Predictive Accuracy of the Breathing Frequency-Ratio of Oxygen Saturation Index for Re-Intubation in Mechanically Ventilated Subjects With COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have suggested that high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) is useful for respiratory support after extubation in subjects with COVID-19 pneumonia, whereas 18.2% subsequently needed to undergo re-intubation. This study aimed to evaluate whether the breathing frequency (f)-ratio of oxygen saturation (ROX) index, which has been shown to be useful for predicting future intubation, is also useful for re-intubation in subjects with COVID-19. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed mechanically ventilated subjects with COVID-19 who underwent HFNC therapy after extubation at 4 participating hospitals between January 2020-May 2022. We evaluated the predictive accuracy of ROX at 0, 1, and 2 h for re-intubation until ICU discharge and compared the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of the ROX index with those of f and SpO2 /FIO2 . RESULTS: Among the 248 subjects with COVID-19 pneumonia, 44 who underwent HFNC therapy after extubation were included. A total of 32 subjects without re-intubation were classified into the HFNC success group, and 12 with re-intubation were classified into the failure group. The overall trend that the area under the ROC curve of the ROX index was greater than that of the f and SaO2 /FIO2 was observed, although there was no statistical significance at any time point. The ROX index at 0 h, at the cutoff point of < 7.44, showed a sensitivity and specificity of 0.42 and 0.97, respectively. A trend of positive correlation between the time until re-intubation and ROX index at each time point was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The ROX index in the early phase of HFNC therapy after extubation was useful for predicting re-intubation with high accuracy in mechanically ventilated subjects with COVID-19. We may need close observation for subjects with < 7.44 ROX index just after extubation because of their high risk for re-intubation.

Lung Abscess and Pyothorax in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients: A Single-Center Retrospective Study.

The mortality rate of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia requiring mechanical ventilation remains high. This study determined the percentage and characteristics of patients who developed lung abscesses or pyothorax and their mortality rates among adult patients with COVID-19 admitted to the ICU who required mechanical ventilation. Of the 64 patients with COVID-19 assessed, 30 (47%) developed ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), of whom 6 (20%) developed pyothorax or lung abscess. There were no statistically significant differences in patient characteristics, treatment after ICU admission, or outcomes between those with and without these complications, except for age. VAP complicated by Lung abscess or pyothorax was caused by a single organism, with Staphylococcus aureus (n = 4) and Klebsiella species (n = 2) being the primary causative agents. Occur infrequently in patients with COVID-19 requiring mechanical ventilation. Large-scale studies are required to elucidate their effects on clinical outcomes.

Mortality of Mechanically Ventilated COVID-19 Patients in Traditional versus Expanded Intensive Care Units in New York.

Rationale: During the first wave of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in New York City, the number of mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients rapidly surpassed the capacity of traditional intensive care units (ICUs), resulting in health systems utilizing other areas as expanded ICUs to provide critical care. Objectives: To evaluate the mortality of patients admitted to expanded ICUs compared with those admitted to traditional ICUs. Methods: Multicenter, retrospective, cohort study of mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19 admitted to the ICUs at 11 Northwell Health hospitals in the greater New York City area between March 1, 2020 and April 30, 2020. Primary outcome was in-hospital mortality up to 28 days after intubation of COVID-19 patients. Results: Among 1,966 mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19, 1,198 (61%) died within 28 days after intubation, 46 (2%) were transferred to other hospitals outside of the Northwell Health system, 722 (37%) survived in the hospital until 28 days or were discharged after recovery. The risk of mortality of mechanically ventilated patients admitted to expanded ICUs was not different from those admitted to traditional ICUs (hazard ratio [HR], 1.07; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.95-1.20; P = 0.28), while hospital occupancy for critically ill patients itself was associated with increased risk of mortality (HR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.12-1.45; P < 0.001). Conclusions: Although increased hospital occupancy for critically ill patients itself was associated with increased mortality, the risk of 28-day in-hospital mortality of mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19 who were admitted to expanded ICUs was not different from those admitted to traditional ICUs.

Intubated COVID-19 predictive (ICOP) score for early mortality after intubation in patients with COVID-19.

Patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can have increased risk of mortality shortly after intubation. The aim of this study is to develop a model using predictors of early mortality after intubation from COVID-19. A retrospective study of 1945 intubated patients with COVID-19 admitted to 12 Northwell hospitals in the greater New York City area was performed. Logistic regression model using backward selection was applied. This study evaluated predictors of 14-day mortality after intubation for COVID-19 patients. The predictors of mortality within 14 days after intubation included older age, history of chronic kidney disease, lower mean arterial pressure or increased dose of required vasopressors, higher urea nitrogen level, higher ferritin, higher oxygen index, and abnormal pH levels. We developed and externally validated an intubated COVID-19 predictive score (ICOP). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.75 (95% CI 0.73-0.78) in the derivation cohort and 0.71 (95% CI 0.67-0.75) in the validation cohort; both were significantly greater than corresponding values for sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) or CURB-65 scores. The externally validated predictive score may help clinicians estimate early mortality risk after intubation and provide guidance for deciding the most effective patient therapies.

Pneumatosis Intestinalis in the Setting of COVID-19: A Single Center Case Series From New York.

This case series reviews four critically ill patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) [coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)] suffering from pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) during their hospital admission. All patients received the biological agent tocilizumab (TCZ), an interleukin (IL)-6 antagonist, as an experimental treatment for COVID-19 before developing PI. COVID-19 and TCZ have been independently linked to PI risk, yet the cause of this relationship is unknown and under speculation. PI is a rare condition, defined as the presence of gas in the intestinal wall, and although its pathogenesis is poorly understood, intestinal ischemia is one of its causative agents. Based on COVID-19's association with vasculopathic and ischemic insults, and IL-6's protective role in intestinal epithelial ischemia-reperfusion injury, an adverse synergistic association of COVID-19 and TCZ can be proposed in the setting of PI. To our knowledge, this is the first published, single center, case series of pneumatosis intestinalis in COVID-19 patients who received tocilizumab therapy.