ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: In the first wave, thrombotic complications were common in COVID-19 patients. It is unknown whether state-of-the-art treatment has resulted in less thrombotic complications in the second wave. METHODS: We assessed the incidence of thrombotic complications and overall mortality in COVID-19 patients admitted to eight Dutch hospitals between September 1st and November 30th 2020. Follow-up ended at discharge, transfer to another hospital, when they died, or on November 30th 2020, whichever came first. Cumulative incidences were estimated, adjusted for competing risk of death. These were compared to those observed in 579 patients admitted in the first wave, between February 24th and April 26th 2020, by means of Cox regression techniques adjusted for age, sex and weight. RESULTS: In total 947 patients with COVID-19 were included in this analysis, of whom 358 patients were admitted to the ICU; 144 patients died (15%). The adjusted cumulative incidence of all thrombotic complications after 10, 20 and 30 days was 12% (95% confidence interval (CI) 9.8-15%), 16% (13-19%) and 21% (17-25%), respectively. Patient characteristics between the first and second wave were comparable. The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for overall mortality in the second wave versus the first wave was 0.53 (95%CI 0.41-0.70). The adjusted HR for any thrombotic complication in the second versus the first wave was 0.89 (95%CI 0.65-1.2). CONCLUSIONS: Mortality was reduced by 47% in the second wave, but the thrombotic complication rate remained high, and comparable to the first wave. Careful attention to provision of adequate thromboprophylaxis is invariably warranted.
Subject(s)
COVID-19/complications , Pulmonary Embolism/etiology , Thrombosis/etiology , Venous Thromboembolism/etiology , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , COVID-19/mortality , Cohort Studies , Critical Illness/mortality , Female , Hospitalization , Humans , Incidence , Male , Middle Aged , Netherlands/epidemiology , Proportional Hazards Models , SARS-CoV-2/isolation & purificationABSTRACT
Covid-19 infection is now a pandemic disease. Most patients have mild symptoms without the need for hospitalization. On average, 5% of the COVID-19-positive patients have severe respiratory symptoms. We present 3 patients aged 45, 67 and 75 years, who were admitted to the ICU with severe respiratory symptoms. We describe the presentation of the COVID-19 patients on the emergency department, the development of the disease, and the treatment of these patients on the ICU.
Subject(s)
Betacoronavirus , Coronavirus Infections/therapy , Intensive Care Units , Pneumonia, Viral/therapy , Aged , COVID-19 , Hospitalization , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Netherlands , Pandemics , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
Selective pulmonary artery perfusion (SPAP) is a modality of regional chemotherapy first investigated in the 1950's. A number of studies in animal models documented pharmacokinetic superiority with high-dose local cytostatic drug concentrations when compared to intravenous administration. Blood flow occlusion of the pulmonary artery before or after drug injection results in further increase in local drug concentrations. Animal tumor models with sarcoma and coloncarcinoma confirm anti-tumour efficacy in cytostatic SPAP. In human investigations, feasibility and safety of chemotherapeutic SPAP in humans has been documented. Recent encouraging investigations of SPAP with gemcitabine and blood flow occlusion in a porcine model emphasize the need for further investigations in humans with pulmonary malignancies for safety and efficacy assessments.