Early use of tocilizumab in patients with severe pneumonia secondary to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection and poor prognostic criteria: Impact on mortality rate and intensive care unit admission.

ABSTRACT: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, keeps spreading globally. Evidence suggests that a subgroup of patients with severe symptomatology might have cytokine storms, which increases mortality. The use of interleukin-6 (IL-6) inhibitors may help in controlling the pathological immune response to the virus. Tocilizumab, a monoclonal antibody against IL-6, stands as an optional treatment for COVID-19 patients presenting this inflammatory hyper-response.We conducted a retrospective, observational, cohort study including 50 patients affected by COVID-19 with severe pneumonia and poor prognosis criteria, who have also undergone standard treatment; 36 of these patients additionally received tocilizumab in an early stage. The need for intensive care unit (ICU) admission, mortality, recovery of respiratory function, and improvement of biochemical and hematological parameters were compared between cohorts.Most patients were men, non-smokers and the most frequently reported comorbidities were hypertension and diabetes. Recurrent symptoms were fever, cough, and dyspnoea. 54.8% of patients from the tocilizumab group needed intubation, while in the control group 85.7% needed it. Treatment with tocilizumab significatively increased IL-6 levels, (554.45; CI 95% 186.69, 1032.93; P < .05) while C-reactive protein mean levels were reduced (-108.19; CI 95% -140.15, -75.33; P < .05), but no significant difference was found between cohorts. In comparison with the controls, tocilizumab reduced mortality (25.0% vs 42.9%, P = .021) and the number of ICU admissions (63.9% vs 100.0%, P = .021). 44.1% of patients treated with tocilizumab showed favorable radiological evolution, when compared with 15.4% of patients from the control group.Tocilizumab may improve clinical symptoms and mitigate deterioration observed in severe COVID-19 patients, and could be considered as an effective therapeutic option in subjects experiencing a significant inflammatory response to the disease.

Evaluation of the performance of echocardiography in acute coronary syndrome patients during their stay in coronary units.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the frequency and the factors associated with performance of echocardiography in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients during their stay in intensive care units or coronary care units (ICU/CCU). METHODS: Retrospective cohort study including all patients diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome-unstable angina (UA), acute myocardial infarction (AMI)-included in the 'ARIAM' Spanish multi-centre register. The study period was from June 1996 to December 2005. The follow-up period is limited to the time of stay in the Intensive Care Units or Coronary Care Units (ICUs/CCUs). A univariate analysis was carried out on the patients with UA and AMI according to whether or not echocardiograms were performed during their stay in ICU/CCU. In addition the data was evaluated for any temporal variation in the performance of echocardiography, and two multivariate analyses were carried out to evaluate the factors associated with performance of echocardiography in UA and AMI patients. RESULTS: The study period included 45,688 AMI patients and 17,277 UA patients. Echocardiograms were performed in 26.87% AMI patients and 16.75% UA patients. In total, 15,172 echocardiograms were performed in ACS patients (23.6%). The multivariate analysis demonstrated that the variables associated with the performance of echocardiography in UA were: Killip and Kimball class, cigarette smoking, family history of cardiovascular events, cardiogenic shock, uncontrolled angina, mechanical ventilation and treatment with ACE inhibitors, while the presence of previous AMI was associated with fewer echocardiograms being performed. In AMI, the multivariate analysis showed the following variables to be associated with the performance of echocardiography: Killip and Kimball class, Q-AMI, right heart failure, the need for insertion of Swan-Ganz catheter, cardiogenic shock, high-degree AV block and the administration of ACE inhibitors, while age was associated with fewer being performed. Over the 10 years of the study period, there was a discrete but significant increase in the use of echocardiography in patients in ICU/CCU. CONCLUSIONS: Echocardiography is not commonly used in ACS patients while in ICU/CCU. UA and AMI patients who did have echocardiograms during their stay in ICU/CCU were chiefly those presenting heart failure and major complications, and represent a subpopulation with poor prognosis. The performance of echocardiography in ACS patients increased slightly over the length of their stay in ICU/CCU.

Echocardiographic hemodynamic monitoring in the critically ill patient.

Echocardiography has shown to be an essential diagnostic tool in the critically ill patient's assessment. In this scenario the initial fluid therapy, such as it is recommended in the actual clinical guidelines, not always provides the desired results and maintains a considerable incidence of cardiorrespiratory insufficiency. Echocardiography can council us on these patients' clinical handling, not only the initial fluid therapy but also on the best-suited election of the vasoactive/ inotropic treatment and the early detection of complications. It contributes as well to improving the etiological diagnosis, allowing one to know the heart performance with more precision. The objective of this manuscript is to review the more important parameters that can assist the intensivist in theragnosis of hemodynamically unstable patients.

Successful administration of alteplase in a venous thromboembolism crossing through a patent foramen ovale.

We describe a case report observed via an echocardiography of a venous thromboembolism (VTE) that crosses through the patent foramen ovale to the left atrium and is successfully treated with alteplase. This is a case report of a tertiary care hospital without cardiac surgery facilities. An 81-year-old female seeking medical attention for dyspnoea, arriving at hospital with hypoxaemia, hypotension and prerenal failure. A computed tomographic (CT) pulmonary angiography was carried out, revealing a VTE. A transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was carried out, exposing emboli in the right cavities, said thrombus crossing through the patent foramen ovale to the left atrium. A systemic thrombolysis is carried out using alteplase which improves the patient's condition and results in the disappearance of thrombotic images in the various cardiac cavities. The evolution is positive and there is no evidence of embolic or haemorrhagic complications. When a paradoxical embolism is present, in the context of a serious VTE, carrying out thrombolysis could be a therapeutic option.

Septic shock secondary to infection of a left ventricular thrombus.

We report the case of a 45-year-old woman who developed severe shock with multiorgan failure requiring admission to intensive care. Endomyocardial biopsy was performed and she was diagnosed with sepsis secondary to left ventricular thrombus abscess. Surgery was contraindicated and the patient received exclusively medical treatment; the clinical course was satisfactory and the patient is alive one year later. An apical thrombus may rarely be complicated by infection. Although management normally requires surgical excision, medical management may be effective in situations in which surgery is contraindicated.

Giant right atrial thrombi treated with thrombolysis.

The present report describes giant atrial thrombi that were treated with thrombolysis in a community hospital. Two patients with giant atrial thrombi whose treatment involved complications are presented. Both patients developed cardiogenic shock and were treated unsuccessfully with thrombolysis. Because thrombolysis of giant thrombi may be ineffective, patients in this situation may require surgery.

[Mean length of stay and prognosis in unstable angina. Results from the ARIAM database]. / Estancia media y pronóstico en la angina inestable. Resultados del registro ARIAM.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The objective of this project is to investigate the factors predicting mortality and mean length of stay in patients diagnosed with unstable angina (UA) during admission to the Intensive Care Unit or Critical Care Unit (ICU/CCU). PATIENTS AND METHOD: A retrospective cohort study including all the UA patients listed in the Spanish ARIAM register. The study period comprised from June, 1996 to December, 2003. The follow-up period is limited to the stay in the ICU/CCU. One univariate analysis was performed between deceased and live patients; and another between prolonged and non-prolonged stay patients. Three multivariate analyses were also performed; one to evaluate the factors related to mortality, another to evaluate the variables associated to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and another to evaluate the factors associated to the prolonged mean stay in ICU/CCU. RESULTS: 14,096 patients with UA were included in the study. The UA mortality rate during ICU/CCU admission was 1.1%. Mortality was associated to Killip classification, age, the need for CPR, development of cardiogenic shock, development of arrhythmia (such as VF, sinus tachycardia or high-degree atrioventricular block) and diabetes; whereas patients who smoke were associated to a lower mortality rate. PCI was only performed in 1,226 patients (8.9%), increasing over the years. The PCI-predicting variables were: age, being referred from another hospital, smoking, presenting prior acute myocardial infarction (AMI), complications consisting of cardiogenic shock or high-degree atrioventricular block and being treated with oral beta blockers. The mean length of stay in ICU/CCU was 3.15 (18.65) days (median, 2 days), depending on age, a coronariography having previously been performed, the Killip classification, having required coronariography and PCI or echocardiography or mechanical ventilation, and presenting complications such as angina that is difficult to control, arrhythmia, right ventricular failure or death. CONCLUSIONS: The factors are associated to mortality were; greater age, diabetes, Killip classification, arrhythmia, cardiogenic shock and the need for CPR, whereas smoking is associated to a lower mortality rate. The patients on whom PCI was performed represent a less severe population. Management has changed over the years, with an increase in PCI. A prolonged mean length of stay is associated to the appearance of arrhythmia, right or left heart failure, angina that is difficult to control, age and PCI.

Pleurodesis using autologous blood: a new concept in the management of persistent air leak in acute respiratory distress syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Pneumothorax is present as a frequent complication in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Persistent air leak (PAL) prolongs pneumothorax in 2% of cases of ARDS, increasing the rate of mortality by 26%. Pleurodesis using autologous blood (PAB) is an effective method in cases of oncological pulmonary surgery. The goal of this study was to compare PAB with the conventional drain and water seal in the management of PAL in patients with ARDS and pneumothorax. DESIGN: The study was a case-control, prospective, nonrandomized one comparing 2 groups subjected to artificial pairing (1:1). SETTING: The study took place at the Torrecardenas Hospital (Andalusian Health Service, Almería, Spain). PATIENTS: Participants were 2 groups of 27 patients, all with ARDS, pneumothorax, and PAL. INTERVENTIONS: One group received conventional treatment whereas the other received PAB. MAIN RESULTS: The severity of the conditions of both groups is homogeneous, shown by sex; age; Murray, Marshall, and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores; and etiology of ARDS. The patients in the PAB group had a shorter stay in the ICU, shorter weaning time (WT), and lower death rate. The average differences between the groups were 11 days less WT (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 0.1) and 9 days less on average time spent in the ICU (adjusted OR = 0.24). The death rates in the PAB group and the control group were 3.7% and 29.6%, respectively (adjusted OR = 0.6). CONCLUSIONS: The use of PAB makes possible a decrease in ventilator WT and a shorter stay in the ICU, with a resulting increase in functional recuperation and decrease in patient mortality.

Post-thrombolysis intracerebral hemorrhage: data from the Spanish Register ARIAM.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to investigate the predisposing factors in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) treated with thrombolysis and complicated by intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), as well as the factors associated with death for patients whose conditions were complicated by ICH. DESIGN: A retrospective study. SETTING: An intensive care/critical care unit. PATIENTS: All patients with AMI listed in the Spanish ARIAM register. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The study period was from June 1996 to December 2003. The follow-up period was limited to the time spent in the intensive care unit/coronary care unit. Associations with the development of ICH were studied by univariate analysis. Another univariate analysis was used to evaluate the differences between patients affected by AMI complicated by ICH who died and those who survived. Two multivariate analyses were also used: one to evaluate the factors related to the development of ICH and the other to evaluate the factors associated with the death of patients with ICH. A total of 17,111 patients with AMI were included in the study. ICH occurred in 151 (0.9%) of these patients during their stay in the intensive care unit/coronary care unit. The multivariate analysis showed that the variables associated with ICH development were smoking (odds ratio [OR], 0.684; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.478-0.979); oral b-blockers (OR, 0.488; CI, 0.337-0.706); angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (OR, 0.480; CI, 0.340-0.678); arterial hypertension (OR, 4.900; CI, 2.758-8.705); age of 55-64 yrs (OR, 2.253; CI, 1.117-4.546); age of 65-74 yrs (OR, 4.240; CI, 2.276-7.901); age of 75-84 yrs (OR, 4.450; CI, 2.319-8.539); and age of >84 yrs (OR, 2.997; CI, 1.039-8.647). The mortality rate among patients with ICH was 48.3%, vs. 8.3% among patients without ICH. The multivariate study showed that the mortality rate among patients with ICH was associated with age (OR, 1.086; CI, 1.033-1.143), arterial hypertension cardiovascular risk factor (OR, 2.773; CI, 1.216-6.324), and the need for mechanical ventilation (OR, 4.324; CI, 1.665-11.230) or cardiopulmonary resuscitation (OR, 12.258; CI, 1.268-118.523). However, the administration of b-blockers (OR, 0.369; CI, 0.136-0.997) or ACE inhibitors (OR, 0.367; CI, 0.149-0.902) was associated with a reduction in the mortality rate. CONCLUSIONS: Factors associated with the development of ICH in our population were age and arterial hypertension, whereas smoking and the administration of b-blockers or ACE inhibitors were associated with a reduction in incidence. Among patients with AMI complicated by ICH, mortality was associated with age, arterial hypertension, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and the use of mechanical ventilation, whereas the administration of oral b-blockers and ACE inhibitors could be associated with a reduction in mortality.

Paradoxical effect of smoking in the Spanish population with acute myocardial infarction or unstable angina: results of the ARIAM Register.

OBJECTIVES: The paradoxical effect of smoking after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a phenomenon consisting of a reduction in the mortality of smokers compared to nonsmokers. However, it is not known whether the benefit of this reduction in mortality is due to smoking itself or to other covariables. Despite acceptance of the paradoxical effect of smoking in AMI, it is not known whether a similar phenomenon occurs in unstable angina. The objective of this study was to investigate the paradoxical effect of smoking in AMI and unstable angina, and to study specifically whether smoking is an independent prognostic variable. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study population was selected from the multicentric ARIAM (Análisis del Retraso en el Infarto Agudo de Miocardio [analysis of delay in AMI]) Register, a register of 29,532 patients with a diagnosis of unstable angina or AMI. Tobacco smokers were younger, presented fewer cardiovascular risk factors such as diabetes or hypertension, fewer previous infarcts, a lower Killip and Kimball class, and a lower crude and adjusted mortality in AMI (odds ratio, 0.774; 95% confidence interval, 0.660 to 0.909; p = 0.002). Smokers with unstable angina were younger, with less hypertension or diabetes. In the multivariate analysis, no statistically significant difference in mortality was found. CONCLUSIONS: The reduced mortality observed in smokers with AMI during their stay in the ICU cannot be explained solely by clinical covariables such as age, sex, other cardiovascular factors, Killip and Kimball class, or treatment received. Therefore, smoking may have a direct beneficial effect on reduced mortality in the AMI population. The lower mortality rates found in smokers with unstable angina are not supported by the multivariate analysis. In this case, the difference in mortality can be explained by the other covariables.

Influence of age on clinical course, management and mortality of acute myocardial infarction in the Spanish population.

BACKGROUND: To assess age-related differences in cardiovascular risk factors, clinical course and management of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in intensive care (ICU) or coronary care units (CCU). METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted of all AMI patients listed in the ARIAM register (Analysis of Delay in AMI), a multi-centre register in which 119 Spanish hospitals participated. The study period was from January 1995 to January 2001. A univariate analysis was carried out to evaluate differences between different age groups. Multivariate analysis was used to assess whether age difference was an independent predisposing factor for mortality and for differences in patient management. RESULTS: 17,761 patients were admitted to the ICUs/CCUs with a diagnosis of AMI. The distribution by ages was: <55 years, 3,954 patients (22.3%); 55-64 years, 3,593 (22.2%); 65-74 years, 5,924 (33.4%); 75-84 years, 3,686 (20.8%); and >84 years, 604 (3.4%) (P<0.0001); 24.6% of the patients were female, and the relative proportion of females increased with age. There were clear differences in risk factors between the different age groups, with a predominance of tobacco, cholesterol and family history of heart disease in the younger patients. The incidence of complications, including haemorrhagic complications, increased significantly with age. The older age groups had a lower rate of thrombolysis and less use of revascularisation techniques. The mortality of the above groups was 2.6, 5.4, 10.7, 17.7 and 25.8%, respectively. Age difference was an independent predictive variable for mortality and the administration of thrombolysis. CONCLUSIONS: The distinct age groups differed in cardiovascular risk factors, management and mortality. Age is a significant independent predictive variable for mortality and for the administration of thrombolysis.