Impact of extended lung protection during mechanical ventilation on lung recovery in patients with COVID-19 ARDS: a phase II randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Protective ventilation seems crucial during early Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), but the optimal duration of lung protection remains undefined. High driving pressures (ΔP) and excessive patient ventilatory drive may hinder lung recovery, resulting in self-inflicted lung injury. The hidden nature of the ΔP generated by patient effort complicates the situation further. Our study aimed to assess the feasibility of an extended lung protection strategy that includes a stepwise protocol to control the patient ventilatory drive, assessing its impact on lung recovery. METHODS: We conducted a single-center randomized study on patients with moderate/severe COVID-19-ARDS with low respiratory system compliance (CRS < 0.6 (mL/Kg)/cmH2O). The intervention group received a ventilation strategy guided by Electrical Impedance Tomography aimed at minimizing ΔP and patient ventilatory drive. The control group received the ARDSNet low-PEEP strategy. The primary outcome was the modified lung injury score (mLIS), a composite measure that integrated daily measurements of CRS, along with oxygen requirements, oxygenation, and X-rays up to day 28. The mLIS score was also hierarchically adjusted for survival and extubation rates. RESULTS: The study ended prematurely after three consecutive months without patient enrollment, attributed to the pandemic subsiding. The intention-to-treat analysis included 76 patients, with 37 randomized to the intervention group. The average mLIS score up to 28 days was not different between groups (P = 0.95, primary outcome). However, the intervention group showed a faster improvement in the mLIS (1.4 vs. 7.2 days to reach 63% of maximum improvement; P < 0.001), driven by oxygenation and sustained improvement of X-ray (P = 0.001). The intervention group demonstrated a sustained increase in CRS up to day 28 (P = 0.009) and also experienced a shorter time from randomization to room-air breathing (P = 0.02). Survival at 28 days and time until liberation from the ventilator were not different between groups. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of an individualized PEEP strategy alongside extended lung protection appears viable. Promising secondary outcomes suggested a faster lung recovery, endorsing further examination of this strategy in a larger trial. Clinical trial registration This trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (number NCT04497454) on August 04, 2020.

Post-COVID-19 respiratory sequelae two years after hospitalization: an ambidirectional study.

Background: COVID-19 lung sequelae can impact the course of patient lives. We investigated the evolution of pulmonary abnormalities in post-COVID-19 patients 18-24 months after hospital discharge. Methods: A cohort of COVID-19 patients admitted to the Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da USP in São Paulo, Brazil, between March and August of 2020, were followed-up 6-12 months after hospital discharge. A subset of patients with pulmonary involvement and chest computed tomography (CT) scans were eligible to participate in this second follow-up (18-24 months). Data was analyzed in an ambidirectional manner, including retrospective data from the hospitalization, and from the first follow-up (6-12 months after discharge), and compared with the prospective data collected in this new follow-up. Findings: From 348 patients eligible, 237 (68%) participated in this follow-up. Among participants, 139 (58%) patients presented ground-glass opacities and reticulations, and 80 (33%) presented fibrotic-like lesions (traction bronchiectasis and architectural distortion). Five (2%) patients improved compared to the 6-12-month assessment, but 20 (25%) of 80 presented worsening of lung abnormalities. For those with relevant assessments on both occasions, comparing the CT findings between this follow-up with the previous assessment, there was an increase in patients with architectural distortion (43 [21%] of 204 vs 57 [28%] of 204, p = 0.0093), as well as in traction bronchiectasis (55 [27%] of 204 vs 69 [34%] of 204, p = 0.0043). Patients presented a persistent functional impairment with demonstrated restrictive pattern in both follow-ups (87 [42%] of 207 vs 91 [44%] of 207, p = 0.76), as well as for the reduced diffusion capacity (88 [42%] of 208 vs 87 [42%] of 208, p = 1.0). Length of hospitalization (OR 1.04 [1.01-1.07], p = 0.0040), invasive mechanical ventilation (OR 3.11 [1.3-7.5] p = 0.011), patient's age (OR 1.03 [1.01-1.06] p = 0.0074 were consistent predictors for development of fibrotic-like lung lesions in post-COVID-19 patients. Interpretation: Post-COVID-19 lung sequelae can persist and progress after hospital discharge, suggesting airways involvement and formation of new fibrotic-like lesions, mainly in patients who were in intensive care unit (ICU). Funding: São Paulo Research Foundation (22/01769-5) and Instituto Todos pela Saúde (C1721).

Risk Factors for the Impairment of Ambulation in Older People Hospitalized with COVID-19: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

(1) Background: Some older people hospitalized with COVID-19 have experienced reduced ambulation capacity. However, the prevalence of the impairment of ambulation capacity still needs to be established. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of, and identify the risk factors associated with, the impairment of ambulation capacity at the point of hospital discharge for older people with COVID-19. (2) Methods: A retrospective cohort study. Included are those with an age > 60 years, of either sex, hospitalized due to COVID-19. Clinical data was collected from patients' medical records. Ambulation capacity prior to COVID-19 infection was assessed through the patients' reports from their relatives. Multiple logistic regressions were performed to identify the risk factors associated with the impairment of ambulation at hospital discharge. (3) Results: Data for 429 older people hospitalized with COVID-19 were randomly collected from the medical records. Among the 56.4% who were discharged, 57.9% had reduced ambulation capacity. Factors associated with reduced ambulation capacity at discharge were a hospital stay longer than 20 days (Odds Ratio (OR): 3.5) and dependent ambulation capacity prior to COVID-19 (Odds Ratio (OR): 11.3). (4) Conclusion: More than half of the older people who survived following hospitalization due to COVID-19 had reduced ambulation capacity at hospital discharge. Impaired ambulation prior to the infection and a longer hospital stay were risks factors for reduced ambulation capacity.

Functional impact on adults and older people after hospitalization by Covid-19.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Hospitalization by Covid-19 can cause persistent functional consequences after hospital discharge due to direct and indirect effects of SARS-COV-2 in several organs and systems of the body added to post-intensive care syndrome and prolonged bed rest. These impacts can lead to dependency in activities of daily living, mainly in older people due to aging process and functional decline. This study aimed to compare the effects of hospitalization by Covid-19 on functional capacity of adults and older people and to identify its associated factors. METHODS: Cross-sectional observational study of 159 survivors of hospitalization by Covid-19 after 1 month from discharge at Hospital das Clínicas of the University of São Paulo, divided into groups: adults (aged < 60 years) and older people (aged ≥ 60 years). Those who did not accept to participate, without availability or without ability to understand the questionnaires were excluded. Functional capacity was assessed by the Barthel Index and patients were classified according to their scores. Data analysis was performed in JASP Statistics program and the sample was compared between the age groups. Wilcoxon test was applied to compare before and after periods, Mann-Whitney test was used for between groups comparison. We adopted alpha = 0.05. RESULTS: The total Barthel Index median score was lower 1 month after hospital discharge than in the pre-Covid-19 period. Older people had worse functional status than adults before and also showed greater impairment after hospital discharge. Both groups showed lower Barthel Index classification than before, and older people presented more functional dependence than adults in both periods. Age, sarcopenia and frailty were associated factors. DISCUSSION: Hospitalization by Covid-19 impacts functional capacity after 1 month from discharge, especially in older people. Age, sarcopenia and frailty are associated factors. These results suggest need for care and rehabilitation of Covid-19 survivors.

Infection as an independent risk factor for mortality in the surgical intensive care unit.

OBJECTIVES: Medical and surgical intensive care unit patients represent two different populations and require different treatment approaches. The aim of this study was to investigate the parameters associated with mortality in medical and surgical intensive care units. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study of adult patients admitted to a medical and surgical intensive care unit teaching hospital over an 11-month period. Factors associated with mortality were explored using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: In total, 827 admissions were observed, and 525 patients >18 years old and with a length of stay >24 h were analyzed. Of these patients, 227 were in the medical and 298 were in the surgical intensive care unit. The surgical patients were older (p<0.01) and had shorter lengths of stay (p<0.01). The mortality in the intensive care unit (35.1 vs. 26.2, p = 0.02) and hospital (48.8 vs. 35.5, p<0.01) was higher for medical patients. For patients in the surgical intensive care unit, death was independently associated with the need for mechanical ventilation, prognostic score (SAPS II), community-acquired infection, nosocomial infection, and intensive care unit-acquired infection. For patients in the medical intensive care unit, death was independently associated with the need for mechanical ventilation and prognostic score. CONCLUSIONS: Although the presence of infection is associated with a high mortality in both the medical and surgical intensive care units, the results of this prospective study suggest that infection has a greater impact in patients admitted to the surgical intensive care unit. Measures and trials to prevent and treat sepsis may be most effective in the surgical intensive care unit population.

Follow-up after acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by influenza a (H1N1) virus infection.

BACKGROUND: There are no reports on the long-term follow-up of patients with swine-origin influenza A virus infection that progressed to acute respiratory distress syndrome. METHODS: Four patients were prospectively followed up with pulmonary function tests and high-resolution computed tomography for six months after admission to an intensive care unit. RESULTS: Pulmonary function test results assessed two months after admission to the intensive care unit showed reduced forced vital capacity in all patients and low diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide in two patients. At six months, pulmonary function test results were available for three patients. Two patients continued to have a restrictive pattern, and none of the patients presented with abnormal diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide. All of them had a diffuse ground-glass pattern on high-resolution computed tomography that improved after six months. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the marked severity of lung disease at admission, patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by swine-origin influenza A virus infection presented a late but substantial recovery over six months of follow-up.

The epidemiology of acute respiratory failure in hospitalized patients: a Brazilian prospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess risk factors associated with the development of acute respiratory failure (ARF) and death in a general intensive care unit (ICU). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adults who were hospitalized at 12 surgical and nonsurgical ICUs were prospectively followed up. Multivariable analyses were realized to determine the risk factors for ARF and point out the prognostic factors for mortality in these patients. RESULTS: A total of 1732 patients were evaluated, with an ARF prevalence of 57%. Of the 889 patients who were admitted without ARF, 141 (16%) developed this syndrome in the ICU. The independent risk factors for developing ARF were 64 years of age or older, longer time between hospital and ICU admission, unscheduled surgical or clinical reason for ICU admission, and severity of illness. Of the 984 patients with ARF, 475 (48%) died during the ICU stay. Independent prognostic factors for death were age older than 64 years, time between hospital and ICU admission of more than 4 days, history of hematologic malignancy or AIDS, the development of ARF in ICU, acute lung injury, and severity of illness. CONCLUSIONS: Acute respiratory failure represents a large percentage of all ICU patients, and the high mortality is related to some preventable factors such as the time to ICU admission.

Bedside estimation of recruitable alveolar collapse and hyperdistension by electrical impedance tomography.

OBJECTIVE: To present a novel algorithm for estimating recruitable alveolar collapse and hyperdistension based on electrical impedance tomography (EIT) during a decremental positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) titration. DESIGN: Technical note with illustrative case reports. SETTING: Respiratory intensive care unit. PATIENT: Patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. INTERVENTIONS: Lung recruitment and PEEP titration maneuver. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Simultaneous acquisition of EIT and X-ray computerized tomography (CT) data. We found good agreement (in terms of amount and spatial location) between the collapse estimated by EIT and CT for all levels of PEEP. The optimal PEEP values detected by EIT for patients 1 and 2 (keeping lung collapse <10%) were 19 and 17 cmH(2)O, respectively. Although pointing to the same non-dependent lung regions, EIT estimates of hyperdistension represent the functional deterioration of lung units, instead of their anatomical changes, and could not be compared directly with static CT estimates for hyperinflation. CONCLUSIONS: We described an EIT-based method for estimating recruitable alveolar collapse at the bedside, pointing out its regional distribution. Additionally, we proposed a measure of lung hyperdistension based on regional lung mechanics.

Adult respiratory distress syndrome due to fat embolism in the postoperative period following liposuction and fat grafting.

Fat embolism is defined as mechanical blockage of the vascular lumen by circulating fat globules. Although it primarily affects the lungs, it can also affect the central nervous system, retina, and skin. Fat embolism syndrome is a dysfunction of these organs caused by fat emboli. The most common causes of fat embolism and fat embolism syndrome are long bone fractures, although there are reports of its occurrence after cosmetic procedures. The diagnosis is made clinically, and treatment is still restricted to support measures. We report the case of a female patient who developed adult respiratory distress syndrome due to fat embolism in the postoperative period following liposuction and fat grafting. In this case, the patient responded well to alveolar recruitment maneuvers and protective mechanical ventilation. In addition, we present an epidemiological and pathophysiological analysis of fat embolism syndrome after cosmetic procedures.

Síndrome da angústia respiratória do adulto por embolia gordurosa no período pós-operatório de lipoaspiração e lipoenxertia / Adult respiratory distress syndrome due to fat embolism in the postoperative period following liposuction and fat grafting

A embolia gordurosa é definida como a ocorrência de bloqueio mecânico da luz vascular por gotículas circulantes de gordura. Acomete principalmente o pulmão, podendo afetar também o sistema nervoso central, a retina e a pele. A síndrome da embolia gordurosa é uma disfunção desses órgãos causada pelos êmbolos gordurosos. As causas mais comuns de embolia gordurosa e síndrome da embolia gordurosa são as fraturas de ossos longos, mas há relatos de sua ocorrência após procedimentos estéticos. O diagnóstico é clínico, e o tratamento ainda se restringe a medidas de suporte. Apresentamos o caso de uma paciente que evoluiu com síndrome da angústia respiratória do adulto por embolia gordurosa no período pós-operatório de lipoaspiração e lipoenxertia e respondeu bem às manobras de recrutamento alveolar e à ventilação mecânica protetora.Apresentamos também uma análise epidemiológica e fisiopatológica da síndrome da embolia gordurosa após procedimentos estéticos.

Fat embolism is defined as mechanical blockage of the vascular lumen by circulating fat globules. Although it primarily affects the lungs, it can also affect the central nervous system, retina, and skin. Fat embolism syndrome is a dysfunction of these organs caused by fat emboli. The most common causes of fat embolism and fat embolism syndrome are long bone fractures, although there are reports of its occurrence after cosmetic procedures. The diagnosis is made clinically, and treatment is still restricted to support measures. We report the case of a female patient who developed adult respiratory distress syndrome due to fat embolism in the postoperative period following liposuction and fat grafting. In this case, the patient responded well to alveolar recruitment maneuvers and protective mechanical ventilation. In addition, we present an epidemiological and pathophysiological analysis of fat embolism syndrome after cosmetic procedures.