Fibrotic progression and radiologic correlation in matched lung samples from COVID-19 post-mortems.

Data on the pathology of COVID-19 are scarce; available studies show diffuse alveolar damage; however, there is scarce information on the chronologic evolution of COVID-19 lung lesions. The primary aim of the study is to describe the chronology of lung pathologic changes in COVID-19 by using a post-mortem transbronchial lung cryobiopsy approach. Our secondary aim is to correlate the histologic findings with computed tomography patterns. SARS-CoV-2-positive patients, who died while intubated and mechanically ventilated, were enrolled. The procedure was performed 30 min after death, and all lung lobes sampled. Histopathologic analysis was performed on thirty-nine adequate samples from eight patients: two patients (illness duration < 14 days) showed early/exudative phase diffuse alveolar damage, while the remaining 6 patients (median illness duration-32 days) showed progressive histologic patterns (3 with mid/proliferative phase; 3 with late/fibrotic phase diffuse alveolar damage, one of which with honeycombing). Immunohistochemistry for SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein was positive predominantly in early-phase lesions. Histologic patterns and tomography categories were correlated: early/exudative phase was associated with ground-glass opacity, mid/proliferative lesions with crazy paving, while late/fibrous phase correlated with the consolidation pattern, more frequently seen in the lower/middle lobes. This study uses an innovative cryobiopsy approach for the post-mortem sampling of lung tissues from COVID-19 patients demonstrating the progression of fibrosis in time and correlation with computed tomography features. These findings may prove to be useful in the correct staging of disease, and this could have implications for treatment and patient follow-up.

Mortality and long-term quality of life after percutaneous tracheotomy in Intensive Care Unit: a prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Quality of life and mortality after percutaneous dilatational tracheotomy (PDT) has been poorly investigated. The aims of this study were to evaluate the independent risk factors for Intensive Care Unit (ICU) mortality and investigate quality of life over the first year after PDT in critically ill patients. METHODS: This was a prospective, single-center, cohort study performed in a tertiary care University Hospital, enrolling consecutive ICU patients requiring elective PDT, collecting data during the tracheotomy procedure and the ICU stay. Follow-up was performed at three, six and twelve months after PDT. The medical interview included the Euro Quality of Life questionnaire comprising five dimensions (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, anxiety/depression). RESULTS: A total of 137 patients were included in the study. In the multivariate analysis, ICU mortality was independently associated with age (OR 1.089; P=0.003) and SAPS II (OR 1.047; P=0.003), and inversely with neurologic disease (OR 0.162; P=0.004). Mortality increased over time (ICU mortality 26.7%; in-hospital mortality 43.1%; 3-months mortality 47.4%; 6-months mortality 61.3%; and 1-year mortality 70.8%; P=0.0001). Tracheostomized patients due to respiratory disease had a higher ICU mortality (50%) compared to those with neurological disease (13.6%). quality of life (QoL) of tracheostomized patients was severely compromised at 3-months (QoL: 17, 15-19), 6-months (QoL: 17; 16-19), while moderately compromised at 1-year (QoL: 13; 9-16). A subgroup analysis showed better QoL at 3-months, 6-months and 1-year in respiratory compared to neurological tracheostomized patients (P=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Patients baseline characteristics and indication for PDT procedure are important determinants of in-ICU mortality and QoL in tracheostomized patients.