Pneumothorax Incidence with Normal Saline Instillation for Sealing the Needle Track After Computed Tomography-Guided Percutaneous Lung Biopsy.

PURPOSE: To determine whether instillation of normal saline solution for sealing the needle track reduces incidence of pneumothorax and chest tube placement after computed tomography-guided percutaneous lung biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 242 computed tomography-guided percutaneous lung biopsies performed at a single institution were retrospectively reviewed, including 93 biopsies in which the needle track was sealed by instillation of 3-5 ml of normal saline solution during needle withdrawal (water seal group) and 149 biopsies without sealing (control group). Patient and lesion characteristics, procedure-specific variables, pneumothorax and chest tube placement rates were recorded. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were comparable in both groups. There was a statistically significant decrease in the pneumothorax rate (19.4% [18/93] vs. 40.9% [61/149]; p < 0.001) and a numerically lower chest tube placement rate without significant reduction (4.3% [4/93] vs. 10.7% [16/149]; p = 0.126) with using normal saline instillation for sealing the needle track versus not using sealant material. Using a multiple logistic regression analysis, using normal saline instillation to seal the needle track, having a senior radiologist as operator of the procedure and putting patients in prone position were significantly associated with a decreased risk of pneumothorax. The presence of emphysema along the needle track was significantly associated with an increased risk of pneumothorax. No complication was observed due to normal saline injection. CONCLUSION: Normal saline solution instillation for sealing the needle track after computed tomography-guided percutaneous lung biopsy is a simple, low-cost and safe technique resulted in significantly decreased pneumothorax occurrence and a numerically lower chest tube placement rate, and might help to reduce both hospitalization risks and costs for the healthcare system. Level of evidence 3 Non-controlled retrospective cohort study.

Evaluation of the Post-COVID-19 Functional Status (PCFS) Scale in a cohort of patients recovering from hypoxemic SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia.

INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 sequelae are numerous and multisystemic, and how to evaluate those symptomatic patients is a timely issue. Klok et al proposed the Post-COVID-19 Functional Status (PCFS) Scale as an easy tool to evaluate limitations related to persistent symptoms. Our aim was to analyse PCFS Scale ability to detect functional limitations and its correlation with quality of life in a cohort of patients, 2-9 months after hospitalisation for COVID-19 hypoxemic pneumonia. METHODS: PCFS Scale was evaluated in 121 patients together with quality of life and dyspnoea questionnaires, pulmonary function tests and CT scans. RESULTS: We observed a high correlation with multiple questionnaires (Short Form-36, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, modified Medical Research Council, end Borg Six-Minute Walk Test), making the PCFS Scale a quick and global tool to evaluate functional limitations related to various persistent symptoms following COVID-19 pneumonia. DISCUSSION: The PCFS Scale seems to be a suitable instrument to screen for patients who will require careful follow-up after COVID-19 hypoxemic pneumonia even in the absence of pulmonary sequelae.

Effect of everolimus on multifocal micronodular pneumocyte hyperplasia in tuberous sclerosis complex.

Multifocal micronodular pneumocyte hyperplasia (MMPH) is a benign proliferation of alveolar type II cells presenting as multiple pulmonary nodules at chest imaging, which is frequently seen in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). We report a case of a woman with TSC and MMPH who received everolimus, a mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor, for the treatment of a subependymal giant cell astrocytoma (SEGA). After 3 months of therapy, a remarkable decrease in density of all pulmonary MMPH lesions was observed, without any change in size. This shows that everolimus is active on MMPH similarly to its effects on SEGA, renal angiomyolipomas, and pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis in TSC, and suggests that the dysregulated activation of mTOR which characterizes TSC also plays a role in the pathogenesis of MMPH.

Pneumocystis pneumonia after lung transplantation: A retrospective multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Lung transplantation (LT) is an identified risk factor for Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP). However, PCP management and outcomes remain poorly described in LT recipients and PCP incidence is rarely documented in this population. METHODS: PCP episodes that occurred in 9 French LT centers between January 2010 and October 2017 were included in this analysis. PCP was defined as compatible clinical and radiologic findings associated with fungal identification. RESULTS: Forty-seven PCP were included. The annual incidence rate of PCP was 2.7/1000 patients/year. Patients had a mean age of 53 ± 14 years. Median time from LT was 2.4 ± 3.0 years. Sixty-five percent of patients were not on prophylaxis at the time of PCP while all patients were receiving steroids at the time of PCP. Diagnosis was obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage in 91% (direct examination: 47%, PCR: 62%). The majority of patients were treated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (78%). Fifty-five percent of patients were hospitalized in ICU for organ failure (for which non-invasive ventilation was used for 21% and mechanical ventilation for 23%). Mortality rate was 15% at day 28 and reached 23% at day 90. Mortality was associated with decreased FEV1, everolimus treatment, Pseudomonas aeruginosa coinfection, fungal coinfection (especially Aspergillus sp.), mechanical ventilation and vasopressors. PCP primary prophylaxis, steroid modification during PCP and the number of immunosuppressive molecules were not associated with mortality. CONCLUSION: PCP is associated with a high mortality in LT. Our data suggest the need for a lifetime PCP prophylaxis in LT recipients. The benefit of adjuvant steroids remains unclear.