Development of an institutional protocol for percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy in critically ill COVID-19 patients: Initial experience.

Background and Aims: Percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) may improve the outcome in critically ill COVID-19 patients on mechanical ventilation. However, the timing of performing tracheostomy may be controversial, and it is an aerosol-generating procedure with a potential risk of viral exposure to healthcare workers. Material and Methods: An operational protocol for performing PDT was made and subsequently followed in a designated COVID-19 ICU. Critically ill adult patients on mechanical ventilators who underwent PDT were included in this retrospective cohort study. Case files were retrospectively reviewed and patient characteristics, clinical outcome, and procedure-related details were noted. Results: Forty-one patients were included in the analysis. The median age was 49 (39-67) years, and 41.5% of patients were females. The median duration of mechanical ventilation before tracheostomy was 10 (8-16) days, and the median (IQR) PaO2/FiO2 ratio on the day of PDT was 155 (125-180) mm Hg. Further, 48.8% of patients had transient desaturation to SpO2 <90%, and 41.5% survived to ICU discharge. None of the health care providers involved in PDT developed any symptoms of COVID 19. Conclusion: This descriptive study demonstrates the feasibility, implementation, and apparent safety of the PDT protocol developed at our institution.

Association between baseline insulin resistance and hospital mortality in moderate-to-severe coronavirus disease 2019 patients without diabetes mellitus: An observational study.

Background: Insulin resistance is often implicated as a risk factor of cell-mediated immune dysfunction in sepsis patients and results in poor clinical outcome. However, it is unclear whether early insulin resistance is contributory to T-cell dysfunction and poor clinical outcome in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Methods: Adult patients with moderate-to-severe or critically ill COVID-19 infection were included in this study. Serum samples were collected at the time of diagnosis for fasting plasma glucose, serum insulin, serum cortisol, and serum glucagon measurements, and the Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) score was calculated. Results: One hundred and twenty-six subjects with a mean (standard deviation) age of 49.6 (16.3) years were recruited in this study, and 62.4% (78 of 125 patients) were male. HOMA-IR was a predictor of inhospital mortality with the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUROC) (95% confidence interval [CI] of 0.61 [0.49-0.73]). With a cutoff value of 1.91, sensitivity was 75.5% and specificity was 45.2%. Higher serum insulin was associated with higher survival with AUROC (95% CI) of 0.65 (0.53-0.76), and the best cutoff was 7.15, with a sensitivity and specificity of 62.1% and 64.5%. Serum cortisol was also a predictor of inhospital mortality with an AUROC (95% CI) of 0.67 (0.56-0.77). Conclusion: An independent association between baseline serum cortisol and poor outcome in moderate-to-severe COVID-19 patients was observed. Hyperglycemia and HOMA-IR can also predict poor outcome in these patients with some accuracy.

Management of giant adrenal pseudocyst in pregnancy - A unique approach and review of literature.

Pseudocysts of the adrenal gland are rare and in the majority of cases are non- functioning. They become symptomatic only when they are complicated by hormonal excess, rupture, haemorrhage or infection. Described here is a 26-year-old woman who developed an acute abdomen at 28 weeks of gestation due to a left adrenal haemorrhagic pseudocyst. A conservative approach was adopted, which was followed by elective term caesarean delivery with surgical intervention at the same time. The described case is unique in terms of strategizing timing and mode of management and thus minimizing the risk of prematurity and maternal morbidity associated with interval surgery.

Subphenotypes of SARS-CoV-2-Associated ARDS Overlap Each Other: A Retrospective Analysis.

Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus-associated pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) were often associated with hyperinflammation and elevation of several serum inflammatory markers but usually less than what is observed in non-coronavirus disease (COVID) ARDS. Elevated inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein, interleukin (IL)-6, etc., are associated with severe infection. This study identified subphenotypes of COVID-19 ARDS patients by latent profile analysis in a cohort of Indian patients. Methods Data of n = 233 adult Indian patients with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection admitted to a tertiary care teaching hospital were analyzed in this retrospective study. Only patients with acute respiratory failure (defined by partial pressure of oxygen/fraction of inspired oxygen ratio < 200 mm Hg) and chest X-ray showing bilateral infiltrates were included. Results The patients' mean (standard deviation) age was 53.3 (14.9) years, and 62% were male. A two subphenotypic model was formulated based on the lowest Bayesian information criterion. Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and serum IL-6 were latent variables in that model (entropy 0.91). The second phenotype (hyperinflammatory) had lower platelet count ( p = 0.02), higher serum creatinine ( p = 0.004), higher C-reactive protein ( p = 0.001), higher ferritin ( p < 0.001), and serum lactate dehydrogenase ( p = 0.009). Age-adjusted hospital mortality ( p = 0.007), duration of hospital stay ( p < 0.001), and duration of intensive care unit stay ( p < 0.001) were significantly higher in the second subphenotype. Conclusion Two distinct but overlapping subphenotypes were identified in SARS-CoV-2-associated respiratory failure. Hyperinflammatory subphenotype was associated with significantly poor short-term outcomes.

Correlates of physical disability in the elderly population of Rural North India (Haryana).

BACKGROUND: With the increase in life expectancy, the number of older persons is constantly rising. Disability rates for elderly people are also on the rise with an increase in the burden of chronic diseases depriving them of independence and the performance of activities of daily living. The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of physical disability and determine its correlates among elderly population of rural Haryana. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 322 elderly participants aged 60 years and above in the rural area of Haryana, India. Data pertaining to sociodemographic profile, self-reported chronic diseases/ailments, and disability assessment by means of Barthel and Katz index of activities of daily living was collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Overall, 21.4% and 18% elderly people had some form of disability according to the Barthel index and Katz index, respectively. With aging, disability increased and 52.5% of the elderly aged 75 years and above were found to have disability according to the Barthel's index. Females (P = 0.014), those who were currently not married (P = 0.001), currently unemployed (P = 0.001), and those with chronic diseases/ailments (P = 0.002), had significantly higher disability rates. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed age 75 years and above, current unemployment, and the presence of three or more chronic diseases/ailments as significant factors related to physical disability. CONCLUSION: Disability is associated with increasing age and an increase in the burden of chronic health ailments in the elderly. Consequently, there is the need to prioritize preventive, promotive, curative, and rehabilitative services for the geriatric population.