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Objectives: Implementation of venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VVECMO) allowed survival of patients with severe respiratory failure associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, VVECMO treatment is usually associated with long ICU stays, prolonged sedation, and neuromuscular blockage days. Functional disability, due to delirium and acquired muscle weakness, is frequently an inevitable burden causing long term disability. This study aims to analyse main characteristics of patients under ECMO due to COVID-19 pneumonia, their outcomes and functional status six months after ICU discharge. Method(s): Retrospective review of a prospectively collected database in an ECMO referral centre. All patients receiving VVECMO for SARS-CoV-2 infection were included. Epidemiological and clinical data were reviewed. Functional status at 6 months after ICU discharge was assessed with modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Result(s): Ninety-three patients were included (29% female). Median age was 54+/-12 years, mean SOFA was 5.7+/-2.9, mean SAPS II was 35.6+/-13.6. Mean time from intubation to cannulation was 5+/-5.6 days in 91 patients;awake-ECMO was performed in 2 patients. Mean ECMO run duration was 33.1+/-30 days (longest ECMO run was 194 days). A period of awake-ECMO was performed on 36.5% of patients, during 16.4+/-21.2 days. ICU-acquired weakness was diagnosed on 64.5% of patients and delirium on 63.4%. Mortality was 24.7% (23 patients) with only 1 patient deceased in hospital after ICU discharge. At 6 months follow-up, all patients were still alive and most of them (65.1%) were independent on all daily activities (mRS <= 2). Conclusion(s): Patients with severe COVID-19 treated with VVECMO support had very good functional outcomes at six-month follow-up. Despite long ICU length-of-stay, high incidence of delirium and acquired muscle weakness, full recovery at six-month post-ICU discharge was achievable in most patients.
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Objectives: It is well known that severe COVID-19 is associated with complex immunological and inflammatory dysregulation. Both these physiopathological events translate to a high risk of major thrombotic or hemorrhagic events. In patients treated with venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VVECMO), membrane dysfunction might affect systemic oxygenation and limit its duration-expectancy. This study aimed to assess the possible causes of extracorporeal membrane failure in COVID-19 patients and its impact on outcome. Method(s): Retrospective, single-center, observational case-control study involving adult COVID-19 patients admitted to an ECMO referral centre in a tertiary university hospital. All patients required VVECMO for acute respiratory failure, including 48 cases who needed one or more extracorporeal membrane exchanges and 45 controls (no membrane exchange). These two groups were compared for demographic characteristics, severity of the disease using validated scores (SAPS II and SOFA), duration of ECMO run, coagulation assessment, cumulative anticoagulation dose, associated complications, and outcomes (ICU and hospital mortality). Result(s): Most patients were males (71.0%) and younger than 50 years (79.5%). Median ECMO run duration was significantly longer in the case group (35.0 vs 14.0 days, p <0.001), as well as ICU length-of-stay (45.5 vs 28 days, p <0.001). Membrane exchange tended to be associated with sepsis (56% vs 33%, p=0.037), major hemorrhage (58% vs 43%, p=0.022), heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (25% vs 9%, p=0.054), higher D-dimer title (17.36 ng/dL vs 7.5 ng/dL, p=0.07) and lower platelet counts (133.000/muL vs 154.000/muL). Median SAPS II (32.0 vs 33.0, p=0.20) and the mortality (27% vs 24%, p >0.99) were similar between these groups. Conclusion(s): In patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia and severe hypoxemia treated with VVECMO support the emergence of infection, coagulopathy and inflammation were associated with high risk of membrane dysfunction. No impact on mortality could be confirmed from these data. Anticoagulation monitoring and dosing strategies should be reinforced to promote membrane protection.
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Objectives: Death from SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia resulted from progressive respiratory failure in most patients. Whenever accessible, venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VVECMO) was implemented to rescue patients with refractory hypoxemia. Reported mortality in this population reached values from 20 to 50 percent, but the direct causes of death were not so widely acknowledged. The aim of our study was to characterize mortality in patients treated with VVECMO support. Method(s): Retrospective review of a prospectively collected database in an ECMO referral centre. All patients with diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection treated with VVECMO support were included. Survivors and nonsurvivors were compared using t-student and chi2 methods. A Cox regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of mortality at admission. Result(s): Ninety-three patients were included (29% female). Median age was 54+/-12 years, mean SOFA was 5.7+/-2.9 and SAPS II was 35.6+/-13.6. Hospital mortality was 24.7%. Main causes of death were septic shock in 39.1% (9 patients), irreversible lung fibrosis 30.4% (7 patients) and catastrophic hemorrhage in 4.3% (4 patients). End-of-life care measures (withdrawal or withholding) were adopted in 65.2% of non-survivals. Patients who died were older (55 vs 48 years, p<0.05), had longer disease course (19 vs 15.3 days, p<0.05), longer invasive mechanical ventilation course before cannulation (8.5 vs 5 days, p<0.05), lower static lung compliance (25.5 vs 31.8 mL/cmH2O, p<0.05) and were ventilated with lower PEEP (8 vs 10 cmH2O, p<0.05) on cannulation. On a Cox-regression model, only prone ventilation before cannulation (HR 9,7;CI 95% 1,4- 68,6;p<0.05) and SAPS II (HR 1.04;CI 95% 1,001- 1,083;p<0.05) predicted mortality. Conclusion(s): Mortality in patients with severe SARSCoV-2 pneumonia treated with VVECMO was exceedingly low in our study, when compared with other series. Only one-third died from progressive lung disease, which suggests that protocol improvement can further reduce mortality.
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Objectives: Airway hemorrhage (AH) frequently complicates extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) treatment. Inflammation, coagulopathy and antithrombotic therapy are contributing factors. Patients with COVID-19- associated ARDS (CARDS) supported with ECMO present all these features. We aim to characterize the incidence and the clinical and prognostic impact of AH. Method(s): Review of a cohort of patients with CARDS treated with ECMO support at a single ECMO centre between March 2020-February 2022 (n=92). AH was defined as a clinically significant hemorrhage fit demanded interruption of anticoagulation, transfusional support or bronchoscopy. Univariate analysis was performed using GraphPadPrism. Result(s): One third (n= 31) of patients with CARDS treated with ECMO had clinically significant AH. Patients who developed AH had significantly longer ICU length-of-stay (LoS), ECMO run and invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) duration. Significant differences in coagulation and inflammatory markers were detected between patients with early (<72h) versus late (>9 days) onset of AH (Table 1). Mortality at day 90, demographics, comorbidities, CT scan pattern and clinical severity indexes were similar between patients with and without AH (NAH). Conclusion(s): In patients with severe CARDS treated with ECMO support, the occurrence of airway hemorrhage leads to clinically important morbidity but does not increase mortality. Distinct pathways may be involved in the development of early v. late AH. (Table Presented).
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Introduction: Nondepolarizing neuromuscular blockade (NDMB) is a key intervention to avoid ventilation-induced lung injury in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). In patients with moderatesevere ARDS associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection (CARDS), NDMB were used for prolonged periods of time, with high cumulative doses. We hypothesize that administration of NDMB might contribute to an increased incidence of risk factors later associated with long COVID-19. Method(s): We designed a non-interventional, retrospective study in a large university urban hospital. From January to December 2021, data related to prescription of NDMB, respiratory physiology, mechanical ventilation (IMV) and clinical outcomes were collected from patients' electronic records with a diagnosis of CARDS. Primary outcome was day-90 mortality. Secondary outcomes were ICU length of stay (LOS), ICU-acquired weakness and days of IMV. Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare continuous variables and logistic regression was used to evaluate the association of NDMB use with outcomes, adjusted or not for confounders. Result(s): 116 patients diagnosed with CARDS were included, 87% with severe ARDS and overall mortality was 37.1%. Median age was 57 years (IQ:47-67) and 65.5% were male. P:F ratio at day-1 was 86 (IQ:43). Ventilator-free days (VFDs) at 28 days was 13 (IQ:0-19) in survivors and ICU-LOS was 19 (IQ:10-36). Median time and cumulative dose of NDMB were, respectively, 117 h and 1177.468 mg in patients who survived (n = 70) compared to 197 h and 1898.775 mg in patients who died (n = 41). In addition to days of NDMB exposure (OR 1.05, CI 95% 1.00-1.11), the cumulative dose of cisatracurium, expressed in logs, was correlated with risk of mortality in the ICU, with odds ratio 1.49 (CI 95% 1.08-2.04). Conclusion(s): Patients with severe forms of CARDS received prolonged infusions of NDMB, with high cumulative doses. Both time of exposure and total doses were independently associated with higher risk of mortality.
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Objective: To analyze and compare COVID-19 patient characteristics, clinical management and outcomes between the peak and plateau periods of the first pandemic wave in Portugal. Methods: This was a multicentric ambispective cohort study including consecutive severe COVID-19 patients between March and August 2020 from 16 Portuguese intensive care units. The peak and plateau periods, respectively, weeks 10 - 16 and 17 - 34, were defined. Results: Five hundred forty-one adult patients with a median age of 65 [57 - 74] years, mostly male (71.2%), were included. There were no significant differences in median age (p = 0.3), Simplified Acute Physiology Score II (40 versus 39;p = 0.8), partial arterial oxygen pressure/fraction of inspired oxygen ratio (139 versus 136;p = 0.6), antibiotic therapy (57% versus 64%;p = 0.2) at admission, or 28-day mortality (24.4% versus 22.8%;p = 0.7) between the peak and plateau periods. During the peak period, patients had fewer comorbidities (1 [0 - 3] versus 2 [0 - 5];p = 0.002) and presented a higher use of vasopressors (47% versus 36%;p < 0.001) and invasive mechanical ventilation (58.1 versus 49.2%;p < 0.001) at admission, prone positioning (45% versus 36%;p = 0.04), and hydroxychloroquine (59% versus 10%;p < 0.001) and lopinavir/ ritonavir (41% versus 10%;p < 0.001) prescriptions. However, a greater use of high-flow nasal cannulas (5% versus 16%, p < 0.001) on admission, remdesivir (0.3% versus 15%;p < 0.001) and corticosteroid (29% versus 52%, p < 0.001) therapy, and a shorter ICU length of stay (12 days versus 8, p < 0.001) were observed during the plateau. Conclusion: There were significant changes in patient comorbidities, intensive care unit therapies and length of stay between the peak and plateau periods of the first COVID-19 wave. © 2023 Associacao de Medicina Intensiva Brasileira - AMIB. All rights reserved.
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Introduction: Organising pneumonia (OP) diagnosis is histological, however may be inferred by CT pattern [1, 2]. OP due to COVID-19 has been reported but its role remains unknown. Methods: A single-centre, ethical commission approved, retrospective study was conducted in a tertiary university hospital. Data was collected from patients admitted to ICU with severe COVID-19 between March 2020 and February 2021. OP was defined according to CT chest findings. OP patients were treated with 1 mg/kg/day methylprednisolone as per our protocol. Data was analysed using STATA 15.1. Results: We included 338 patients admitted due to COVID-19 pneumonia, mainly male (68%) with mean age 65.0 ± 13.1 years, 71% underwent invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) for a median time of 13 days and 84% received corticosteroid treatment, 107 dexamethasone only, the remainder methylprednisolone. 126 patients (37%) featured CT compatible with OP. There were no differences between OP and non- OP regarding age, gender, SAPSII or comorbidities. Although patients with OP more frequently underwent IMV (p < 0.01), time from symptoms until IMV was longer (10.1 ± 6.1 in C vs 11.9 ± 6.1 days, p = 0.02). Interestingly, duration of IMV and length of stay (LOS) were increased in the OP group (24.5 ± 20.7 vs 14.2 ± 13.9 days, p < 0.001;LOS: 28.2 ± 27.6 vs 14.4 ± 15.6 p < 0.001), although no difference in ICU (30% vs 29% in OP) or hospital mortality ( 42% vs 53% in OP, p = 0.126) was observed. Not surprisingly, delirium (22 vs 36%, p = 0.01), ICU acquired weakness (20 vs 43%, p < 0.01) and nosocomial infections (41vs 69%, p < 0.01) were more frequent in OP patients. Of note, 87% versus 45% of C patients were still on corticosteroids at the time of ICU discharge. Conclusions: High prevalence of OP was demonstrated in this severe COVID cohort associated with longer IMV time but not a significant increase in mortality. More data is required to determine adequate treatment and impact on prognosis.
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The 2030 Agenda - a strategy of the United Nations Organization (UN) to promote global and sustainable human development capable of satisfying basic social needs - is still in the initial stages in most of the countries of South America. The scope of this investigation was to consult a group of health experts on the possibilities of Argentina fulfilling the 2030 Agenda, especially the goals of ODS3 - Health and Wellbeing - when they were consulted on obstacles, challenges, and policy recommendations to meet the goals. The change of management of the government in December 2019, and the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, broadened the investigation incorporating the analysis of the incumbent Minister of Health of the Nation on the 2030 Agenda, the study carried out and the current perspectives in the pandemic period. The results were analyzed from a comparative standpoint with a Brazilian study, which revealed that most experts agree on the country's potential to meet the goals of the 2030 Agenda. However, in the analysis of the new Minister of Health, there are "the paradoxes of the pandemic" that relate to the opportunity to empower the health system pursuant to the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Background: The risk of sports-related sudden cardiac arrest after COVID-19 infection can be a serious problem. There is an urgent need for evidence-based criteria to ensure patient safety before resuming exercise. Objective: To estimate the pooled prevalence of acute myocardial injury caused by COVID-19 and to provide an easy-to-use cardiovascular risk assessment toolkit prior to resuming sports activities after COVID-19 infection. Methods: We searched the Medline and Cochrane databases for articles on the prevalence of acute myocardial injury associated with COVID-19 infection. The pooled prevalence of acute myocardial injury was calculated for hospitalized patients treated in different settings (non-intensive care unit [ICU], ICU, overall hospitalization, and non-survivors). Statistical significance was accepted for p values <0.05. We propose a practical flowchart to assess the cardiovascular risk of individuals who recovered from COVID-19 before resuming sports activities. Results: A total of 20 studies (6,573 patients) were included. The overall pooled prevalence of acute myocardial injury in hospitalized patients was 21.7% (95% CI 17.3-26.5%). The non-ICU setting had the lowest prevalence (9.5%, 95% CI 1.5-23.4%), followed by the ICU setting (44.9%, 95% CI 27.7-62.8%), and the cohort of non-survivors (57.7% with 95% CI 38.5-75.7%). We provide an approach to assess cardiovascular risk based on the prevalence of acute myocardial injury in each setting. Conclusions: Acute myocardial injury is frequent and associated with more severe disease and hospital admissions. Cardiac involvement could be a potential trigger for exercise-induced clinical complications after COVID-19 infection. We created a toolkit to assist with clinical decision-making prior to resuming sports activities after COVID-19 infection. © 2022, Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia. All rights reserved.