The impact on thirty day readmissions for patients hospitalized for acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease admitted to an observation unit versus an inpatient medical unit: A retrospective observational study.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate the utility of an Observation Unit (OU) in management of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) and to identify the clinical characteristics of patients readmitted within 30-days for AECOPD following index admission to the OU or inpatient floor from the OU. METHODS: This is a retrospective observational study of patients admitted from January to December 2017 for AECOPD to an OU in an urban-based tertiary care hospital. Primary outcome was rate of 30-day readmission after admission for AECOPD for patients discharged from the OU versus inpatient service after failing OU management. Regression analyses were used to define risk factors. RESULTS: 163 OU encounters from 92 unique patients were included. There was a lower readmission rate (33%) for patients converted from OU to inpatient care versus patients readmitted after direct discharge from the OU (44%). Patients with 30-day readmissions were more likely to be undomiciled, with history of congestive heart failure (CHF), pulmonary embolism (PE), or had previous admissions for AECOPD. Patients with >6 annual OU visits for AECOPD had higher rates of substance abuse, psychiatric diagnosis, and prior PE; when these patients were excluded, the 30-day readmission rate decreased to 13.5%. CONCLUSION: Patients admitted for AECOPD with a history of PE, CHF, prior AECOPD admissions, and socioeconomic deprivation are at higher risk of readmission and should be prioritized for direct inpatient admission. Further prospective studies should be conducted to determine the clinical impact of this approach on readmission rates.

Characteristics and Outcomes of Tracheostomized Patients With and Without COVID-19.

Outcomes of tracheostomized patients with COVID-19 are seldomly investigated with conflicting evidence from the existing literature. OBJECTIVES: To create a study evaluating the impact of COVID-19 on tracheostomized patients by comparing clinical outcomes and weaning parameters in COVID-19 positive and negative cohorts. DESIGN SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: A retrospective observational cohort study of 604 tracheostomized patients hospitalized in 16 ICUs in New York City between March 9, 2020, and September 8, 2021. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Patients were stratified into two cohorts: 398 COVID-19 negative (COVID-ve) and 206 COVID-19 positive (COVID+ve) patients. Clinical characteristics, outcomes, and weaning parameters (first pressure support [PS], tracheostomy collar [TC], speech valve placement, and decannulation) were analyzed. RESULTS: COVID+ve had fewer comorbidities including coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, malignancy, chronic kidney disease, liver disease, and HIV (p < 0.05). Higher Fio2 (53% vs 44%), positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) (7.15 vs 5.69), Pco2 (45.8 vs 38.2), and lower pH (7.41 vs 7.43) were observed at the time of tracheostomy in COVID+ve (p < 0.005). There was no statistical difference in post-tracheostomy complication rates. Longer time from intubation to tracheostomy (15.90 vs 13.60 d; p = 0.002), tracheostomy to first PS (2.87 vs 1.80 d; p = 0.005), and TC placement (11.07 vs 4.46 d; p < 0.001) were seen in COVID+ve. However, similar time to speech valve placement, decannulation, and significantly lower 1-year mortality (23.3% vs 36.7%; p = 0.001) with higher number of discharges to long-term acute care hospital (LTACH) (23.8% vs 13.6%; p = 0.015) were seen in COVID+ve. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Patients with COVID-19 required higher Fio2 and PEEP ventilatory support at the time of tracheostomy, with no observed change in complication rates. Despite longer initial weaning period with PS or TC, similar time to speech valve placement or decannulation with significantly lower mortality and higher LTACH discharges suggest favorable outcome in COVID-19 positive patients. Higher ventilatory support requirements and prolonged weaning should not be a deterrent to pursuing a tracheostomy.

Predictors of pulmonary embolism in hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: High venous thromboembolism (VTE) rates have been described in critically ill patients with COVID-19. We hypothesized that specific clinical characteristics may help differentiate hypoxic COVID-19 patients with and without a diagnosed pulmonary embolism (PE). METHODS: We performed a retrospective observational case-control study of 158 consecutive patients hospitalized in one of four Mount Sinai Hospitals with COVID-19 between March 1 and May 8, 2020, who received a Chest CT Pulmonary Angiogram (CTA) to diagnose a PE. We analyzed demographic, clinical, laboratory, radiological, treatment characteristics, and outcomes in COVID-19 patients with and without PE. RESULTS: 92 patients were negative (CTA-), and 66 patients were positive for PE (CTA+). CTA + had a longer time from symptom onset to admission (7 days vs. 4 days, p = 0.05), higher admission biomarkers, notably D-dimer (6.87 vs. 1.59, p < 0.0001), troponin (0.015 vs. 0.01, p = 0.01), and peak D-dimer (9.26 vs. 3.8, p = 0.0008). Predictors of PE included time from symptom onset to admission (OR = 1.11, 95% CI 1.03-1.20, p = 0.008), and PESI score at the time of CTA (OR = 1.02, 95% CI 1.01-1.04, p = 0.008). Predictors of mortality included age (HR 1.13, 95% CI 1.04-1.22, p = 0.006), chronic anticoagulation (13.81, 95% CI 1.24-154, p = 0.03), and admission ferritin (1.001, 95% CI 1-1.001, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In 158 hospitalized COVID-19 patients with respiratory failure evaluated for suspected PE, 40.8% patients had a positive CTA. We identified clinical predictors of PE and mortality from PE, which may help with early identification and reduction of PE-related mortality in patients with COVID-19.

A novel evidence-based predictor tool for hospitalization and length of stay: insights from COVID-19 patients in New York city.

Predictive models for key outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can optimize resource utilization and patient outcome. We aimed to design and internally validate a web-based calculator predictive of hospitalization and length of stay (LOS) in a large cohort of COVID-19-positive patients presenting to the Emergency Department (ED) in a New York City health system. The study cohort consisted of consecutive adult (> 18 years) patients presenting to the ED of Mount Sinai Health System hospitals between March 2020 and April 2020, diagnosed with COVID-19. Logistic regression was utilized to construct predictive models for hospitalization and prolonged (> 3 days) LOS. Discrimination was evaluated using area under the receiver operating curve (AUC). Internal validation with bootstrapping was performed, and a web-based calculator was implemented. From 5859 patients, 65% were hospitalized. Independent predictors of hospitalization and extended LOS included older age, chronic kidney disease, elevated maximum temperature, and low minimum oxygen saturation (p < 0.001). Additional predictors of hospitalization included male sex, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, and diabetes. AUCs of 0.881 and 0.770 were achieved for hospitalization and LOS, respectively. Elevated levels of CRP, creatinine, and ferritin were key determinants of hospitalization and LOS (p < 0.05). A calculator was made available under the following URL: https://covid19-outcome-prediction.shinyapps.io/COVID19_Hospitalization_Calculator/ . This study yielded internally validated models that predict hospitalization risk in COVID-19-positive patients, which can be used to optimize resource allocation. Predictors of hospitalization and extended LOS included older age, CKD, fever, oxygen desaturation, elevated C-reactive protein, creatinine, and ferritin.

Bilateral vocal cord paralysis in Miller Fisher syndrome/Guillain-Barre overlap syndrome and a review of previous case series.

Miller Fisher syndrome (MFS), an acute demyelinating neuropathy, is characterised by a triad of areflexia, ataxia and ophthalmoplegia. It is the most common variant of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS). In about 5.6%-7.1% of MFS cases, patients also suffer from progressive motor weakness of the limbs. This condition is termed MFS/GBS overlap syndrome. Whether it is in MFS or GBS, bilateral vocal cord paralysis (BVCP) is a rare manifestation with limited cases reported in the literature. We report an extremely rare case where a 65-year-old man developed BVCP in an MFS/GBS overlap syndrome. We have also reviewed previous case reports in the literature for comparison.