Early trends in ECMO mortality during the first quarters of 2019 and 2020: Could we have predicted the onset of the pandemic?

OBJECTIVE: To compare mortality trends in patients requiring Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) support between the first quarters of 2019 and 2020 and determine whether these trends might have predicted the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS)-Cov-2 pandemic in the United States. METHODS: We analyzed 5% Medicare claims data at aggregate, state, hospital, and encounter levels using MS-DRG (Medicare Severity-Diagnosis Related Group) codes for ECMO, combining state-level data with national census data. Necessity and sufficiency relations associated with change in mortality between the 2 years were modeled using qualitative comparative analysis (QCA). Multilevel, generalized linear modeling was used to evaluate mortality trends. RESULTS: Based on state-level data, there was a 3.36% increase in mortality between 2019 and 2020. Necessity and sufficiency evaluation of aggregate data at state and institutional levels did not identify any association or combinations of risk factors associated with this increase in mortality. However, multilevel and generalized linear models using disaggregated patient-level data to evaluate institution mortality and patient death, identified statistically significant differences between the first (p = .019) and second (p = .02) months of the 2 years, the first and second quarters (p < .001 and p = .042, respectively), and the first 6 months (p < .001) of 2019 and 2020. CONCLUSION: Mortality in ECMO patients increased significantly during the first quarter of 2020 and may have served as an early warning of the SARS-Cov-2 pandemic. Granular data shared in real-time may be used to better predict public health threats.

Variations in mortality in Medicare recipients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

BACKGROUND: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a rescue modality against severe cardiac and pulmonary compromise. We sought to assess variation in mortality and associated environmental and infrastructural predictors among Medicare beneficiaries on ECMO. METHODS: We used Medicare claims data to evaluate hospitalizations between 2017 and 2019 during which beneficiaries required ECMO. The primary outcome of interest was mortality. We evaluated the influence on mortality of Medicare Case Mix Index (CMI), Medicare Wage Index, hospital size, ECMO cannulations, cardiology volume, region, and gender and modeled necessity and sufficiency relations involving ECMO volume, hospital size, cardiology volume, US region, and the mortality index through qualitative comparative analysis (QCA). RESULTS: 5368 ECMO cases were performed at 306 hospitals. Compared to institutions with a mortality index equal to or below 2, those above this threshold had statistically significant higher number of beds, cardiology volumes, and lower survival percentages (p < 0.05). Moreover, we observed a smaller proportion of institutions with an ECMO volume < 20 (78.3% vs 63.4%), which had mortality index > 2. The QCA analysis indicated that low cardiology volume and central/east location are necessary but not sufficient conditions for a mortality index above 2. CONCLUSION: Trends in mortality are influenced by prevailing socioeconomic, utilization, infrastructural characteristics, and volume. As such, ECMO mortality may be more accurately predicted by models that account for more factors than clinical parameters alone.

Cannulate, extubate, ambulate approach for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: We compared outcomes in patients with severe COVID-19 versus non-COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) managed using a dynamic, goal-driven approach to venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). METHODS: We performed a retrospective, single-center analysis of our institutional ECMO registry using data from 2017 to 2021. We used Kaplan-Meier plots, Cox proportional hazard models, and propensity score analyses to evaluate the association of COVID-19 status (COVID-19-related ARDS vs non-COVID-19 ARDS) and survival to decannulation, discharge, tracheostomy, and extubation. We also conducted subgroup analyses to compare outcomes with the use of extracorporeal cytoreductive techniques (CytoSorb [CytoSorbents Corp] and plasmapheresis). RESULTS: The sample comprised 128 patients, 50 with COVID-19 and 78 with non-COVID-19 ARDS. Advancing age was associated with decreased probability of survival to decannulation (P = .04). Compared with the non-COVID-19 ARDS group, patients with COVID-19 had a greater probability of survival to extubation (P < .01) and comparable survival to discharge (P = .14). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with COVID-19 managed with ECMO had comparable outcomes as patients with non-COVID ARDS. A strategy of early extubation and ambulation might be a safe and effective strategy to improve outcomes and survival, even for patients with severe COVID-19.

Quality of Life Measurement for Adolescent Patients with Sinonasal Symptoms.

OBJECTIVES: To validate each of the sino-nasal outcome test (SNOT-22) and the sinus and nasal quality of life (SN5) surveys for the adolescent population defined as 12 to 18 years old, and to determine if they correlate in regard to reports of sinonasal symptoms and quality of life. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: Adolescent patients, age 12 to 18 years old, presenting to our otolaryngology clinic between August 2020 and June 2021 were asked to fill both the SNOT-22 and the SN5 forms. Demographics and comorbidities were reviewed. Patients recruited were then divided into a sinonasal cohort (those with chronic sinonasal symptoms) and a control cohort (those who did not have any sinonasal disorders at time of visit). RESULTS: One hundred fifteen patients completed both surveys, 80 patients in the sinonasal cohort and 35 patients in the control cohort. Average age was 14.9 years, and 49.6% were female. Mean SNOT-22 and SN5 scores were significantly higher in the sinonasal cohort as compared with the control cohort which confirmed validity of both surveys for the adolescents. Good test-retest reliability for both surveys was obtained (r = 0.76 for SNOT-22, and r = 0.64 for SN5). SNOT-22 and SN5 scores correlated well in both the sinonasal cohort (r = 0.63, p < 0.0001) and the control cohort (r = 0.61, p = 0.0003). Both surveys strongly predicted chronic sinonasal disorders with an odds ratio of 2.5 for SNOT-22 and 2.2 for SN5. CONCLUSION: Both instruments can be used to study the outcome of treatment for sinonasal disorders in adolescent patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 133:1052-1058, 2023.

Association between vitamin D levels in early pregnancy and gestational diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: This meta-analysis aimed to pool all the available data to provide a well-powered assessment of the role of maternal Vitamin D levels in developing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) because already published studies evaluating this association are small in sample size and yielded conflicting findings. Material and Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies was performed. We searched electronic databases (PubMed and Cochrane Central) from inception to April 2021 for published and unpublished observational studies that determined the association between the reduction of Vitamin D levels and the risk of developing GDM in pregnant women. Results from studies were pooled as mean ± standard deviation (SD) and odds ratios (OR) using the random-effects model. Results: Forty-four studies, consisting of 37,838 pregnant women were included in this meta-analysis. Dichotomous studies showed a significant association between maternal Vitamin D deficiency and increased risk of GDM (OR = 1.38; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.21-1.57; P < 0.00001). Studies with continuous data also showed a significant association between maternal Vitamin D deficiency and the risk of developing GDM (weighted mean difference (WMD): -5.14 nmol/L, 95% CI = -6.28 to -4.00; P < 0.00001). Moderate heterogeneity was also detected. Conclusion: In conclusion, all studies demonstrated that lower levels of maternal serum Vitamin D were associated with a higher risk of developing GDM in pregnancy.

Complications of primary pediatric endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis: A 25-year single surgeon experience.

Objective: To report our experience on the complications of primary pediatric endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). Methods: Case series of pediatric ESS performed from 1991 to 2016 on children who failed maximal medical therapy and/or adenoidectomy. Inclusion criteria were children (age <12 years old) who underwent primary ESS with or without adenoidectomy for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) after failed maximal medical therapy and/or adenoidectomy. All patients underwent maxillary antrostomy ± partial or total ethmoidectomy. Patients with complicated acute rhinosinusitis were excluded. Complications reviewed included: skull base injury and CSF leak, orbital injuries (blindness, orbital hemorrhage, emphysema, periorbital swelling and bruising, fat exposure), and bleeding requiring intervention. Results: A total of 352 patients underwent ESS between 1991 and 2016. There were no blindness or orbital hematoma reported, and no major nasal bleeding requiring intervention. The total number of complications was 31 (8.8%): 1 (0.3%) CSF leak, 3 (0.85%) orbital emphysema, 5 (1.4%) periorbital ecchymosis, and 22 (6.3%) lamina papyracea violation with orbital fat exposure. Conclusions: Complications of primary pediatric ESS can be rare dependent on surgeon's experience, the most common being orbital injury.Level of evidence: 4.