Association of antibiotics with the outcomes in COVID-19 pneumonia patients with elevated PCT levels.

OBJECTIVE: To assess antibiotics impact on outcomes in COVID-19 pneumonia patients with varying procalcitonin (PCT) levels. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included 3665 COVID-19 pneumonia patients hospitalized at five Mayo Clinic sites (March 2020 to June 2022). PCT levels were measured at admission. Patients' antibiotics use and outcomes were collected via the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) Viral Infection and Respiratory Illness Universal Study (VIRUS) registry. Patients were stratified into high and low PCT groups based on the first available PCT result. The distinction between high and low PCT was demarcated at both 0.25 ng/ml and 0.50 ng/ml. RESULTS: Our cohort consisted of 3665 patients admitted with COVID-19 pneumonia. The population was predominantly male, Caucasian and non-Hispanic. With the PCT cut-off of 0.25 ng/ml, 2375 (64.8 %) patients had a PCT level <0.25 ng/mL, and 1290 (35.2 %) had PCT ≥0.25 ng/ml. While when the PCT cut off of 0.50 ng/ml was used we observed 2934 (80.05 %) patients with a PCT <0.50 ng/ml while 731(19.94 %) patients had a PCT ≥0.50 ng/ml. Patients with higher PCT levels exhibited significantly higher rates of bacterial infections (0.25 ng/ml cut-off: 4.2 % vs 7.9 %; 0.50 ng/ml cut-off: 4.6 % vs 9.2 %). Antibiotics were used in 66.0 % of the cohort. Regardless of the PCT cutoffs, the antibiotics group showed increased hospital length of stay (LOS), intensive care unit (ICU) admission rate, and mortality. However, early de-escalation (<24 h) of antibiotics correlated with reduced hospital LOS, ICU LOS, and mortality. These results were consistent even after adjusting for confounders. CONCLUSION: Our study shows a substantial number of COVID-19 pneumonia patients received antibiotics despite a low incidence of bacterial infections. Therefore, antibiotics use in COVID pneumonia patients with PCT <0.5 in the absence of clinical evidence of bacterial infection has no beneficial effect.

Bronchoscopy-guided Cryotherapy for Airway Obstruction from Bronchial Cast.

The application of cryotherapy in the extraction of airway blood clots has gained increased precedence over Fogarty catheter and biopsy forceps. The cryoprobe, passed through a flexible bronchoscope, adheres and aids in the removal of foreign body through cryoadhesion within minutes. Besides blood clots, this method was found to be extremely efficient in removing different kinds of foreign bodies including food particles like peanuts, pills, and inspissated mucus.

Early Versus Usual Palliative Care Consultation in the Intensive Care Unit.

OBJECTIVES: Palliative Medicine involvement in MICU patients have improved length of stay and mortality, but with varying effects on specific patient decision outcomes, such as, advance care planning. These studies have utilized Palliative Medicine later in the hospital or ICU course, with some evidence showing that earlier involvement resulted in better results. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the benefits of early (within 24 hours) palliative care consultation in medical ICU (MICU) patients to clinical and satisfaction outcomes. METHODS: An unblinded randomized study performed in the MICU in one academic hospital in the USA. Ninety-one adult patients admitted to MICU received a Palliative care medicine consultation within 24 hours as the intervention. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Ninety-one patients admitted to the MICU underwent randomization with 50 patients randomly assigned to receive Palliative Medicine consultation and 41 patients randomly assigned to receive standard-of-care based on predefined criteria. The median satisfaction score was 23 points higher for the patients in the intervention group (P < .001). The median length of MICU stay was 5 days shorter in the intervention group compared to the control group (95% CI; 1 day to 18 days, P = .018). Advance care planning was completed in the hospital for 34% of patients in the intervention arm and 12% of patients in the controls arm (absolute risk difference 22%, 95% CI 4% to 37%, P = .016). CONCLUSION: Early Palliative Medicine consultation within 24 hours of MICU admission showed significant benefits to patients by improving satisfaction and decreasing length of stay. This study provides evidence that Palliative Medicine involvement earlier in the course of severe disease is important. Further studies in other types of intensive care units (neurological and Cardiovascular) are necessary to determine their impact.

Outcomes of adult patients supported by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) following cardiopulmonary arrest. The Mayo Clinic experience.

INTRODUCTION: To describe our experience in use of extracorporeal life support (ECLS) as a rescue strategy in patients following cardiopulmonary resuscitation. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed for patients (n = 101) who received ECLS after cardiorespiratory arrest between May 2001 and December 2014. The primary outcome was survival to hospital discharge. RESULTS: In this cohort median (IQR) age was 56 (37-67) years, 53 (53%) were male, and 90 (89%) were Caucasian. Ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillations were the initial cardiac rhythm in 49 (48.5%) and asystole/pulseless electrical activity in 37 (36.8%). Median (IQR) time to initiation of extracorporeal support from arrest time was 72 (43-170) min. The median (IQR) duration of support was 100 (47-157) hours. Renal failure (66%) and bleeding (66%) were the two most commonly observed complications during ECLS support. The survival to hospital discharge was seen in 47 (47%) patients, and good neurologic outcome (mRs 0-3) was seen in 29%. Acidosis, lactate and continuous renal replacement therapy were independent predictors of mortality. The median (IQR) intensive care unit stay was 14 (4-28) days and hospital stay was 17 (4-35) days. CONCLUSION: Our institutional experience with ECLS as a rescue measure following cardiac arrest is associated with improvement in mortality, and favorable neurologic status at hospital discharge.

Variation in Early Management Practices in Moderate-to-Severe ARDS in the United States: The Severe ARDS: Generating Evidence Study.

BACKGROUND: Although specific interventions previously demonstrated benefit in patients with ARDS, use of these interventions is inconsistent, and patient mortality remains high. The impact of variability in center management practices on ARDS mortality rates remains unknown. RESEARCH QUESTION: What is the impact of treatment variability on mortality in patients with moderate to severe ARDS in the United States? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We conducted a multicenter, observational cohort study of mechanically ventilated adults with ARDS and Pao2 to Fio2 ratio of ≤ 150 with positive end-expiratory pressure of ≥ 5 cm H2O, who were admitted to 29 US centers between October 1, 2016, and April 30, 2017. The primary outcome was 28-day in-hospital mortality. Center variation in ventilator management, adjunctive therapy use, and mortality also were assessed. RESULTS: A total of 2,466 patients were enrolled. Median baseline Pao2 to Fio2 ratio was 105 (interquartile range, 78.0-129.0). In-hospital 28-day mortality was 40.7%. Initial adherence to lung protective ventilation (LPV; tidal volume, ≤ 6.5 mL/kg predicted body weight; plateau pressure, or when unavailable, peak inspiratory pressure, ≤ 30 mm H2O) was 31.4% and varied between centers (0%-65%), as did rates of adjunctive therapy use (27.1%-96.4%), methods used (neuromuscular blockade, prone positioning, systemic steroids, pulmonary vasodilators, and extracorporeal support), and mortality (16.7%-73.3%). Center standardized mortality ratios (SMRs), calculated using baseline patient-level characteristics to derive expected mortality rate, ranged from 0.33 to 1.98. Of the treatment-level factors explored, only center adherence to early LPV was correlated with SMR. INTERPRETATION: Substantial center-to-center variability exists in ARDS management, suggesting that further opportunities for improving ARDS outcomes exist. Early adherence to LPV was associated with lower center mortality and may be a surrogate for overall quality of care processes. Future collaboration is needed to identify additional treatment-level factors influencing center-level outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRY: ClinicalTrials.gov; No.: NCT03021824; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov.

Misplaced tracheoesophageal voice prosthesis: A case of foreign body aspiration.

Foreign body aspiration (FBA) is a rare, but potentially fatal condition frequently seen in the emergency department. Bronchoscopy plays a major role in its diagnosis and treatment. In patients with laryngectomy, the strategies for airway maintenance and foreign body retrieval are limited. We describe management of a patient with laryngectomy presenting with aspiration of a tracheoesophageal voice prosthesis (TEP). The TEP was not initially seen in chest radiography; however, computed tomography showed it within the right lower bronchus. Successful extraction of the TEP was achieved through bronchoscopy with forceps and retrieval basket. Otolaryngology placed a larger TEP and secured it with sutures. TEP migration is rare, but represents a risk for FBA. Initial imaging in the emergency department can be misleading, requiring a high degree of suspicion, as the TEP device may not be seen in standard chest radiography. Flexible bronchoscopy under moderate sedation in conjunction with forceps and retrieval basket may be appropriate for treatment of FBA in patients with laryngectomy and can be performed in the emergency department, preventing hospital admission.

Atezolizumab-induced myositis and myocarditis in a patient with metastatic urothelial carcinoma.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors have revolutionised cancer therapy in the past decade. Although they have been indicated to treat a diverse range of malignant neoplasms, they are also associated with various immune-related adverse effects. We report the case of a 74-year-old man with a history of urothelial carcinoma who had atezolizumab-induced myocarditis and myositis resulting in acute hypercapnic respiratory failure, despite the discontinuation of atezolizumab and aggressive treatment with corticosteroids. This case highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach for early diagnosis and treatment of immune-related adverse events. Physicians must be aware of the risks associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors and have a basic knowledge regarding their management.

Angiotensin II for the treatment of septic shock in a neutropenic patient with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.

Mortality remains high in septic shock with few new treatment options. Angiotensin II has been recently approved for use in septic shock due to promising results in the ATHOS-3 trial. However, patients with neutropenia were excluded in the trial. This patient population is becoming increasingly common in the intensive care unit as there is an increase in novel biologic therapies and stem cell transplantations for haematological and solid organ malignancies. We present a case of a patient with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia who received chemotherapy, resulting in neutropenia and septic shock. There was persistent hypotension despite initiating multiple conventional vasopressors. Angiotensin II was attempted with immediate improvement in the blood pressure which resulted in weaning of other vasopressors. This positive haemodynamic response suggests that angiotensin II can successfully be used in neutropenic patients without increasing the overall catecholamine burden of septic shock.

Tumour-bowel fistula as a possible complication of pazopanib therapy in retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma.

Pazopanib is a vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (VEGFR TKI) that inhibits the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor A pathway and has the potential to cause ischaemic bowel changes, including perforation. Here we report a case of a 51-year-old man with large, metastatic, retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma that developed a tumour-bowel fistula after 4 weeks of pazopanib therapy. He presented to the emergency department with sepsis and 1-week history of worsening fever, chills, nausea and diarrhoea. Abdominal CT findings of mesenteric and portal vein gas, commonly found in mesenteric ischaemia and VEGFR modulator-induced bowel toxicity, provided evidence for the causal relation. Unfortunately, the case was not amenable to surgery and patient succumbed to the illness.

Non-atherosclerotic aortic mural thrombus: a rare source of embolism.

A 54-year-old man presented to the emergency department with acute left-sided chest pain and left upper quadrant abdominal pain. He had a significant history of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung previously treated with right pneumonectomy who ; is currently receiving adjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin. Physical examination was remarkable for tachycardia, hypertension and mild abdominal tenderness. CT angiography revealed an aortic mural thrombus in the ascending aorta and aortic arch without dissection, aneurysm or tortuosity of the aorta. In addition, an infarction of the inferior spleen was reported. Given the high risk of surgery for this patient, he was treated conservatively with esmolol and heparin infusion. His subsequent hospital course was uneventful, and he was successfully discharged on enoxaparin therapy that was successively bridged to rivaroxaban treatment. Follow-up transesophageal echocardiography and CT angiography at one month showed no thrombus in the aorta.

Triple confusion: An interesting case of proteinuria in pregnancy.

Pregnancy-related renal diseases are unique and need special attention, both for diagnosis and management. The major confounding factors for diagnosis are the physiological multiorgan changes that occur throughout the gestational period. Proper diagnosis of the renal disease is also important, given the impact of varied management options both on the maternal and fetal health. A young middle-aged female with a long-standing history of diabetes presented to the hospital with worsening proteinuria in her second trimester of pregnancy. Clinical history, examinations, and laboratory analysis did not give any clues for diagnosis of a specific disease entity. This led us to take the risk of renal biopsy for a tissue diagnosis. The odds of renal biopsy favored the management decision in her case, thereby avoiding the confusions prior to biopsy. The pathological diagnosis is a surprise though not a unique entity on its own (minimal change disease in pregnancy). The case illustrates the disparity of clinical presentations and the pathology in patients, and the importance of renal biopsy in pregnant patients in particular.

Mechanical circulatory assist devices: a primer for critical care and emergency physicians.

Mechanical circulatory assist devices are now commonly used in the treatment of severe heart failure as bridges to cardiac transplant, as destination therapy for patients who are not transplant candidates, and as bridges to recovery and "decision-making". These devices, which can be used to support the left or right ventricles or both, restore circulation to the tissues, thereby improving organ function. Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are the most common support devices. To care for patients with these devices, health care providers in emergency departments (EDs) and intensive care units (ICUs) need to understand the physiology of the devices, the vocabulary of mechanical support, the types of complications patients may have, diagnostic techniques, and decision-making regarding treatment. Patients with LVADs who come to the ED or are admitted to the ICU usually have nonspecific clinical symptoms, most commonly shortness of breath, hypotension, anemia, chest pain, syncope, hemoptysis, gastrointestinal bleeding, jaundice, fever, oliguria and hematuria, altered mental status, headache, seizure, and back pain. Other patients are seen for cardiac arrest, psychiatric issues, sequelae of noncardiac surgery, and trauma. Although most patients have LVADs, some may have biventricular support devices or total artificial hearts. Involving a team of cardiac surgeons, perfusion experts, and heart-failure physicians, as well as ED and ICU physicians and nurses, is critical for managing treatment for these patients and for successful outcomes. This review is designed for critical care providers who may be the first to see these patients in the ED or ICU.

Fatal right ventricular failure and pulmonary hypertension after protamine administration during cardiac transplantation.

Protamine sulfate is the only Food and Drug administration approved medication for reversal of intraoperative heparin-induced anticoagulation during cardiac and vascular surgeries. One of the rare side effects of protamine sulfate is an idiosyncratic reaction resulting in acute pulmonary hypertension (APH) and right ventricular (RV) failure occurring after protamine administration. These reactions are rare but catastrophic with high mortality. A 36-year-old female with severe congestive heart failure was undergoing cardiac transplant surgery. After successful implantation of the donor heart, the patient was weaned off cardiopulmonary bypass. Protamine was then administered to reverse the heparin anticoagulation. She immediately developed APH and RV failure immediately after protamine infusion. The patient required immediate administration of inotropic agents, nitric oxide (NO), and subsequently required a number of mechanical support devices including an RV assist device (RVAD) and ultimately full veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO). Despite heroic efforts, the patient developed refractory multi-organ failure in the Intensive Care Unit and died after family requested discontinuation of resuscitative efforts. This case probably represents the first reported occurrence of fatal protamine-induced APH and ventricular failure in the setting of cardiac transplantation surgery. A number of interventions including inhaled NO, systemic vasopressors, RVAD, and ultimately VA-ECMO failed to reverse the situation, and the patient died of multi-organ failure.

Predictors of Extubation Success in Patients with Posterior Fossa Strokes.

OBJECTIVE: Posterior fossa stroke is unique in its presentation and outcomes, and mechanical ventilation is commonly used in the management of these patients. We aimed to identify predictors of extubation success in patients with posterior fossa stroke, who require mechanical ventilation. DESIGN: We included consecutive adult patients admitted to the neurosciences ICU from January 2003 to December 2012. Extubation failure was defined as re-intubation within 7 days of extubation. A modified Rankin Scale score of 0-3 was considered a good outcome. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We identified 150 patients with mean age of 65 ± 15.7 years with posterior fossa strokes; 77 (51 %) were hemorrhagic, and 73 (49 %) were ischemic. The most common reason for intubation was depressed consciousness (54 %). Fifty-two (35 %) were successfully extubated, 18 (12 %) failed extubation, 17 (11 %) patients had tracheostomy without attempted extubation, and 63 (42 %) were transitioned to palliative care prior to extubation. In the logistic regression analysis, controlling for transition to palliative care, Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) score >6 at the time of intubation (p = 0.020), mechanical ventilation for less than 7 days (p = 0.004), and surgical evacuation of a hematoma (p = 0.058) were independently associated with successful extubation. The presence of cough, gag reflex, and absence of pneumonia/atelectasis were not associated with successful extubation. Success of extubation predicted a good outcome at hospital discharge. CONCLUSIONS: In posterior fossa stroke patients with a GCS ≤ 6 at the time of intubation and who remain intubated for more than 1 week, extubation is less likely to be successful, and tracheostomy should be considered.

Transfusion-Related Acute Lung Injury After IVIG for Myasthenic Crisis.

BACKGROUND: A 26-year-old female with myasthenic crisis developed transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI) after she was treated with intravenous immunoglobulin. METHODS: Case report. RESULTS: Respiratory status markedly worsened with each intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) administration and progressing from a need to use bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) to intubation. Pulmonary function tests improved during this episode. CONCLUSIONS: IVIG may cause TRALI and due to subtle clinical findings can be mistaken for neuromuscular respiratory failure.