Incidence and risk factors of acute kidney injury in COVID-19 patients with and without acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) during the first wave of COVID-19: a systematic review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common among patients with COVID-19. However, AKI incidence may increase when COVID-19 patients develop acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Thus, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the incidence and risk factors of AKI, need for kidney replacement therapy (KRT), and mortality rate among COVID-19 patients with and without ARDS from the first wave of COVID-19. METHODS: The databases MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched using relevant keywords. Only articles available in English published between December 1, 2019, and November 1, 2020, were included. Studies that included AKI in COVID-19 patients with or without ARDS were included. Meta-analyses were conducted using random-effects models. RESULTS: Out of 618 studies identified and screened, 31 studies met the inclusion criteria. A total of 27,500 patients with confirmed COVID-19 were included. The overall incidence of AKI in patients with COVID-19 was 26% (95% CI 19% to 33%). The incidence of AKI was significantly higher among COVID-19 patients with ARDS than COVID-19 patients without ARDS (59% vs. 6%, p < 0.001). Comparing ARDS with non-ARDS COVID-19 cohorts, the need for KRT was also higher in ARDS cohorts (20% vs. 1%). The mortality among COVID-19 patients with AKI was significantly higher (Risk ratio = 4.46; 95% CI 3.31-6; p < 0.00001) than patients without AKI. CONCLUSION: This study shows that ARDS development in COVID-19-patients leads to a higher incidence of AKI and increased mortality rate. Therefore, healthcare providers should be aware of kidney dysfunction, especially among elderly patients with multiple comorbidities. Early kidney function assessment and treatments are vital in COVID-19 patients with ARDS.

Robot assisted radical prostatectomy in the covid-19 era: Implementation of same day discharge protocol using enhanced recovery after surgery principles

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the ability to treat patients with prostate cancer due to increases in COVID-19 related hospital admissions and limited hospital bed availability. Same-day discharge (SDD) has previously been established as safe in patients who undergo robot assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). We present our experience in implementing a SDD protocol using enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) principles. METHODS: This is a retrospective review that included all patients who underwent RARP at our institution between 06/01/2019 and 07/01/2020. Patient were stratified into two cohorts based on when COVID-19 restrictions were implemented at our institution: Pre COVID- 19 era (06/01/2019-02/29/2020) and COVID-19 era (03/01/2020-07/01/ 2020). During the COVID-19 era, we implemented a protocol that supported SDD by minimizing opioid use, encouraging ambulation immediately after surgery, and early oral intake. Success of SDD was assessed and perioperative complications were compared between the cohorts. RESULTS: In 283 prostatectomies performed at our institution during this review, 83 (29.3%) were performed during the COVID-19 era. The pre COVID-19 era contained more patients who had cT1 disease (56.0% vs 20.5%) and less patients with >cT3 (10.5% vs 30.1%, p<0.001). Same-day discharge was successfull in 29 (34.9%) of patients in the COVID-19 era vs 13 (6.5%) in the pre COVID-19 era (p<0.001). In the most recent 3 months at our institution, SDD rates have continued to increase to 67.4%, with 100% success in the most recent month. Overall complication rates, including hospital readmission, emergency department visits, and telephone calls after surgery did not differ between cohorts (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We present practice changes that permitted the surgical management of prostate cancer patients to continue in an era where hospital bed capacity is limited by using ERAS protocols to rapidly and safely increase the SDD rate after surgery. Implications of such changes can be significant on the institutional and healthcare system level.