Influence of head-of-bed elevation on the measurement of inferior vena cava diameter and collapsibility.

PURPOSE: Inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter and variation are commonly measured in the supine position to estimate intravascular volume status of critically ill patients. Many scientific societies describe the measurement of IVC diameter in the supine position. However, critically ill patients are rarely placed supine due to concerns for aspiration risk, worsened respiratory mechanics, increases in intracranial pressure, and the time it takes to change patient position. We assessed the influence of head-of-bed (HOB) elevation on IVC measurements. METHODS: We conducted a prospective observational study of critically ill patients undergoing critical care ultrasound. With HOB at 0°, IVC maximum (IVCmax0°) and minimum (IVCmin0°) diameters were measured. Measurements were then repeated with HOB elevated to 30° and 45°. Collapsibility index (CI), defined as (IVCmax - IVCmin)/IVCmax, was calculated for each HOB elevation. Mean differences were then compared. RESULTS: A convenience sample of 95 patients was studied, of whom 45% were on vasopressors and 44% were spontaneously breathing. The CI did not significantly differ between the three positions. We found a significant difference (P ≤ .0001) between IVCmax at 45° (2.09 cm) and 0° (1.96 cm), IVCmin at 45° (1.75 cm) and 0° (1.59 cm), IVCmax at 45° (2.09 cm) and 30° (1.97 cm), and IVCmin at 45° (1.75 cm) and 30° (1.61 cm). CONCLUSIONS: In a population of critically ill patients undergoing goal-directed ultrasound examinations, elevating HOB to 30° did not significantly alter IVC measurements or CI. At 45°, however, IVCmax and IVCmin diameters increased significantly, albeit with no significant change in CI. Performing ultrasound measurements of the IVC with HOB elevated to 30° is unlikely to produce clinically meaningful changes.

Right Heart Thrombi: Patient Outcomes by Treatment Modality and Predictors of Mortality: A Pooled Analysis.

RATIONALE: Right heart thrombi (RiHT) is characterized by the presence of thrombus within the right atrium or right ventricle (RV). Current literature suggests pulmonary embolism (PE) with RiHT carries a high mortality. Guidelines lack recommendations in managing RiHT. We created a pooled analysis on RiHT and report on our institutional experience in managing RiHT. We aimed to evaluate whether patient characteristics and differing treatment modalities predict mortality. METHODS: We created a pooled analysis of case reports and series of patients with RiHT and PE between January 1956 and 2017. We also reviewed a series of consecutive patients with RiHT identified from our institutional PE registry. Age, shock, RV dysfunction, clot mobility, treatment modality, and hospital outcome had to be reported. RESULTS: We identified 316 patients in our pooled analysis. Patients received the following therapies: no treatment 15 (5%), systemic anticoagulation 73 (23%), systemic thrombolysis 108 (34%), surgical embolectomy 101 (32%), catheter-directed therapy 11 (3%), and systemic thrombolysis with surgery 8 (3%). In-hospital mortality was 18.7%. Univariate analysis showed age and shock reduced odds of survival. Multivariate analysis showed shock reduced odds of survival (odds ratios [OR] 0.36, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.19-0.72, P ≤ .01) while age, RV dysfunction, and clot-mobility did not affect mortality. In a reduced multivariate analysis adjusting for shock, treatment modality, and clot location alone, systemic thrombolysis increased odds of survival when compared to systemic anticoagulation (OR 2.72, 95% CI: 1.11-6.64, P = .02). Our institutional series identified 18 patients, where in-hospital mortality was 22.2%, 18 (100%) had RV dysfunction, and 5 (28%) had shock. Patients received the following therapies: systemic anticoagulation 8 (44.4%), systemic thrombolysis 4 (22.2%), surgical embolectomy 4 (22.2%), and catheter-directed thrombolysis 2 (11.1%). CONCLUSION: Presence of shock in RiHT is an independent predictor of mortality. Systemic thrombolysis may offer increased odds of survival when compared to systemic anticoagulation. Our findings should be interpreted with caution as they derive from retrospective reports and subject to publication bias.

Pulmonary infarction secondary to pulmonary embolism: An evolving paradigm.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Pulmonary infarction (PI) from pulmonary embolism (PE) remains an entity of unclear aetiology. PI has been thought to occur in elderly patients with cardiopulmonary disease. We hypothesize younger patients without cardiopulmonary comorbidities are at highest risk. Our study aims to characterize PI clinically and radiographically, determine associated risk factors and determine their clinical significance. METHODS: We conducted a single-centre retrospective review of 367 consecutive patients with PE. Clinical and radiographic data were compared between patients with and without PI using chi-square and F-tests. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate risk factors for PI. RESULTS: PI occurred in 62 of 367 patients with acute PE (16.9%). Patients with PI were significantly younger (48 ± 20.3 vs 59.6 ± 17.2 years, P < 0.01), with lower pulmonary embolism severity index (PESI) scores (73.7 ± 38.1 vs 91.9 ± 37.5 years, P < 0.01) and endorsed chest pain with significantly higher frequency (65% vs 39%, P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in other clinical symptoms, hospital length of stay or mortality between groups. Presence of radiographic cardiopulmonary disease was significantly lower in patients with PI (emphysema: 5% vs 22%, P = <0.01; aortic atherosclerosis: 23% vs 43%, P = <0.01). In multivariate analysis, age ≤33 (OR 3.5 CI: 1.37-8.95, P < 0.01), chest pain (OR 2.15 CI: 1.15-4.00, P = 0.02) and pleural effusion (OR 2.18 CI: 1.08-4.41, P = 0.03) increased PI risk and presence of emphysema decreased risk (OR 0.21 CI: 0.06-0.70, P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Younger patients without cardiopulmonary comorbidities are at highest risk of PI. Chest pain and pleural effusion significantly increased risk of PI while presence of radiographic emphysema reduced risk.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Point-of-Care Ultrasound Performed by Pulmonary Critical Care Physicians for Right Ventricle Assessment in Patients With Acute Pulmonary Embolism.

OBJECTIVES: Risk stratification for acute pulmonary embolism using imaging presence of right ventricular dysfunction is essential for triage; however, comprehensive transthoracic echocardiography has limited availability. We assessed the accuracy and timeliness of Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine Fellow's performance of goal-directed echocardiograms and intensivists' interpretations for evaluating right ventricular dysfunction in acute pulmonary embolism. DESIGN: Prospective observational study and retrospective chart review. SETTING: Four hundred fifty bed urban teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Adult in/outpatients diagnosed with acute pulmonary embolism. INTERVENTIONS: Pulmonary critical care fellows performed and documented their goal-directed echocardiogram as normal or abnormal for right ventricular size and function in patients with acute pulmonary embolism. Gold standard transthoracic echocardiography was performed on schedule unless the goal-directed echocardiogram showed critical findings. Attending intensivists blinded to the clinical scenario reviewed these exams at a later date. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Two hundred eighty-seven consecutive patients were evaluated for acute PE. Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine Fellows performed 154 goal-directed echocardiograms, 110 with complete cardiology-reviewed transthoracic echocardiography within 48 hours for comparison. Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine Fellow's area under the curve for size and function was 0.83 (95% CI, 0.75-0.90) and 0.83 (95% CI, 0.75-0.90), respectively. Intensivists' 1/2 area under the curve for size and function was (1) 0.87 (95% CI, 0.82-0.94), (1) 0.87 (95% CI, 0.80-0.93) and (2) 0.88 (95% CI, 0.82-0.95), (2) 0.88 (95% CI, 0.82-0.95). Median time difference between goal-directed echocardiogram and transthoracic echocardiography was 21 hours 18 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to evaluate pulmonary critical care fellows' and intensivists' use of goal-directed echocardiography in diagnosing right ventricular dysfunction in acute pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine Fellows and intensivists made a timely and accurate assessment. Screening for right ventricular dysfunction using goal-directed echocardiography can and should be performed by pulmonary critical care physicians in patients with acute pulmonary embolism.

Association Between CD4+, Viral Load, and Pulmonary Function in HIV.

PURPOSE: The antiretroviral therapy era has shifted the epidemiology of HIV-associated diseases, increasing the recognition of non-infectious pulmonary complications secondary to HIV. We aimed to determine the association between CD4+, viral load, and pulmonary function in individuals with uncontrolled HIV, and determine how changes in these parameters are associated with pulmonary function longitudinally. METHODS: This is a retrospective observational study of individuals with HIV who underwent pulmonary function testing in an urban medical center between August 1997 and November 2015. RESULTS: Of the 146 participants (mean age 52 ± 10 years), 49% were Hispanic, 56% were men, and 44% were current smokers. CD4+ <200 cells/µl was associated with significant diffusion impairment compared to CD4+ ≥200 cells/µl (DLCO 56 vs. 70%, p = <0.01). VL (viral load) ≥75 copies/ml was associated with significant diffusion impairment compared to VL <75 copies/ml (DLCO 60 vs. 71%, p = <0.01). No difference in FEV1, FEV1/FVC, or TLC was noted between groups. In univariate analysis, CD4+ and VL correlated with DLCO (r = +0.33; p = <0.01; r = -0.26; p = <0.01) and no correlation was noted with FEV1, FEV1/FVC, or TLC. Current smoking and history of AIDS correlated with DLCO (r = -0.20; p = 0.03; r = -0.20; p = 0.04). After adjusting for smoking and other confounders, VL ≥75 copies/ml correlated with a 11.2 (CI 95% [3.03-19.4], p = <0.01) decrease in DLCO. In Spearman's Rank correlation, there was a negative correlation between change in VL and change in DLCO over time (ρ = -0.47; p = <0.01). CONCLUSION: The presence of viremia in individuals with HIV is independently associated with impaired DLCO. Suppression of VL may allow for recovery in diffusing capacity over time, though the degree to which this occurs requires further investigation.

Nurse-Driven Fluid Responsiveness Evaluation in Patients With Septic Shock: A Quality Improvement Initiative.

BACKGROUND: Fluid responsiveness should be assessed in patients with septic shock because only 50% of patients are fluid responsive. Dynamic measures of fluid responsiveness, like pulse pressure variation measured after a passive leg raise maneuver, are recommended to guide fluid administration in patients with sepsis after initial fluid resuscitation. LOCAL PROBLEM: The purpose of the project was to evaluate outcomes after implementing a nurse-driven fluid responsiveness evaluation using passive leg raise and pulse pressure variation measurement in patients with septic shock. METHODS: The project included 30 adult patients with septic shock in a 24-bed medical-surgical intensive care unit at a community hospital. A new nursing process was initiated for bedside fluid responsiveness evaluation (pulse pressure variation measurement after passive leg raise). Staff members received in-person individual training sessions. Preintervention and 20-week postintervention patient outcomes data were collected to estimate the project's impact on incidence of fluid overload and acute kidney injury, duration of mechanical ventilation, and intensive care unit length of stay. Preintervention and postintervention staff satisfaction surveys assessed nurses' perception of the project's value. RESULTS: Before intervention, 24 of 37 patients (65%) met criteria of fluid overload. The project resulted in a 28% decrease in the incidence of fluid overload. Staff satisfaction surveys revealed a significant increase in nurses' feelings of empowerment to positively affect patient outcomes; all nurses agreed that the new process was efficient. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the project had a positive impact on patient outcomes and nurse autonomy.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation for Post-COVID-19.

PURPOSE: Patients with COVID-19 often report persistent respiratory symptoms. Limited data exist on how to mitigate long-term sequelae of exercise intolerance and dyspnea. We aimed to study the role of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) in patients with post-COVID-19. METHODS: This was an observational study. Consecutive patients with post-COVID-19, admitted to three separate outpatient PR programs, were enrolled. The program consisted of 8-12 wk of PR sessions (3 times/wk). Data were gathered at the initial visit and discharge. The primary outcome was the change in the 6-min walk test (6MWT) distance. Secondary outcomes included the Shortness of Breath Questionnaire (SOBQ), modified Borg dyspnea scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and Lung Information Needs Questionnaire (LINQ). RESULTS: A total of 56 patients completed the PR program (age 62.8 ± 14.7 yr, 57% were men). At baseline, the mean 6MWT was 313.3 ± 193.8 m. On average, the 6MWT improved by 84.3 m after PR ( P < .0001). Apart from the modified Borg dyspnea scale, there was improvement across secondary outcomes: SOBQ (-16.9 points), PHQ-9 (-2.6 points), and LINQ (-4.2 points); all P < .05. CONCLUSION: Pulmonary rehabilitation showed a promising positive effect on patients with with post-COVID-19. It improved exercise capacity, perception of dyspnea, depressive symptoms, and patient knowledge needed to manage their lung disease. Pulmonary rehabilitation should be considered for post-COVID-19 patients.

Sepsis in Immunocompromised Host and a Hematologic Complication.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 43-year-old Puerto Rican man with a kidney transplant presented to the ED with 2 weeks of flu-like symptoms, nausea, and vomiting. He had plasma exchange therapy 2 months before for acute transplant rejection and has been tolerating a heightened immunosuppressive regimen. CT scans characterized opacities as possibly early tree-in-bud opacities (Fig 1A). Patient remained stable throughout hospital stay with an unremarkable workup and was discharged with doxycycline for nonspecific pneumonia.

Inter-rater reliability and prognostic value of baseline Radiographic Assessment of Lung Edema (RALE) scores in observational cohort studies of inpatients with COVID-19.

OBJECTIVES: To reliably quantify the radiographic severity of COVID-19 pneumonia with the Radiographic Assessment of Lung Edema (RALE) score on clinical chest X-rays among inpatients and examine the prognostic value of baseline RALE scores on COVID-19 clinical outcomes. SETTING: Hospitalised patients with COVID-19 in dedicated wards and intensive care units from two different hospital systems. PARTICIPANTS: 425 patients with COVID-19 in a discovery data set and 415 patients in a validation data set. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES: We measured inter-rater reliability for RALE score annotations by different reviewers and examined for associations of consensus RALE scores with the level of respiratory support, demographics, physiologic variables, applied therapies, plasma host-response biomarkers, SARS-CoV-2 RNA load and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: Inter-rater agreement for RALE scores improved from fair to excellent following reviewer training and feedback (intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.85 vs 0.93, respectively). In the discovery cohort, the required level of respiratory support at the time of CXR acquisition (supplemental oxygen or non-invasive ventilation (n=178); invasive-mechanical ventilation (n=234), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (n=13)) was significantly associated with RALE scores (median (IQR): 20.0 (14.1-26.7), 26.0 (20.5-34.0) and 44.5 (34.5-48.0), respectively, p<0.0001). Among invasively ventilated patients, RALE scores were significantly associated with worse respiratory mechanics (plateau and driving pressure) and gas exchange metrics (PaO2/FiO2 and ventilatory ratio), as well as higher plasma levels of IL-6, soluble receptor of advanced glycation end-products and soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor 1 (p<0.05). RALE scores were independently associated with 90-day survival in a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model (adjusted HR 1.04 (1.02-1.07), p=0.002). We replicated the significant associations of RALE scores with baseline disease severity and mortality in the independent validation data set. CONCLUSIONS: With a reproducible method to measure radiographic severity in COVID-19, we found significant associations with clinical and physiologic severity, host inflammation and clinical outcomes. The incorporation of radiographic severity assessments in clinical decision-making may provide important guidance for prognostication and treatment allocation in COVID-19.

Radiographic Assessment of Lung Edema (RALE) Scores are Highly Reproducible and Prognostic of Clinical Outcomes for Inpatients with COVID-19.

INTRODUCTION: Chest imaging is necessary for diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia, but current risk stratification tools do not consider radiographic severity. We quantified radiographic heterogeneity among inpatients with COVID-19 with the Radiographic Assessment of Lung Edema (RALE) score on Chest X-rays (CXRs). METHODS: We performed independent RALE scoring by ≥2 reviewers on baseline CXRs from 425 inpatients with COVID-19 (discovery dataset), we recorded clinical variables and outcomes, and measured plasma host-response biomarkers and SARS-CoV-2 RNA load from subjects with available biospecimens. RESULTS: We found excellent inter-rater agreement for RALE scores (intraclass correlation co-efficient=0.93). The required level of respiratory support at the time of baseline CXRs (supplemental oxygen or non-invasive ventilation [n=178]; invasive-mechanical ventilation [n=234], extracorporeal membrane oxygenation [n=13]) was significantly associated with RALE scores (median [interquartile range]: 20.0[14.1-26.7], 26.0[20.5-34.0] and 44.5[34.5-48.0], respectively, p<0.0001). Among invasively-ventilated patients, RALE scores were significantly associated with worse respiratory mechanics (plateau and driving pressure) and gas exchange metrics (PaO2/FiO2 and ventilatory ratio), as well as higher plasma levels of IL-6, sRAGE and TNFR1 levels (p<0.05). RALE scores were independently associated with 90-day survival in a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model (adjusted hazard ratio 1.04[1.02-1.07], p=0.002). We validated significant associations of RALE scores with baseline severity and mortality in an independent dataset of 415 COVID-19 inpatients. CONCLUSION: Reproducible assessment of radiographic severity revealed significant associations with clinical and physiologic severity, host-response biomarkers and clinical outcome in COVID-19 pneumonia. Incorporation of radiographic severity assessments may provide prognostic and treatment allocation guidance in patients hospitalized with COVID-19.