National Trends in Pediatric Critical Asthma Severity during the Covid-19 Pandemic

INTRODUCTION: Asthma exacerbations in children have historically been attributed to a combination of viral infection, environmental exposures, and individual patient attributes. The COVID-19 pandemic has provided a unique opportunity to evaluate variations in asthma severity during a time of changing viral exposure patterns and patient behaviors. This study describes the trends in pediatric critical asthma severity during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD(S): We performed a retrospective analysis of the Virtual Pediatric Systems (VPS) database. Inclusion criteria were: patients admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit in the United States from 2014-2021 with a discharge diagnosis of "asthma with acute exacerbation" or "asthma with status asthmaticus." Asthma severity was determined by the maximum level of respiratory support required during the admission, from lowest to highest: 1-Heated high flow nasal cannula;2-Non-invasive positive pressure;3-Endotracheal intubation;4-Inhaled anesthetics or ECMO. Patients were divided into Pre-COVID, Pandemic Era 2020, and 2021 groups based on the date of admission, with the start of the COVID-19 pandemic defined as April 1, 2020. Subgroup analysis was performed based on race/ethnic group. RESULT(S): A total of 51,746 patients were identified in the VPS database that met the stated criteria. The average number of admissions per month was 713 and 206 in the Pre-COVID and Pandemic groups, respectively. Patients categorized as "Severe" (severity levels 3 & 4) represented 3.8% and 4.7% of admissions, respectively (p< 0.05). Patients categorized as "Moderate" (severity level 2) represented 16.9% and 21.7% of admissions, respectively (p< 0.05). Asthma mortality rates were found to be 0.3% and 0.7%, respectively (p< 0.05). Subgroup analysis by race/ ethnic group found that asthma severity by race/ethnicity was unchanged from the pre-COVID baseline. CONCLUSION(S): During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of critical asthma admissions decreased while the average severity and mortality rate in those patients increased. Further study is needed to determine whether these findings are due to delayed presentation to healthcare, changes in viral exposure patterns, or other factors.

Patient with Presumed Asthma Develops Flash Pulmonary Edema Secondary to Undiagnosed Cor Triatriatum

INTRODUCTION: A patient with presumed status asthmaticus, treated with beta-agonist and fluid resuscitation, developed flash pulmonary edema and respiratory failure in the setting of undiagnosed cor triatriatum. DESCRIPTION: A teen male with history of asthma developed dyspnea and chest pain at work. At a local emergency room (ER), he received albuterol, steroid, magnesium sulfate, and 2 liters (L) of fluid. Chest X-ray (CXR) and computed tomography of the chest were normal. He was transferred with a diagnosis of status asthmaticus. On exam in the pediatric ER, he had tachycardia, tachypnea and diffuse wheezing. He received albuterol 20mg/hour and 3L of fluid boluses over several hours. Despite improvement in wheezing, the patient had ongoing tachycardia and chest pain. He was placed on oxygen by high-flow nasal cannula. Repeat CXR exhibited new diffuse airspace opacities, and a focused cardiac ultrasound showed a hyperdynamic left ventricle (LV) with normal function. The patient began to expectorate pink frothy fluid, with hypoxemia, requiring intubation. Covid-19 PCR, Troponin-I and B-Type Natriuretic peptide were negative. An echocardiogram revealed a dilated left atrium (LA) with an echogenic membrane within the LA, separating the pulmonary venous chamber from the LA and restricting blood flow into the LV. The LV was small in size with normal function. The right heart was normal. These findings were consistent with diagnosis of cor triatriatum sinister, whereby the LA is divided into two compartments by a membrane that can variably obstruct flow into the LV. For this patient, treatment with beta-agonist caused tachycardia and decreased LV filling. Fluid resuscitation increased intravascular volume. This combination worsened obstruction of blood flow from the LA to the LV, leading to flash pulmonary edema, respiratory failure, and shock. In the ICU, the patient underwent diuresis, and the cor triatarium membrane was later surgically resected. DISCUSSION: Asthma is encountered commonly in children. Patients not responsive to treatment for respiratory distress should have alternative diagnoses considered. Multiple cognitive biases led to delayed recognition of cardiac etiology as the cause for this patient's respiratory failure, including anchoring bias with premature closure.

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF LACTIC ACIDOSIS IN PATIENTS WITH ASTHMA

SESSION TITLE: Challenges in Asthma SESSION TYPE: Rapid Fire Case Reports PRESENTED ON: 10/18/2022 10:15 am - 11:10 am INTRODUCTION: Asthma is a chronic illness affecting 334 million people worldwide[1]. Asthma affects the respiratory gas exchange, which plays a significant role in acid-base balance. Acid-base disorders in asthma involve respiratory alkalosis, respiratory acidosis, and AG acidosis[2]. CASE PRESENTATION: A 37 years old Hispanic male with a PMH of intermittent asthma presents with progressive dyspnea for three days, worse with activity and decreases with rest. He reported no [cough, fever, rhinorrhea, chest pain]. No orthopnea. He is vaccinated for COVID ( 2 Pfizer doses), has no sickness exposure, and works as a driver. The patient is not a smoker. Physical Exam: Blood pressure 124/72 mmHg. Heart Rate 100 PPM. Temperature 97.1 F.Respiratory Rate 21BPM.SPO2 90% General appearance: acute distress with nasal flaring. Heart: Normal S1, S2. RRR. Lung: Poor air entry with diffuse wheeze bilaterally. He was placed on a 6 LPM NC. CBC and differential were unremarkable. He was started on methylprednisone, Ceftriaxone, and azithromycin. The patient was started on inhaled Salbutamol and Budesonide. Chest X-ray was unremarkable, Chemistry was unremarkable except for elevated Lactic acid 4.7, There was no concern for reduced tissue perfusion or hypoxia, with no evidence of an infectious process because both viral and bacterial causes for pneumonia were excluded, and antibiotics were stopped. A serial lactic acid level trend was 4.5/4.3/ 4.1/ 4 on the first day, while on the next day, it was 3.1/ 2.9/ 2.7/ 2.5/ 3.5, we stopped trending his lactic acid level. He improved and was discharged on an oral taper steroid and inhaled steroids with a B2 agonist. DISCUSSION: There are two types of Lactic acidosis in patients with asthma: 1- Type-A results from impaired oxygen delivery to tissues and reduced tissue perfusion in severe acute asthma may be accompanied by reduced cardiac output. 2- Type B where oxygen delivery is normal, but the cellular function is impaired due to increased norepinephrine in plasma, increasing metabolic rate and lactate production, drugs like beta-agonists increase glycogenolysis leading to an increased pyruvate concentration;pyruvate is converted to lactic acid. B2 agonist increases lipolysis and increases Acetyl CoA, this increase in Acetyl CoA inhibits the conversion of pyruvate to Acetyl CoA, increasing pyruvate which will be converted to lactic acid[2], Theophylline is a non-selective 5'-phosphodiesterase inhibitor and potentiates the activity of ß-adrenergic agents by increasing the intracellular concentration of cAMP, Glucocorticoids are also known to increase the ß-receptor's sensitivity to ß-adrenergic agonists. CONCLUSIONS: Providers are increasingly challenged by hyperlactatemia,it is not harmful but elevated Lactic acid levels and clearance rate is used for prognostication,hyperlactatemia might be misleading,and all possible causes of elevated lactic acid levels must be explored. Reference #1: 10.5334/aogh.2412 Reference #2: https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm8040563 Reference #3: Edwin B. Liem, Stephen C. Mnookin, Michael E. Mahla;Albuterol-induced Lactic Acidosis. Anesthesiology 2003;99:505–506 doi: https://doi.org/10.1097/00000542-200308000-00036 DISCLOSURES: No relevant relationships by Vasudev Malik Daliparty No relevant relationships by Abdallah Khashan No relevant relationships by Samer Talib No relevant relationships by MATTHEW YOTSUYA

Impact of COVID-19 on chronic respiratory disease outcome survey in Pakistan

Introduction: Pakistan has high prevalence of chronic respiratory diseases, especially bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Objectives: The main objective of the study is to find the impact of COVID-19 on chronic respiratory disease in Pakistan. Material and methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in King Edward Medical University, Mayo Hospital Lahore during January 2021 to July 2021. Before and after the COVID-19 period were defined by a predetermined set of criteria in the form of a questionnaire. Results: The data was collected from 314 respondents. According to the respondents, the survey also queried about the presence of respiratory comorbidities in patients who had tested positive for COVID 19. COPD was mentioned as a comorbidity by more than a third of those who responded, and several others, including bronchial asthma, ILD, and tuberculosis (TB), were also mentioned by many respondents. Conclusion: It is concluded that because of the lockout's efficacy and the widespread use of masks outside the facility, the air was probably rather clean. As a result, both the number of people visiting an asthma outpatient clinic and the number of people being admitted to the hospital with acute severe asthma dropped.

Resident acute deterioration simulation series: Does repetition equal improvement?

INTRODUCTION: In 2018, we implemented the Resident Acute Deterioration Simulation Series. High-fidelity simulation is now an integral part of our intern curriculum. This study was an effort to assess this curriculum. Our primary hypothesis was that repeat exposure to the same clinical scenario through simulation would increase critical action completion rate, decrease the time to critical action, and improve intern comfort in dealing with these acute clinical situations. METHODS: Interns completed four high-fidelity simulations over the course of the academic year. For each simulation, a critical action checklist was developed. During each session, interns were timed with the action completion rate and time to each critical action recorded. Interns were debriefed after the scenario. They completed the same scenario within a one month period, again with their action completion rate and time to critical actions recorded. They also completed pre and post session surveys measuring comfort managing acute patient deterioration. RESULTS: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we were able to complete and record data for 2 simulation scenarios in their entirety- status epilepticus and status asthmatics. For both scenarios, there was an improvement in action completion rate, with the status epilepticus scenario increasing by 40% (40% of critical actions completed in the first simulation and 80% on repeat) and the status asthmaticus scenario increasing by 60% (40% vs. 100% action completion). There was no statistically significant mean difference in time to action before and after repeat simulation exercise for either simulation scenario. A paired t-test was conducted and we found a statistically significant mean increase of 1.23 in the comfort levels of interns before and after repeat simulation exercise (95% CI [0.47 - 0.84], p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Repeat exposure to simulation improved overall resident critical action completion, however there was no statistically significant improvement in the time to critical action completion. In reviewing this data we can reconcile this, as the more critical actions that are completed, the more time that will take. We were also able to support that repeat simulation exposure increase rate comfort in managing acute patient deterioration.