Hypercapnia from Physiology to Practice.

Acute hypercapnic ventilatory failure is becoming more frequent in critically ill patients. Hypercapnia is the elevation in the partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) above 45 mmHg in the bloodstream. The pathophysiological mechanisms of hypercapnia include the decrease in minute volume, an increase in dead space, or an increase in carbon dioxide (CO2) production per sec. They generate a compromise at the cardiovascular, cerebral, metabolic, and respiratory levels with a high burden of morbidity and mortality. It is essential to know the triggers to provide therapy directed at the primary cause and avoid possible complications.

Neuromuscular blocking agents in the intensive care unit.

Neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBA) are a controversial therapeutic option in the approach to the critically ill patient. They are not innocuous, and the available evidence does not support their routine use in the intensive care unit. If necessary, monitoring protocols should be established to avoid residual relaxation, adverse effects, and associated complications. This narrative review discusses the current indications for the use of NMBA and the different tools for monitoring blockade in the intensive care unit. However, expanding the use of NMBA in critical settings merits the development of prospective studies.

Intensive Care Unit Acquired Weakness Associated With Acute Severe Asthma.

Context: Neuromuscular complications in the intensive care unit (ICU) are frequent, multifactorial, and clinically difficult to recognize during their acute phase. The physical examination is the starting point for identification. Case Report: We present a patient with a history of poorly controlled asthma who was admitted to the ICU with status asthmaticus. After 4 days of being under ventilatory support, he developed muscle weakness. The diagnostic approach made it possible to establish myopathic and neurological compromise through electrophysiology studies. Conclusions: ICU-acquired weakness (ICUAW) can bring long-term consequences, early identification, and management, as well as preventive measures, are essential to minimize chronic disability and morbidity.

Aspergilosis pulmonar asociada a COVID-19: reporte de caso / Pulmonary aspergillosis associated with COVID-19: case report

La aspergilosis pulmonar clásicamente se ha considerado como una enfermedad de paciente inmunocomprometido (neoplasias hematológicas, neutropenia severa, trasplante de órgano sólido, virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana/síndrome de inmunodeficiencia adquirida VIH/SIDA) o que afecta a pacientes inmunocompetentes, pero críticamente enfermos. Sin embargo, durante la pandemia por COVID-19 el comportamiento de las infecciones fúngicas ha cambiado, siendo observada con mayor frecuencia en la actualidad. Se presenta el caso de un paciente masculino de 20 años, procedente de la Isla de San Andrés, al norte de Colombia, sin patología previa conocida, ingresa al servicio de urgencias cursando con cuadro de tres días de fiebre y tos seca. A su ingreso el paciente está consciente, con fluctuación de la atención, taquicardia y febril. Examen pulmonar y abdominal sin alteraciones. Paraclínicos con leucocitosis, neutrofilia, prueba rápida para COVID-19 negativa y NS1 para dengue negativa. La radiografía de tórax en proyección lateral evidencia infiltrados intersticiales y en tomografía, lesiones nodulares de bordes mal definidos algunos espiculados, con infiltrado intersticial vecino (depósitos tumoral o infeccioso). Resultado de RT- PCR SARSCoV-2 positivo: por hallazgos radiológicos se realiza biopsia pulmonar por toracoscopia, cuyo estudio histológico revela nódulos múltiples y estructuras fúngicas en su interior compatible con aspergillus. Se inicia terapia de primera línea con voriconazol y egreso asintomático al completar tratamiento. Se concluye que las infecciones fúngicas representan un reto diagnóstico, su retraso, por falta de sospecha en el paciente inmunocompetente impacta en la morbimortalidad. El aumento de las infecciones fúngicas durante la pandemia, obliga a considerar la aspergilosis como diagnóstico diferencial en paciente con COVID-19, con fiebre persistente y hallazgos radiológicos atípicos.

Pulmonary Aspergillosis has classically been considered a disease of immunocompromised patients (hematological neoplasms, severe neutropenia, solid organ transplantation, human immunodeficiency virus / acquired immunodeficiency syndrome HIV / AIDS) or immunocompetent but critically ill patients. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic the behavior of fungal infections has changed, being observed more frequently today. A case of 20-year-old male patient, from San Andrés islands, north of Colombia; With no known prior pathology, he was admitted to the emergency department with a 3-day fever and dry cough. On admission, a conscious patient with fluctuating attention, tachycardia and fever. Pulmonary and abdominal examination without alterations. Paraclinical patients with leukocytosis, neutrophilia, rapid test for covid19 negative and NS1 for dengue negative. The chest X-ray in lateral projection shows interstitial infiltrates and in tomography as nodular lesions with poorly defined edges, some spiculated, with neighboring interstitial infiltrate (tumor or infectious deposits). A positive SARS COV 2 RT-PCR result, due to radiological findings, a lung biopsy was performed by thoracoscopy, the histological study of which revealed multiple nodules fungal structures inside compatible with aspergillus. First-line therapy with voriconazole was started, asymptomatic discharge upon completion of treatment. As conclusion fungal infections represent a diagnostic challenge, their delay, due to lack of suspicion in the immunocompetent patient, impacts morbidity and mortality. The increase in fungal infections during the COVID-19 pandemic makes it necessary to consider aspergillosis as a differential diagnosis in a patient with COVID-19, with persistent fever and atypical radiological findings.

Changes in Oxygenation and Clinical Outcomes with Awake Prone Positioning in Patients with Suspected COVID-19 In Low-Resource Settings: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to describe the use of awake prone positioning (APP) and conventional oxygen therapy (COT) in patients with suspected coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and respiratory failure in a limited-resource setting. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of hospitalized patients aged ≥18 years old who were placed in an awake prone position due to hypoxemic respiratory failure and suspected COVID-19. The patients were selected from a tertiary center in Cartagena, Colombia, between March 1, 2020, and August 31, 2020. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory variables were collated, and all the variables were compared between the groups. RESULTS: The median age of the participants was 63 (IQR, 48.8-73) years (survivors: 59 [IQR, 43.568] years vs. non-survivors: 70 [IQR, 63-78] years, P ≤ .001). Of the 1470 patients admitted for respiratory symptoms, 732 (49.8%) were hospitalized for more than 24 h, and 212 patients developed respiratory failure and required COT and APP (overall hospital mortality, 34% [73/212]). The mean rank difference in PaO2/FiO2 before and after APP was higher in the survivors than in the non-survivors (201.1-252.6, mean rank difference = 51.5, P = .001 vs. 134.1-172.4, mean rank difference = 38.28, P = .24, respectively). CONCLUSION: While using COT in conjunction with APP can improve respiratory failure in patients with suspected COVID-19 in low-resource settings, persistent hypoxemia after APP can identify patients with higher mortality risk. More evidence is needed to establish the role of this strategy.

Derrame pericárdico y taponamiento cardiaco / Pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade

Resumen El derrame pericárdico es la acumulación de más de 50 ml de líquido en el espacio pericárdico. La etiología es muy diversa ya que puede ser de causa idiopática o deberse a enfermedades primarias del pericardio, como las pericarditis de cualquier etiología, o por enfermedades sistémicas como el infarto agudo de miocardio y la rotura cardiaca contenida; o por cirugía cardiaca, hemorragia intrapericárdica, enfermedades metabólicas, transudación serosa (anasarca) y quilopericardio, entre otras. El estudio diagnóstico del derrame pericárdico siempre debe guiarse por la epidemiología local y requiere alta sospecha clínica. Cuando el derrame pericárdico se complica con taponamiento cardiaco, constituye una emergencia médica que requiere identificación e intervención inmediatas. Se exponen cuatro casos de pacientes con derrame pericárdico asociado a tuberculosis, mixedema, uremia y lupus, quienes desarrollaron taponamiento cardiaco.

Abstract Pericardial effusion is defined as the accumulation of more than 50 ml of fluid in the pericardiac space. Its origin is very diverse since it can be an idiopathic cause or be due to primary diseases of the pericardium, such as pericarditis of any origin. It can also be due to systemic diseases, such as acute myocardial infarction and contained cardiac rupture, as well as due to heart surgery, intra-pericardiac haemorrhage, metabolic diseases, serous transudation (anasarca), and chylopericardium, among others. The diagnostic work-up of pericardial effusion must always be guided by the local epidemiology, and requires a high clinical suspicion. When the pericardial effusion is complicated by cardiac tamponade, it constitutes a medical emergency that requires immediate identification and treatment. Four cases are presented on patients with pericardiac effusions associated with tuberculosis, myxoedema, uraemia, and lupus, and who developed cardiac tamponade.