The value of tracheostomy of critically ill COVID-19 patients - A multicentral study.

PURPOSE: Tracheostomy is an aerosol-generating procedure, thus performing it during the COVID-19 pandemic arises considerations such as the most appropriate timing and the patients to whom it is suitable. Medical teams lack sufficient data to assist determining whether or not to conduct tracheostomy, its short- and long-term implications are not fully understood. This study aims to shed light on the critically ill COVID-19 patients that require tracheostomy, and to investigate its value. METHODS: A retrospective multicentral case-control study of 157 hospitalized critically ill COVID-19 patients, among whom 30 patients went through tracheostomy and consisted of our study group. RESULTS: The mean age was similar between study and control groups (68.9 ± 12.7 years vs 70.5 ± 15.8 years, p = 0.57), as well as comorbidity prevalence (56.7% vs 67.7%, p = 0.25). Patients in the study group were hospitalized for longer duration until defined critically ill (5 ± 4.3 vs 3 ± 3.9 days; p = 0.01), until admitted to the intensive care unit (6 ± 6.6 vs 2.5 ± 3.7 days respectively; p = 0.005), and until discharged (24 ± 9.7 vs 10.7 ± 9.1 days, p < 0.001). Mortality rate was lower in the study group (30% vs 59.8%, p = 0.003). Kaplan Meier survival analysis revealed a statistically significant difference in survival time between groups (Log rank chi-sq = 20.91, p < 0.001) with mean survival time of 41 ± 3.1 days vs 21 ± 2.2 days. Survival was significantly longer in the study group (OR = 0.37, p = 0.004). CONCLUSION: Tracheostomy allows for more prolonged survival for gradually deteriorating critically ill COVID-19 patients. This should be integrated into the medical teams' considerations when debating whether or not to conduct tracheostomy.

Low FXIII activity levels in intensive care unit hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 infection is associated with a hypercoagulable state. Severe COVID-19 patients present with high plasma fibrinogen levels, continuous deposition of fibrin and the presence of microthrombi in their lungs, accompanied by significant fibrinolysis, resulting in high D-dimer levels. Due to the role of FXIII in fibrin crosslinking and clot stabilization, we analyzed its activity levels and dynamics in COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: FXIII levels were measured in thirty four COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the ICU and in fourteen non-severe COVID-19 patients. FVIII levels were measured for comparison. Laboratory data and clinical variables were recorded. RESULTS: The average FXIII activity level in 34 ICU hospitalized COVID-19 patients was 69.9±33 %, significantly lower compared to an average of 120±20.9 % FXIII activity in 14 non-severe COVID-19 patients. FXIII activity levels were below the low normal value (< 79 % FXIII activity) in 74 % of the ICU hospitalized COVID-19 patients. In contrast, high FVIII activity was measured among all severe COVID-19 patients. Consecutive measurements, performed in fourteen ICU hospitalized COVID-19 patients, pointed to a significant decrease in FXIII activity from the average of 85.7±28.2 %, (which is in the normal range), to an average of 68.0±20.4 %, below the low normal range, within 6.4±3.4 days of ICU hospitalization. Liver functions did not differentiate between patients with low and normal FXIII activity. No inhibitor to FXIII activity was found in the plasma of severe COVID-19 patients. Levels of FXIII-A antigen correlated with FXIII activity, and were low in severe COVID-19 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Low FXIII activity levels were found in COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the ICU, with gradual decline during their hospitalization. A mechanism of consumption may account for the low FXIII activity in these patients.

Respiratory complications after adenotonsillectomy in high-risk children with obstructive sleep apnea: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) occurs in 1%-4% of children; adenotonsillectomy is an effective treatment. Mortality/severe brain injury occurs among 0.6/10 000 adenotonsillectomies; in children, 60% are secondary to airway/respiratory events. Earlier studies identified that children aged <2 years, extremes of weight, with co-morbidities of craniofacial, neuromuscular, cardiac/respiratory disease, or severe OSA are at high risk for adverse post-operative respiratory events (AE). We aimed to: Firstly, investigate which risk factors were associated with AEs either in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), or both in this population. Secondly, we investigated factors associated with post-operative PICU AE despite no event in the PACU in order to predict need of post-operative PICU after their PACU stay. METHODS: Retrospective study of children admitted to the PICU after adenotonsillectomy between 08/2006-09/2015. Demographics, risk factors, and occurrence of AE (oxygen saturation <92, stridor, bronchospasm, pneumonia, pulmonary edema, re-intubation) were recorded. RESULTS: During the studied time period 4029 tonsil/adenoid procedures were performed in 3997 children. 179, admitted to the PICU post-operatively, met criteria for analysis. PICU AEs occurred in 59%: 44%-83% in any particular risk category. PACU AEs occurred in 42%. Of those with PACU events: 92% suffered AEs in the PICU; however, 35% of those without a PACU AE still suffered a PICU AE. CONCLUSIONS: Among high-risk children undergoing TA, absence of adverse events in PACU during a 2-hour observation period does not predict absence of subsequent AEs in the PICU.

BMI Modifies Increased Mortality Risk of Post-PCI STEMI Patients with AKI.

Mortality from acute ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) was significantly reduced with the introduction of percutaneous catheterization intervention (PCI) but remains high in patients who develop acute kidney injury (AKI). Previous studies found overweight to be protective from mortality in patients suffering from STEMI and AKI separately but not as they occur concurrently. This study aimed to establish the relationship between AKI and mortality in STEMI patients after PCI and whether body mass index (BMI) has a protective impact. Between January 2008 and June 2016, two thousand one hundred and forty-one patients with STEMI underwent PCI and were admitted to the Tel Aviv Medical Center Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. Their demographic, laboratory, and clinical data were collected and analyzed. We compared all-cause mortality in patients who developed AKI after PCI for STEMI and those who did not. In total, 178 patients (10%) developed AKI and had higher mortality (p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the relationship between AKI, BMI, and mortality. AKI was significantly associated with both 30-day and overall mortality, while BMI had a significant protective effect. Survival analysis found a significant difference in 30-day and overall survival between patients with and without AKI with a significant protective effect of BMI on survival at 30 days. AKI presents a major risk for mortality and poor survival after PCI for STEMI, yet a beneficial effect of increased BMI modifies it.

Central catheter tip migration in critically ill patients.

OBJECTIVES: Chest X-ray (CXR) is routinely required for assessing Central Venous Catheter (CVC) tip position after insertion, but there is limited data as to the movement of the tip location during hospitalization. We aimed to assess the migration of Central Venous Catheter (CVC) position, as a significant movement of catheter tip location may challenge some of the daily practice after insertion. DESIGN AND SETTINGS: Retrospective, single-center study, conducted in the Intensive Care and Cardiovascular Intensive Care Units in Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center 'Ichilov', Israel, between January and June 2019. PATIENTS: We identified 101 patients with a CVC in the Right Internal Jugular (RIJ) with at least two CXRs during hospitalization. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: For each patient, we measured the CVC tip position below the carina level in the first and all consecutive CXRs. The average initial tip position was 1.52 (±1.9) cm (mean±SD) below the carina. The maximal migration distance from the initial insertion position was 1.9 (±1) cm (mean±SD). During follow-up of 2 to 5 days, 92% of all subject's CVCs remained within the range of the Superior Vena Cava to the top of the right atrium, regardless of the initial positioning. CONCLUSIONS: CVC tip position can migrate significantly during a patient's early hospitalization period regardless of primary location, although for most patients it will remain within a wide range of the top of the right atrium and the middle of the Superior Vena Cava (SVC), if accepted as well-positioned.

In-hospital mortality of patients requiring unplanned postoperative ventilatory support: a multicenter observational study.

BACKGROUND: Most patients who are admitted non-intubated to surgery are extubated at surgery conclusion. Yet, 1-2% require unplanned postoperative ventilatory support. The outcome of these patients has not been thoroughly evaluated to date and is the focus of the present study. METHODS: Two-center observational study assessing characteristics and outcomes of surgical patients with unplanned mechanical ventilation during PACU stay between 2017 and 2019. Patients who arrived intubated to the operating room or were transferred directly to the intensive care unit (ICU) were excluded. The co-primary aims were to assess overall in-hospital mortality and to compare mortality between patients who were extubated in PACU and those who were discharged from PACU still intubated. The secondary aims were to compare postoperative respiratory infection and unplanned admissions to the ICU. Multivariate logistic regression was used to compare the groups and adjust for potential confounding variables. RESULTS: Overall, 698 patients were included. Of these, 135 died during hospital stay (mortality rate 19.3%, compared with 1.0% overall postoperative in-hospital mortality). Patients who still required ventilatory support at PACU discharge were significantly sicker, majority needed emergency surgery, and had more complicated surgical course compared to those who were extubated in PACU. In addition, their mortality rate [36% vs. 9%, adjusted OR (95% CI) 5.8 (3.8-8.8), p < 0.001], postoperative respiratory infection, and unplanned admission to ICU rates were also significantly higher. CONCLUSION: Unplanned postoperative mechanical ventilation is associated with noteworthy morbidity and mortality, with significantly higher rates in those of need for protracted (vs. short) mechanical ventilation. The remarkable mortality rate in patients extubated shortly after arriving to the PACU emphasizes the need for further studies to explore prompting factors and whether we can intervene to improve patients' outcome.

Comparison of Caudal Block vs. Penile Block vs. Intravenous Fentanyl Only in Children Undergoing Penile Surgery: A Prospective, Randomized, Double Blind Study.

Objectives: Penile surgery is commonly performed in pediatric surgical centers. There is no consensus regarding which analgesic method is most effective in controlling pain in these children. Methods: Consecutive children between 4 months and 16 years of age who underwent elective penile surgery were recruited. After inhaled induction of anesthesia, children were randomized to one of three methods of intraoperative analgesia: caudal block, IV fentanyl titrated to surgical response and spontaneous respiration, or dorsal penile nerve block (DPNB). All patients were given inhaled agents; fentanyl was added if either block was insufficient. Demographic data, analgesic use and pain scores were recorded by a blinded investigator in the PACU and ward. Pain scores, analgesic requirement, and recovery parameters of returning to normal activity level, eating, and voiding post-operatively for up to 4 days, were compared. Results: 116 children were recruited. Pain scores in the post anesthesia care unit were significantly lower in the DPNB and caudal block groups compared to the fentanyl group for the first 30 postoperative min. Pain scores and analgesic use were subsequently similar among the three groups for the rest of the study period. There was no statistical difference in time to eat, return to normal activity or in parental satisfaction scores among the groups. There was a trend toward earliest time to void in the DPNB group. Conclusions: Regional blocks most effectively controlled pain for 30 min after surgery. The choice of intra-operative analgesia protocol had no effect on later pain and recovery parameters.