Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Echocardiographic Parameters of Left Ventricular Diastolic Function: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The cardiovascular implications of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have been associated with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). The purpose of this review was to conduct a bibliographic search regarding the correlation between NAFLD and the echocardiographic parameters of left ventricular diastolic function. A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed and Embase for original research data reporting on the association of NAFLD with diastolic function markers [E/e', left atrial volume index (LAVi), left ventricular mass index (LVMi)]. Meta-analysis was performed using the meta and dmetar packages in R studio v.1.4.1106, with p < 0.05 values being considered significant. Results are expressed as the standardized mean difference (SMD) for continuous variables and as the odds ratio (OR) for categorical variables, with respective 95% confidence intervals (CI). Heterogeneity between studies was expressed with index Ι2. From the preliminary search, 2619 articles were found from which 31 studies were included in the final statistical analysis. The meta-analysis of 8 studies which reported on the prevalence of diastolic dysfunction showed that it was increased in patients with NAFLD (OR: 2.07, 95% CI 1.24-3.44 with p = 0.01, I2: 80% with p < 0.01). The meta-analysis of 21 studies showed significantly higher E/e' in NAFLD patients (SMD 1.02, 95% CI 0.43-1.61 with p < 0.001, I2: 97% with p < 0.001). Individuals with NAFLD had increased LAVi (SMD: 0.87, 95% CI 0.38-1.37 with p < 0.001, I2: 96% with p < 0.001) and LVMi (SMD: 0.89, 95% CI 0.31-1.48 with p = 0.003, I2: 100% with p < 0.001). To conclude, in the meta-analysis of 31 observational studies, NAFLD patients were found to have affected left ventricular diastolic function, supporting the hypothesis of NAFLD being associated with HFpEF.

Enterocutaneous Fistula in a COVID-19 Obese Patient During Prolonged Prone Position for Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

Prone position (PP) has been widely used in patients under mechanical ventilation for COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), usually for many hours per day. Complications are not rare, although most of them are mild. To our knowledge, we report the first case of enterocutaneous fistula after prolonged use of PP in the literature. Morbid obesity; yielding increased abdominal wall pressure when the patient was prone; pre-existing intestinal hernias; and increased vasopressor doses for septic shock due to secondary infections resulted in necrosis of the small intestine, the abdominal wall, and the skin leading to enterocutaneous fistula. Clinicians managing patients with COVID-19 should keep in mind this complication, especially when proning obese patients with a history of intestinal surgery, as the presence of intestinal hernias might be missed during a clinical examination.

Flexible Bronchoscopy Combined With an Airway Maneuver for Foreign Material Removal Under Invasive Mechanical Ventilation.

We present a case of a patient who had aspirated a massive amount of food, leading to cardiac arrest, and had to be intubated because of severe hypoxemia. The hypoxemia persisted, regardless of the recruitment maneuvers, performance of flexible bronchoscopy, and suctioning through the ventilating tube, because we were unable to reach the left main bronchus (LMB), where the greatest amount was concentrated. However, we managed to overcome this problem by using a prototype handling technique to catheterize the LMB directly with the usage of the flexible bronchoscope. We introduce this handling technique for the removal of foreign material from the LMB, which will probably be really useful in emergency situations, because of its simplicity and effectiveness.

Lipoprotein(a) and calcific aortic valve disease initiation and progression: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Although evidence indicates the association of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] with atherosclerosis, the link with calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD) is unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis explores the connection between Lp(a) and aortic valve calcification and stenosis (AVS). We included all relevant studies, indexed in eight databases, up to February 2023. A total of 44 studies (163 139 subjects) were included, with 16 of them being further meta-analysed. Despite considerable heterogeneity, most studies support the relationship between Lp(a) and CAVD, especially in younger populations, with evidence of early aortic valve micro-calcification in elevated-Lp(a) populations. The quantitative synthesis showed higher Lp(a) levels, by 22.63 nmol/L (95% CI: 9.98-35.27), for patients with AVS, while meta-regressing the data revealed smaller Lp(a) differences for older populations with a higher proportion of females. The meta-analysis of eight studies providing genetic data, revealed that the minor alleles of both rs10455872 and rs3798220 LPA gene loci were associated with higher risk for AVS (pooled odds ratio 1.42; 95% CI: 1.34-1.50 and 1.27; 95% CI: 1.09-1.48, respectively). Importantly, high-Lp(a) individuals displayed not only faster AVS progression, by a mean difference of 0.09 m/s/year (95% CI: 0.09-0.09), but also a higher risk of serious adverse outcomes, including death (pooled hazard ratio 1.39; 95% CI: 1.01-1.90). These summary findings highlight the effect of Lp(a) on CAVD initiation, progression and outcomes, and support the early onset of Lp(a)-related subclinical lesions before clinical evidence.

Life-Threatening Hypotension in a Brain-Injured, Multi-Trauma Patient With Unilateral Adrenal Gland Damage: How a Single Hydrocortisone Dose Revealed Relative Corticosteroid Insufficiency.

We report a case of a multi-trauma, brain-injured young patient with unilateral adrenal gland injury presenting with refractory shock. Acute adrenal insufficiency was revealed after an abrupt hemodynamic response to a corticosteroid; the resistant shock was quickly resolved with IV hydrocortisone. Although available data do not support the use of empiric steroids in trauma patients (with or without brain injury), this case demonstrates that adrenal insufficiency must be considered in the differential diagnosis when shock exists; adrenal gland injury, even unilateral, may play an additional factor. In these cases, an urgent decision is required in order to influence the outcome.

Recurrent Pleuritic Chest Pain, Lobar Consolidation, and Pleural Effusion in a 50-Year-Old Woman.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 50-year-old woman with a history of permanent atrial fibrillation (AF) treated with radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) 6 months ago was admitted to the respiratory department of a tertiary hospital because of recurrent episodes of pleuritic chest pain in the preceding 5 months. The patient reported multiple visits to a regional hospital, where she was treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics after discovery of a left alveolar consolidation on chest radiograph (Fig 1), subsequently imaged with CT scan (Fig 2). On treatment failure and appearance of a left-sided pleural effusion during outpatient follow-up, the patient was re-admitted. Pleural fluid was obtained via thoracocentesis characterized by exudative features and lymphocytic predominance. Abdomen CT scan, with IV and per os contrast agent, was devoid of findings consistent with malignancy, and serum autoantibody levels were below positivity cut off values (antinuclear, cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody, rheumatoid factor, and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies). The patient underwent flexible bronchoscopy without endobronchial pathology on visual inspection. Microbiologic studies and cytological examination of samples obtained by bronchial washing/aspiration yielded no clinically relevant information. Lung perfusion/ventilation scintigraphy was ordered to exclude chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension; however, a deficit in vascularization for the left inferior lobe was found, prompting further investigation (Fig 3). Progression of left inferior lobe consolidation and the presence of a small pericardial effusion became evident on reimaging after a 2-month interval. The patient was empirically started on corticosteroids. After emergence of left hilar lymphadenopathy (< 1 cm), a PET-CT scan was performed. The left lower inferior lobe consolidation, whose metabolic activity pattern was consistent with that of inflammation (standardized uptake value equal to 4.4) (Fig 4), as well as the left sided-pleural effusion were markedly improved compared with previous imaging 20 days after corticosteroid initiation (Fig 2). On the grounds of recalcitrant pleuritic pain and pleural effusion recurrence during corticosteroid tapering, the patient was referred to the respiratory department of our university hospital to have her condition diagnosed.