomy and Intra-corporeal Orthotopic Ileal Neobladder-Our Experience.

Robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) and intracorporeal orthotopic neobladder (OINB) is technically a challenging surgery due to the involvement of prolonged console time and higher level of surgical skills. Therefore, standardizing technique and testament of good functional and oncological outcomes is required to increase its acceptance among surgeons. We report our experience of RARC with OINB and analyze the perioperative, functional, quality of life, and survival outcomes. Single surgeon experience of over 22 OINB after RARC is done, which includes 21 male and one female patients, was done retrospectively. Modified Karolinska Studer technique of neobladder creation was followed. Intraoperative findings, post-operative complications, and follow-up information were recorded for analysis. The patients' median age was 50.5 years (IQR, 41.25-55.50), and the median follow-up period was 45.5 months (IQR, 26.75-68). Median console time was 447.5 min (IQR, 347.5-500), blood loss was 225 ml (IQR, 200-250), and hospital stay was 12 days (IQR, 11-15). Most of the complications were Clavien-Dindo grades I and II. Longer surgery time and more complications were noted in the first 10 cases compared to the next 12 cases. Day and night-time urinary continence is 95% and 77% at 12 months, respectively. Two patients died of disease, and overall survival at 5 years was 84%. Our experience supports OINB as a feasible option after RCIC with acceptable complications, good functional and survival outcomes, with better quality of life. With experience, surgical morbidity and operative time decrease. This surgery should be undertaken after gaining experience with an intracorporeal ileal conduit and has a steep learning curve.

Intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) in treating non-muscle invasive bladder cancer-analysis of adverse effects and effectiveness of two strains of BCG (Danish 1331 and Moscow-I).

Objective: To compare the differences in adverse effects and efficacy profile between bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) Danish 1331 and BCG Moscow-I strain in management of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. Methods: Clinical data of 188 cases of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer treated with BCG between January 2008 and December 2018 in our institute were collected prospectively and analysed retrospectively, and 114 patients who completed a minimum of 12 months of follow-up were analysed. Patient and tumor characteristics, strain of BCG, adverse effects, and tumor progression were included for analysis. Intravesical BCG was instilled in intermediate- and high-risk patients. Six weeks of induction BCG, followed by three weekly maintenance BCG at 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months was advised in high-risk patients. Results: Overall 68 patients received BCG Danish 1331 strain and 46 patients received Moscow-I strain. Patient and tumor characteristics were well balanced between the two groups. The median follow-up period was 42.5 months and 34.5 months in Danish 1331 and Moscow-I groups, respectively. Adverse events like dropout rate, antitubercular treatment requirement, and need of cystectomy were higher in Moscow-I group (n=31, 67.4%) when compared to Danish 1331 strain (n=33, 48.5%) (p=0.046). On direct comparison between Danish 1331 and Moscow-I strain, there was similar 3-year recurrence-free survival (80.0% vs. 72.9%) and 3-year progression-free survival (96.5% vs. 97.8%). Conclusion: Study results suggest no significant differences between Danish 1331 and Moscow-I strain in recurrence-free survival and progression-free survival, but a significantly higher incidence of moderate to severe adverse events in BCG Moscow-I strain.

A Difficult Case of Pyrexia of Unknown Origin.

This is the case of a 15-y-old boy who presented with fever and back pain with MRI features of spondylitis. A CT-guided vertebral biopsy showed acute and chronic inflammatory cells and grew Pseudomonas aeruginosa on aerobic culture. The child was treated for 2 wk with antibiotics with no response. Meanwhile, he developed new lung, liver, and splenic lesions on CT imaging. Empiric antitubercular therapy was then started and continued for 8 wk during which time there was progressive clinical deterioration. At this time the patient underwent bronchoscopy with lavage and endoscopic ultrasound-guided subcarinal lymph node and lung biopsy. The Xpert MTB/Rif ULTRA was "trace positive" in the bronchoscopic lavage with indeterminate rifampicin resistance, while it was negative in lymph node and lung biopsy. The lymph node and lung biopsy histopathology showed nonspecific inflammatory changes with no granulomas or malignant cells. In view of the positive Xpert ULTRA with indeterminate rifampicin resistance and no response to first-line drugs, treatment with second-line antitubercular drugs was initiated. The clinical condition continued to deteriorate; here the imaging findings were reviewed again and repeat aspiration cytology and biopsy from intra-abdominal nodes was carried out. This yielded the diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma. The patient had stage IVB disease. He responded well to standard chemotherapy and is currently in remission. The case illustrates the need to avoid empiric therapy, repeat invasive procedures if so needed, choose the site/method of biopsy appropriately and interpret results of investigations carefully when evaluating a patient with pyrexia of unknown origin.

Comparing adverse effects, short term outcomes, and cost implications of hyperthermic intravesical chemotherapy with Mitomycin-C and intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin instillation (Moscow-I strain) in the management of intermediate and high-risk nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer.

INTRODUCTION: The recommended treatment for intermediate and high-risk nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) is adjuvant intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) instillation. However, up to 50% experience tumor recurrences even after adjuvant BCG, and many patients develop local or systemic adverse effects. Our study compared adverse effects, short-term recurrence rates, and cost-implications of BCG therapy to Hyperthermic Intra-VEsical Chemotherapy (HIVEC) with Mitomycin-C (MMC) in these patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of intermediate and high-risk NMIBC patients who received either intravesical BCG or HIVEC® after transurethral resection of bladder tumor in our institute (January 2017 to March 2020) was done. Twenty-two patients who received HIVEC and 29 who received BCG were analyzed. We used SPSS Statistics v20.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) software for the statistical analysis. RESULTS: Nineteen (86.4%) patients in the HIVEC group had no adverse effects. Two (9.1%) patients had Grade I lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) treated symptomatically. One patient developed UTI after HIVEC, and further cycles were stopped (Grade II). BCG group had a higher rate of Grade III adverse effects in six (20.7%) patients. Median follow-up was 10.5 and 22 months. The tumor recurred in one (4.5%) and six (20.7%) patients in HIVEC and BCG groups, respectively. There was no difference in recurrence-free survival at 18 months and the cost for the HIVEC therapy was more. CONCLUSIONS: HIVEC with MMC is a reasonable adjuvant treatment option in NMIBC, which is well tolerated, albeit increased cost of the treatment. Randomized trials with more follow-up are required for further conclusion.

CT chest analysis of 2019 novel coronavirus pneumonia: An Indian perspective.

CONTEXT: Since its outbreak, the COVID-19 pneumonia pandemic is rapidly spreading across India; although computed tomography of chest (CT chest) is not recommended as a screening tool, there is a rapid surge in the CT chest performed in suspected cases. We should be aware of the imaging features among the Indian population. AIM: To analyze the CT chest features in Indian COVID-19 patients. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Retrospective study. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: CT chest of 31 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) verified patients of COVID-19 was assessed for ground-glass opacities (GGO), consolidations, bronchiectasis, pleural effusions, vascular enlargement, crazy paving, and reverse halo sign. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: The data was analyzed in Microsoft Excel 2019. RESULTS: Only one patient showed a normal scan. Multilobar involvements with parenchymal abnormalities were seen in all the patients with bilateral involvement in 74.1%. 42.5% of the lung parenchymal abnormalities were pure GGOs, while 41.6% had GGOs mixed with consolidation. Peripheral and posterior lung field involvement was seen in 70.5% and 65.5%, respectively; 56.8% had well-defined margins. Pure GGOs were seen in all six patients, who underwent CT in the first 2 days of onset of symptoms. Seventeen patients scanned between 3 and 6 days of the illness showed GGOs mixed with consolidation and pure consolidations 76%. Vascular enlargement, crazy paving, and reverse halo sign were seen in 70%, 53%, and 35% of the patients, respectively. Patients scanned after 1 week of symptoms showed traction bronchiectasis along with GGOs and or consolidations. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 pneumonia showed multifocal predominantly subpleural basal posteriorly located GGOs and/or consolidations which were predominantly well defined. "Crazy paving" was prevailing in the intermediate stage while early traction bronchiectasis among the patients presented later in the course of illness.

Nonalcoholic, nonbiliary pancreatitis: cross-sectional imaging spectrum.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this review is to describe the epidemiologic, etiopathogenetic, clinical, and imaging characteristics of various nonalcoholic, nonbiliary pancreatitis syndromes. CONCLUSION: The spectrum of nonalcoholic, nonbiliary pancreatitis includes autoimmune pancreatitis, groove pancreatitis, hereditary pancreatitis, tropical pancreatitis, tuberculous pancreatitis, and metabolic pancreatitis. Advances in genetics and molecular pathology have shed new light on the etiopathogenesis and course of these syndromes. Accurate diagnosis aided by imaging findings allows optimal management.

Cardiac calcified amorphous tumor.

Cardiac calcified amorphous tumor is a rare pseudoneoplastic intracavitary mass composed of calcium deposits in a background of amorphous degenerating fibrin. We report occurrence of this lesion in the right atrium in two male patients. These were accompanied by calcific occlusion of the inferior vena cava and right pulmonary artery.

Pancreatic tuberculosis: a clinical and imaging review of 32 cases.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis of the pancreas is a rare entity, and anecdotal reports describing imaging features of pancreatic tuberculosis have been described in medical literature. The imaging features including computed tomography (CT) and ultrasonography in diagnosed cases of tubercular involvement of the pancreas are described, with an overview of clinical features and laboratory investigations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed records of 384 patients of diagnosed cases of abdominal tuberculosis for involvement of pancreas and detected 32 patients (8.33%) who had pancreatic involvement. This included 22 men and 10 women with an age range of 19 to 64 years (mean age of 42.5 years), who were detected to have pancreatic tuberculosis from 1999 to 2004 in our institute. We reviewed the clinical, radiologic (ultrasonographic and CT features), and laboratory findings of all patients. The criteria for diagnosis of tuberculosis were based on ascitic fluid adenosine deaminase level in 14 patients, fine-needle aspiration cytology of lymph nodes in 9 patients, and presence of pulmonary tuberculosis on chest radiograph, which was found in 9 patients. On follow-up, 6 months after antituberculous treatment, 25 patients showed response to anti-Koch's treatment, 3 patients had drug-resistant tuberculosis, 2 patients died, and 2 patients were lost to follow-up. RESULTS: The male/female ratio was 2.2:1. The maximum number of patients was in the fourth decade (30-39 years). The duration of symptoms was spanning between 2 and 11 months, with a mean duration of 6 months. The most common symptom was abdominal pain localized to the epigastrium. Sixteen patients were seropositive for HIV-1 infection. Fourteen patients had history of tuberculosis of the lungs, whereas 18 patients had pancreatic and peripancreatic involvement as the primary manifestation. Ultrasonography showed bulky inhomogenous pancreas in 5 patients; solitary or multiple hypoechoic collections were observed in all 7 and 20 patients, respectively. CT findings demonstrated hypodense collections within the pancreas associated with peripancreatic lymphadenopathy in 29 patients. Three patients had a complex pancreatic mass lesion. CONCLUSIONS: Pancreatic tuberculosis can present with a variable spectrum of imaging findings. Tuberculosis of the pancreas should be considered as a diagnostic possibility in patients who present with a pancreatic space occupying lesion associated with peripancreatic lymphadenopathy.

Benign renal neoplasms in adults: cross-sectional imaging findings.

OBJECTIVE: A broad spectrum of benign renal neoplasms in adults shows characteristic ontogeny, histology, and tumor biology. Benign renal tumors are classified into renal cell tumors, metanephric tumors, mesenchymal tumors, and mixed epithelial and mesenchymal tumors. Select benign tumors show characteristic anatomic distribution and imaging features. However, because of overlapping of findings between benign and malignant renal tumors, histologic evaluation may be required to establish a definitive diagnosis. Accurate preoperative characterization facilitates optimal patient management. CONCLUSION: We attempt to provide a comprehensive, contemporary review of benign renal neoplasms that occur in adults, focusing on cross-sectional imaging characteristics.

Coronary calcium scoring in asymptomatic Indian population: correlation with age, gender and risk factors--a prospective study on 500 subjects.

BACKGROUND: The present study was conducted with an objective to assess, quantify and describe a reference value (percentile) of coronary calcium score for the asymptomatic adult Indian population and its correlation with gender, age and risk factors and to review the same with the available literature. METHODS AND RESULTS: Five hundred asymptomatic subjects/volunteers were taken from the general population for this study. Calcium scoring was done based on modified Agatston scoring on a four-row multidetector CT scanner with ECG gating. Findings revealed that with increasing age there was increase in the calcium score. Males had a little higher CACS (not significant) compared to females for any defined age group. There was a significant continuous graded relation between the calcium scores and prevalence of CAC deposits with the number of risk factors. Subjects without any risk factors (n = 340) showed absence of coronary calcium in 85.3 and with the presence of two or more risk factors (n = 72) the absence of coronary calcification was seen in 13.9% The percentile reference values of CACS as obtained from this study (please see table in text) CONCLUSION: This study provides a reference percentile of CACS for Indian population which can be utilized to screen and stratify risk of coronary events in asymptomatic individuals using a non invasive method and thus individuals can be subjected to necessary investigations and risk factor intervention. Limitations in our study - Non availability of lipid profiles, comparison and correlation with angiographic studies and follow up of subjects to evaluate the prospective outcome.

Spectrum and outcome of pancreatic trauma.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Pancreatic trauma is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Diagnosis is often difficult and surgery poses a formidable challenge. METHOD: Data from 17 patients of pancreatic trauma gathered from a prospectively maintained database were analysed and the following parameters were considered: mode of injury, diagnostic modalities, associated injury, grade of pancreatic trauma and management. Pancreatic trauma was graded from I through IV, as per Modified Lucas Classification. RESULTS: The median age was 39 years (range 19-61). The aetiology of pancreatic trauma was blunt abdominal trauma in 14 patients and penetrating injury in 3. Associated bowel injury was present in 4 cases (3 penetrating injury and 1 blunt trauma) and 1 case had associated vascular injury. 5 patients had grade I, 3 had grade II, 7 had grade III and 2 had grade IV pancreatic trauma. Contrast enhanced computed tomography scan was used to diagnose pancreatic trauma in all patients with blunt abdominal injury. Immediate diagnosis could be reached in only 4 (28.5%) patients. 7 patients responded to conservative treatment. Of the 10 patients who underwent surgery, 6 required it for the pancreas and the duodenum. (distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy-3, pylorus preserving pancreatoduodenectomy-1, debridement with external drainage-1, associated injuries-duodenum-1). Pancreatic fistula, recurrent pancreatitis and pseudocyst formation were seen in 3 (17.05%), 2 (11.7%) and 1 (5.4%) patient respectively. Death occurred in 4 cases (23.5%), 2 each in grades III and IV pancreatic trauma. CONCLUSIONS: Contrast enhanced computed tomography scan is a useful modality for diagnosing, grading and following up patients with pancreatic trauma. Although a majority of cases with pancreatic trauma respond to conservative treatment, patients with penetrating trauma, and associated bowel injury and higher grade pancreatic trauma require surgical intervention and are also associated with higher morbidity and mortality.

Utility of the polymerase chain reaction in the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis.

Due to inconsistent clinical presentations and the lack of a rapid, sensitive and specific test, tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is particularly difficult to diagnose. The present study was carried out to determine the utility of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using INS primers in the diagnosis of TBM and to compare the efficacy of two different DNA extraction protocols. Fifty-seven cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from suspected cases of meningitis -- 30 definitive/possible TBM and 27 non-TBM -- were processed for microscopy, culture and PCR. Results of computer tomographic (CT) scan findings were noted. The results of smear, culture and PCR were compared using culture and/or clinical response to treatment as the gold standard. The sensitivity of microscopy, culture, CT scan and PCR was 3.3%, 26.7%, 60.0% and 66.7%, respectively. PCR following QIAmp DNA extraction had a sensitivity of 66.7% compared to PCR following a DNA extraction protocol based on the use of cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) (50%). PCR was positive in all culture-positive CSF samples using either extraction method. PCR is a rapid and sensitive technique; above all, it can diagnose tuberculous meningitis at a very early stage.

Ileal polyposis as manifestation of neurofibromatosis syndrome.

A 13-year-old girl presented with features of intestinal obstruction. At surgery, the terminal 25 cm of ileum, which was resected along with the right colon, showed plexiform neurofibromatosis of the serosa and mesentery, hyperplastic submucosal and myenteric nerve plexuses and proliferation of neural tissue in the lamina propria, which manifested as diffuse polyposis of the ileal mucosa. The patient had a single inconspicuous external neurofibroma and a few café-au-lait spots on the back.

Imaging Spectrum of Extrathoracic Tuberculosis.

The incidence of extrathoracic tuberculosis (ETB) continues to increase slowly, especially in immunocompromised and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) patients. ETB manifests with nonspecific clinical symptoms, and being less frequent, is less familiar to most physicians. Imaging modalities of choice are computed tomography (lymphadenopathy and abdominal TB) and MR imaging (central nervous system and musculoskeletal system TB). ETB commonly involves multiple organ systems with characteristic imaging findings that permit accurate diagnosis and timely management.