French multicentre observational study on SARS-CoV-2 infections intensive care initial management: the FRENCH CORONA study.

AIM: Describing acute respiratory distress syndrome patterns, therapeutics management, and outcomes of ICU COVID-19 patients and indentifying risk factors of 28-day mortality. METHODS: Prospective multicentre, cohort study conducted in 29 French ICUs. Baseline characteristics, comorbidities, adjunctive therapies, ventilatory support at ICU admission and survival data were collected. RESULTS: From March to July 2020, 966 patients were enrolled with a median age of 66 (interquartile range 58-73) years and a median SAPS II of 37 (29-48). During the first 24 h of ICU admission, COVID-19 patients received one of the following respiratory supports: mechanical ventilation for 559 (58%), standard oxygen therapy for 228 (24%) and high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) for 179 (19%) patients. Overall, 721 (75%) patients were mechanically ventilated during their ICU stay. Prone positioning and neuromuscular blocking agents were used in 494 (51%) and 460 (48%) patients, respectively. Bacterial co-infections and ventilator-associated pneumonia were diagnosed in 79 (3%) and 411 (43%) patients, respectively. The overall 28-day mortality was 18%. Age, pre-existing comorbidities, severity of respiratory failure and the absence of antiviral therapy on admission were identified as independent predictors of 28-day outcome. CONCLUSION: Severity of hypoxaemia on admission, older age (> 70 years), cardiovascular and renal comorbidities were associated with worse outcome in COVID-19 patients. Antiviral treatment on admission was identified as a protective factor for 28-day mortality. Ascertaining the outcomes of critically ill COVID-19 patients is crucial to optimise hospital and ICU resources and provide the appropriate intensity level of care.

Hakim-Adams Syndrome: An Unusual Cause of Reversible Postoperative Coma.

We report the case of a 72-year-old patient presenting in our ICU with persistent postoperative coma in a context of recent unexplored neurological dysfunction. Detailed medical history taking from the patient's family revealed he recently suffered from gait instability, urinary incontinence, and slight cognitive impairment. These constituted the clinical triad of normal pressure hydrocephalus syndrome. The presence of normal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure and distinctive radiological findings confirmed the diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus or Hakims-Adams syndrome. After CSF volume subtraction (soustraction), the patient recovered a normal level of consciousness and was successfully weaned from mechanical ventilation. Normal pressure hydrocephalus should be included in the differential diagnosis of delayed postoperative arousal, especially in the elderly.