Acute Pancreatitis and COVID-19: A Single-Center Experience.

Gastrointestinal involvement in SARS-CoV-2 disease (COVID-19) can occur and evolve fatally. Reports are emerging that SARS-CoV-2 virus attacks the pancreatic cells, causing the boost of amylase and lipase serum activity and rarely frank pancreatitis. We retrospectively assessed all the patients admitted to the respiratory sub-intensive care and evaluated pancreatitis cases and their course. In our study, we included all patients admitted to our respiratory sub-intensive care unit from 1st to 30th November. All patients had a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 and a CT finding of interstitial pneumonia associated with signs of respiratory failure. We observed the course and evaluated who developed acute pancreatitis according to standard definitions. In this study, etiology of acute pancreatitis was defined on the basis of risk factors (ie, biliary pancreatitis was defined in presence of common bile duct stone or sludge at CT or MR). According to the Revised Atlanta Classification, we diagnosed and classified the patients and evaluated the radiological severity according to the Balthazar index and a computed tomography severity index. We found that 19% (15 of 78 patients) met the criteria for acute pancreatitis. The mortality rate among patients with pancreatitis was 20%. Interestingly, in our population, cholelithiasis' imaging findings were found in only 7% of the patients, whereas no patient-reported alcohol consumption. Considering that alcohol and biliary stones represent the two major causes of AP in the general population, it is reasonable to hypothesize that SARS-CoV-2 could play a role in the etiology of acute pancreatitis in a subgroup of these patients.

A Rare Evolution to Pneumopericardium in Patient with COVID-19 Pneumonia Treated with High Flow Nasal Cannula.

Infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) which was revealed an official pandemic by the World Health Organization on 11 March 2020. The current pandemic, the third of this decade, is the worst in terms of suffering and deaths related. COVID-19 represents an unprecedented challenge for medical communities and patients around the world. High-resolution computed tomography of the chest (HRCT) is a fundamental tool in both management and diagnosis of the disease. Imaging plays an essential role in the diagnosis of all the manifestations of the disease and its complications and the correct use and interpretation of imaging tests are essential. Pneumomediastinum has been reported rarely in COVID-19 patients. We were one of the first groups to share our experiences in uncommon parenchymal complications of COVID-19 with spontaneous pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum, but also with new-onset bronchiectasis and cysts. A finding of pneumopericardium is also unusual. We hereby report a rare case of spontaneous pneumopericardium in a patient with COVID-19 pneumonia treated only with a high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC).

Effectiveness of corticosteroids on chest high-resolution computed tomography features of COVID-19 pneumonia.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to assess the effect of a short-term treatment with low-moderate corticosteroid (CS) doses by both a quantitative and qualitative assessment of chest HRCT of COVID-19 pneumonia. METHODS: CORTICOVID is a single-center, cross-sectional, retrospective study involving severe/critical COVID-19 patients with mild/moderate ARDS. Lung total severity score was obtained according to Chung and colleagues. Moreover, the relative percentages of lung total severity score by ground glass opacities, consolidations, crazy paving, and linear bands were computed. Chest HRCT scores, P/F ratio, and laboratory parameters were evaluated before (pre-CS) and 7-10 days after (post-CS) methylprednisolone of 0.5-0.8 mg/kg/day. FINDINGS: A total of 34 severe/critical COVID-19 patients were included in the study, of which 17 received Standard of Care (SoC) and 17 CS therapy in add-on. CS treatment disclosed a significant decrease in HRCT total severity score [median = 6 (IQR: 5-7.5) versus 10 (IQR: 9-13) in SoC, p < 0.001], as well in single consolidations [median = 0.33 (IQR: 0-0.92) versus 6.73 (IQR: 2.49-8.03) in SoC, p < 0.001] and crazy paving scores [mean = 0.19 (SD = 0.53) versus 1.79 (SD = 2.71) in SoC, p = 0.010], along with a significant increase in linear bands [mean = 2.56 (SD = 1.65) versus 0.97 (SD = 1.30) in SoC, p = 0.006]. GGO score instead did not significantly differ at the end of treatment between the two groups. Most post-CS GGO, however, derived from previous consolidations and crazy paving [median = 1.5 (0.35-3.81) versus 2 (1.25-3.8) pre-CS; p = 0.579], while pre-CS GGO significantly decreased after methylprednisolone therapy [median = 0.66 (0.05-1.33) versus 1.5 (0.35-3.81) pre-CS; p = 0.004]. CS therapy further determined a significant improvement in P/F levels [median P/F = 310 (IQR: 235.5-370) versus 136 (IQR: 98.5-211.75) in SoC; p < 0.001], and a significant increase in white blood cells, lymphocytes, and neutrophils absolute values. CONCLUSION: The improvement of all chest HRCT findings further supports the role of CS adjunctive therapy in severe/critical COVID-19 pneumonia.

Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency: Home Therapy.

While available in only a few countries, home therapy is a possible strategy for the treatment of alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. We want to describe our experience in the management of human alpha-1 antitrypsin using home care intravenous augmentation therapy during this emergency period caused by SARS-CoV2 infection. We assessed the safety of the home treatment and the quality of life of patients enrolled in the program.

Home Management of Patients with Moderate or Severe Respiratory Failure Secondary to COVID-19, Using Remote Monitoring and Oxygen with or without HFNC.

BACKGROUND: Home treatment of patients affected by COVID-19 is still a matter of daily debate. During the clinical evolution of the disease, there are high risks of lung failure, which requires oxygen therapy. Here, we report our clinical experience with at-home treatment using high-flow nasal cannula in non-hospitalised patients with confirmed COVID-19. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this study, 18 patients with moderate-to-severe respiratory failure secondary to COVID-19 were monitored at home daily for temperature and SpO2 measurements. Other parameters such as saturation of peripheral oxygen (SpO2), SpO2/FiO2 (fraction of inspired oxygen), temperature, and lung performance were monitored periodically. Depending on oxygen requirements, the patients also received either standard oxygen via a face mask or, if higher FiO2 required, high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC). RESULTS: All 18 patients had favourable outcomes and recovered from COVID-19. No death was recorded in this group. CONCLUSION: Our clinical experience proves that high-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy may be considered for at-home treatment of COVID-19 patients with moderate lung failure. This could be useful for further treatment during the pandemic and may also be considered in future epidemics.

Different presentation of pulmonary parenchymal disruption in COVID-19 pneumonia. Case series of Sub-Intensive Care Unit in Naples, Italy.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a recent pandemic that affected more than 5 million people worldwide. Chest high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is an essential tool in diagnosis and management of the disease. Pulmonary parenchymal opacity is a typical sign of the disease, but not the only one. Pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, bronchiectasis and cysts are probably underrated complications of COVID-19 that can worsen prognosis, in terms of prolonged hospitalization and need of oxygen therapy. In our single center case series, we outline four different manifestations of pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum and cysts in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.

Dyspnea in COVID-19: not just pneumonia

We present five cases of patients affected by severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia (COVID-19) complicated by acute pulmonary embolism (APE). The clinical presentation, D-dimer levels, and the time of appearance of the acute pulmonary embolism were different in every single case. First case was a 46-year-old man affected by bilateral pneumonia COVID-19 with a high D-dimer serum value on the first day of hospitalization. Computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) showed bilateral pulmonary embolism. Second case was a 51-year-old man affected by acute respiratory failure from bilateral pneumonia-COVID-19 with a significant and sudden increase of D-dimer levels on the twelfth day of illness, CTPA showed widespread bilateral embolism. Third case was a 62-year-old man affected by acute respiratory failure due to COVID-19 with persistently low D-dimer values but with HRCT evidence of vascular dilatation that is characteristic for the presence of thrombosis. The CTPA practiced subsequently ascertained the presence of diffuse segmental embolism. Fourth case was a 35year-old woman, with respiratory failure and severe dyspnea due to COVID-19. No elevation of D-dimer levels. Blood gas analysis (BGA) showed middle hypoxemia and normocapnia;on fifth day she performed CT angiography for persistent dyspnea and chest pain, that documented bilateral pulmonary embolism. Finally, fifth case was a 47 years old man, affected by acute respiratory failure due to bilateral pneumonia COVID-19 related, and normal D-dimer levels. CT angiography showed bilateral pulmonary embolism.

Successful intravenous immunoglobulin treatment in severe COVID-19 pneumonia

We describe a 42-year old woman, admitted to our Department after 15 days of persistence of respiratory failure and treated with infusion of intravenous immunoglobulin with a successful outcome.