High-Flow Nasal Cannula and Standard Oxygen in Acute Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure Due to COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: The evidence regarding benefits of high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) in patients with COVID-19 is controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of HFNC in comparison with standard oxygen therapy on the frequency of endotracheal intubation at 28 d in subjects with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF) secondary to SARS-CoV-2 infection. METHODS: A retrospective, age- and sex-matched-paired, cohort study was conducted in subjects with moderate-to-severe AHRF. Intervention group was treated with HFNC, and control group was treated with standard oxygen therapy. Baseline characteristics and clinical evolution were analyzed. Mantel-Haenszel test was used for categorical variables. Paired samples Wilcoxon test was used for quantitative variables. Multivariate analysis was performed using conditional multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: Eighty-four subjects were included. The median time from admission to progression of oxygen therapy to FIO2 ≥ 0.5 or HFNC was 1 (interquartile range [IQR] 0-3) d. PaO2 /FIO2 at the time of oxygen therapy progression showed a median of 150.5 (IQR 100.0-170.0) for the entire sample and was lower in HFNC group compared with control group (median 135 [IQR 96-162] vs median 158 [IQR 132-174], respectively, P = .02). Endotracheal intubation at 28 d was observed in 54.8% HFNC and 73.8% standard oxygen (unadjusted odds ratio 0.38 [95% CI 0.13-1.07], P = .069). In the multivariate analysis, presence of dyspnea at hospital admission, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score, and PaO2 /FIO2 at time of progression of oxygen therapy to FIO2 ≥ 0.5 was identified as confounding factors for the association between the intervention group and the outcome. Use of HFNC was not an independent predictor of endotracheal intubation frequency after adjusting confounders (odds ratio 0.26 [95% CI 0.04-1.51], P = .13). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, HFNC therapy in subjects with AHRF secondary to COVID-19 was not an independent predictor of endotracheal intubation, compared with standard oxygen therapy, after adjusting for confounders.

[Vasculitis of the celiac artery as a presentation of Takayasu's arteritis]. / Vasculitis del tronco celíaco como presentación de arteritis de Takayasu.

Takayasu arteritis is an idiopathic and chronic granulomatous vasculitis manifested in the form of panaortitis, of unknown etiology, even though an autoimmune origin is postulated. It is progressive and generates, in adults and children, segmental stenosis, occlusion, dilation and / or aneurysms. Isolated gastrointestinal vasculitis without systemic involvement is rare. This case leads us to take into account the atypical abdominal manifestation of Takayasu arteritis in the differential diagnosis of a frequent symptom, such as epigastralgia, and to highlight the role currently played by non-invasive imaging methods for its diagnosis.

La arteritis de Takayasu es una vasculitis idiopática y granulomatosa crónica que se manifiesta en forma de panaortitis, de etiología desconocida, aunque se postula un origen autoinmune. Es progresiva y genera, tanto en adultos como en niños, estenosis segmentaria, oclusión, dilatación y/o aneurismas. La vasculitis aislada gastrointestinal sin afectación sistémica es rara. Este caso lleva a tener en cuenta la manifestación abdominal atípica de la arteritis de Takayasu en el diagnóstico diferencial de un síntoma frecuente, como la epigastralgia, y a destacar el rol que ocupan en la actualidad los métodos de imágenes no invasivos para su diagnóstico.

Vasculitis del tronco celíaco como presentación de arteritis de Takayasu / Vasculitis of the celiac artery as a presentation of Takayasu's arteritis

La arteritis de Takayasu es una vasculitis idiopática y granulomatosa crónica que se manifiesta en forma de panaortitis, de etiología desconocida, aunque se postula un origen autoinmune. Es progresiva y genera, tanto en adultos como en niños, estenosis segmentaria, oclusión, dilatación y/o aneurismas. La vasculitis aislada gastrointestinal sin afectación sistémica es rara. Este caso lleva a tener en cuenta la manifestación abdominal atípica de la arteritis de Takayasu en el diagnóstico diferencial de un síntoma frecuente, como la epigastralgia, y a destacar el rol que ocupan en la actualidad los métodos de imágenes no invasivos para su diagnóstico.

Takayasu arteritis is an idiopathic and chronic granulomatous vasculitis manifested in the form of panaortitis, of unknown etiology, even though an autoimmune origin is postulated. It is progressive and generates, in adults and children, segmental stenosis, occlusion, dilation and / or aneurysms. Isolated gastrointestinal vasculitis without systemic involvement is rare. This case leads us to take into account the atypical abdominal manifestation of Takayasu arteritis in the differential diagnosis of a frequent symptom, such as epigastralgia, and to highlight the role currently played by non-invasive imaging methods for its diagnosis.