ABSTRACT
Objectives: Reviewing current literature and case reports of patients placed on Venous-Venous ECMO support for HIV and AIDS, with confection with Pneumocystis pneumonia and covid-19 pneumonia. The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in patients who have acute respiratory distress syndrome has been shown to have very good outcomes. However, there is limited data to support the initiation of ECMO in patients who have human immunodeficiency virus infection with or without acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Method(s): We present a unique and challenging case of a 30 year old male, with no known past medical history, unvaccinated against covid-19, who presented with one week of progressive shortness of breath. On admission he was found with moderate bilateral infiltrates and was diagnosed with covid-19 pneumonia. Despite appropriate medical therapy, patient developed worsening hypoxic respiratory failure. Found to have elevated (1- 3)-7beta;-d-glucan and tested positive for HIV. CD4 count 11, HIV viral load 70,000. The patient remained severely hypoxemic despite mechanical ventilation, sedation, paralytics and proning. Venous venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was initiated. Considering his non improvement with variety of antivirals and antibiotics and with elevated (1-3)-7beta;-d-glucan in the setting of AIDS he was treated for presumed Pneumocystis pneumonia. The patient tolerated proning while on VV ECMO and his course was complicated with bilateral pneumothorax necessitating chest tube placement. Result(s): The patient successfully completed 64 days on VV ECMO, where he was treated for PCP pneumonia, covid pneumonia, CMV viremia and tolerated initiation of anti-retroviral therapy. Patient was successfully decannulated, and ultimately discharged from the hospital. Conclusion(s): VV-ECMO can be a beneficial intervention with successful outcomes in severely immunocomprimised patients with AIDS. This case highlights the importance of minimizing sedation and early mobilization on ECMO support. (Figure Presented).
ABSTRACT
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can cause severe lymphopenia and respiratory failure requiring prolonged invasive mechanical ventilation (MV). COVID-19 patients with severe lymphopenia or respiratory failure are at risk of developing secondary infections. Here, we present the needle autopsy findings of a critically ill patient with COVID-19 who required reintubation and prolonged MV, and eventually died of secondary cytomegalovirus (CMV) pneumonia. This case highlights the potential risk of long-term steroid use and the need for routine monitoring for CMV infection in critically ill patients with COVID-19.
ABSTRACT
In December 2019, a novel coronavirus pneumonia outbreak in Hubei Province spread rapidly to many provinces and cities. As organ transplantation is in the stage of high-quality development in China, how to carry out organ donation and transplantation in a scientific and orderly manner during the severe epidemic, summarize and analyze the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 on organ transplant recipients, and optimize the prevention, early diagnosis and treatment strategies of COVID-19 to ensure medical safety is essential to the development of organ transplantation and the treatment of the patients with end-stage organ failure as well as the overall situation of the prevention and control of COVID-19 epidemic. Thus, based on the instructions of the National Health Committee, the guidelines are issued by several experts organized by Branch of Organ Transplantation of Chinese Medical Association, providing help to the workers and managers of organ donation and transplantation in China. Approved by the Standing Committee of Branch of Organ Transplantation of Chinese Medical Association, the guidelines adopt the 'expert advice', 'prevention and control strategies' and 'guidance' published in China for reference, and will be revised upon changes of the further understanding of COVID-19 and epidemic control situation.