Comparison of Bivalirudin Versus Heparin for Anticoagulation During Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

The effect and safety of bivalirudin compared with heparin in patients undergoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) remains unclear. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the effectiveness and safety of heparin and bivalirudin in patients who underwent ECMO. We searched Embase, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and MEDLINE. Inclusion criteria included patients (1) undergoing ECMO and (2) receiving bivalirudin or heparin. We excluded studies where the majority of patients switched heparin to bivalirudin or vice versa during the clinical course. The primary outcome was short-term mortality. We presented the results of all analyses with the use of random-effects models. Eleven studies reported short-term mortality. The use of bivalirudin was associated with significantly lower short-term mortality, compared with heparin (odds ratio: 0.71, 95% confidence interval, 0.55-0.92; p = 0.01, I2 = 7%). In this meta-analysis of observational studies, the use of bivalirudin was associated with significantly lower short-term mortality, compared with heparin. Further prospective studies are warranted to clarify this finding.

Comparing Seasonal Trends in Coronavirus Disease 2019 Patient Data at a Quaternary Hospital in New York City.

Coronavirus disease 2019 has been a worldwide pandemic since early 2020 with New York City being the epicenter in the United States during early 2020. Although cases of decreased coronavirus disease 2019 during the summer, cases began to rise once more in the fall-winter period. Little is known about trends in patient characteristics, medical care, and outcome between these time periods. We report initial patient characteristics and outcomes from a large quaternary referral center in New York City between Spring (March to June), Summer (July to September), and Winter (October to December), including prevalence of renal failure, respiratory failure, and mortality; stratified across several key populations of interest including all patients, ICU patients, those requiring of noninvasive positive pressure ventilation and high-flow nasal cannula, and those intubated in each time period.

Implementing Automated Prone Ventilation for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome via Simulation-Based Training.

BACKGROUND: Prone position ventilation (PPV) is recommended for patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome, but it remains underused. Interprofessional simulation-based training for PPV has not been described. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of a novel interprofessional simulation-based training program on providers' perception of and comfort with PPV and the program's ability to help identify unrecognized safety issues ("latent safety threats") before implementation. METHODS: A prospective observational quality improvement study was done in the medical intensive care unit of an academic medical center. Registered nurses, physicians, and respiratory therapists were trained via a didactic session, simulations, and structured debriefings during which latent safety threats were identified. Participants completed anonymous surveys before and after training. RESULTS: A total of 73 providers (37 nurses, 18 physicians, 18 respiratory therapists) underwent training and completed surveys. Before training, only 39% of nurses agreed that PPV would be beneficial to patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome, compared with 96% of physicians and 70% of respiratory therapists (P < .001). Less than half of both nurses and physicians felt comfortable taking care of prone patients. After training, perceived benefit increased among all providers. Comfort taking care of proned patients and managing cardiac arrest increased significantly among nurses and physicians. Twenty novel latent safety threats were identified. CONCLUSION: Interprofessional simulation-based training may improve providers' perception of and comfort with PPV and can help identify latent safety threats before implementation.

Concomitant Interstitial Lung Disease with Psoriasis.

Background: We encounter interstitial lung disease (ILD) patients with psoriasis. The aim of this case series was to examine clinical and radiographic characteristics of patients with concomitant psoriasis and ILD. Methods: This is a retrospective review of our institutional experience of ILD concomitant with psoriasis, from the database in the Advanced Lung/Interstitial Lung Disease Program at the Mount Sinai Hospital. Out of 447 ILD patients, we identified 21 (4.7%) with antecedent or concomitant diagnosis of psoriasis. Clinical, radiographic, pathological, and outcome data were abstracted from our medical records. Results: Median age was 66 years (range, 46-86) and 14 (66.7%) were male. Thirteen (61.9%) had not previously or concomitantly been exposed to immunosuppressive therapy directed against psoriasis. Two (9.5%) ultimately died. Clinical diagnosis of ILD included idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, 11 (52.4%); nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP), 2 (9.5%); cryptogenic organizing pneumonia, 2 (9.5%); chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis, 2 (9.5%); and the others, while radiographic diagnosis included usual interstitial pneumonia pattern, 9 (42.9%); NSIP pattern, 6 (28.6%); organizing pneumonia pattern, 4 (19.0%); hypersensitivity pneumonitis pattern, 2 (9.5%); and the others. Conclusions: We report 21 ILD cases with antecedent or concomitant diagnosis of psoriasis. Further prospective studies are required to determine the association between ILD and psoriasis.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Point-of-Care Ultrasound Performed by Pulmonary Critical Care Physicians for Right Ventricle Assessment in Patients With Acute Pulmonary Embolism.

OBJECTIVES: Risk stratification for acute pulmonary embolism using imaging presence of right ventricular dysfunction is essential for triage; however, comprehensive transthoracic echocardiography has limited availability. We assessed the accuracy and timeliness of Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine Fellow's performance of goal-directed echocardiograms and intensivists' interpretations for evaluating right ventricular dysfunction in acute pulmonary embolism. DESIGN: Prospective observational study and retrospective chart review. SETTING: Four hundred fifty bed urban teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Adult in/outpatients diagnosed with acute pulmonary embolism. INTERVENTIONS: Pulmonary critical care fellows performed and documented their goal-directed echocardiogram as normal or abnormal for right ventricular size and function in patients with acute pulmonary embolism. Gold standard transthoracic echocardiography was performed on schedule unless the goal-directed echocardiogram showed critical findings. Attending intensivists blinded to the clinical scenario reviewed these exams at a later date. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Two hundred eighty-seven consecutive patients were evaluated for acute PE. Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine Fellows performed 154 goal-directed echocardiograms, 110 with complete cardiology-reviewed transthoracic echocardiography within 48 hours for comparison. Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine Fellow's area under the curve for size and function was 0.83 (95% CI, 0.75-0.90) and 0.83 (95% CI, 0.75-0.90), respectively. Intensivists' 1/2 area under the curve for size and function was (1) 0.87 (95% CI, 0.82-0.94), (1) 0.87 (95% CI, 0.80-0.93) and (2) 0.88 (95% CI, 0.82-0.95), (2) 0.88 (95% CI, 0.82-0.95). Median time difference between goal-directed echocardiogram and transthoracic echocardiography was 21 hours 18 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to evaluate pulmonary critical care fellows' and intensivists' use of goal-directed echocardiography in diagnosing right ventricular dysfunction in acute pulmonary embolism. Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine Fellows and intensivists made a timely and accurate assessment. Screening for right ventricular dysfunction using goal-directed echocardiography can and should be performed by pulmonary critical care physicians in patients with acute pulmonary embolism.

Elevated serum D-dimer level is associated with an increased risk of acute exacerbation in interstitial lung disease.

BACKGROUND: Early recognition of patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) who have an increased risk of developing acute exacerbation (AE) or preclinical AE may be clinically useful, since AE is associated with poor outcome and preventive measures would be of interest to ILD researchers. This study evaluated the relationship between elevated serum D-dimer level (≥0.4 mcg/mL) and subsequent AE or preclinical AE in patients with ILD. METHODS: This single-center, retrospective study was performed from October 2009 through September 2015 in patients with ILD who were ≥18 years old and had idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, other idiopathic interstitial pneumonias, chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis, ILD related to collagen tissue disease, or combined pulmonary fibrosis/emphysema. The primary outcome measure was AE development within three months from each D-dimer measurement. The secondary outcome measures were respiratory-related hospitalization, all-cause hospitalization, venous thromboembolism (VTE), and all-cause mortality within three months. RESULTS: A total of 263 patients (mean age, 64.1 years) with 374 D-dimer measurements (median, 0.44 mcg/mL) were included. The risk of developing AE was significantly higher in patients with elevated serum D-dimer level (adjusted odds ratio: 10.46; 95% CI: 1.24-88.11; p = 0.03). Patients with elevated serum D-dimer level had increased risk for respiratory-related hospitalization, all-cause hospitalization, VTE, and all-cause mortality. The other factors predictive for AE were home oxygen therapy, increased serum lactate dehydrogenase, decreased FVC, and decreased FEV1.0. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated serum D-dimer is associated with the risk of developing AE. Serum D-dimer may be used as a prognostic marker to predict AE or recognize preclinical AE.

Comparison of video laryngoscopy versus direct laryngoscopy during urgent endotracheal intubation: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: In the critically ill undergoing urgent endotracheal intubation by direct laryngoscopy, multiple attempts are often required with a higher complication rate due to the urgency, uncontrolled setting, comorbidities, and variability in expertise of operators. We hypothesized that Glidescope video laryngoscopy would be superior to direct laryngoscopy during urgent endotracheal intubation. DESIGN: Single-center prospective randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Beth Israel Medical Center, an 856-bed urban teaching hospital with a 16-bed closed medical ICU. PATIENTS: Of 153 consecutive patients undergoing urgent endotracheal intubation by pulmonary and critical care medicine fellows, 117 met inclusion criteria. INTERVENTIONS: Patients undergoing urgent endotracheal intubation were randomized to Glidescope video laryngoscopy or direct laryngoscopy as the primary intubation device. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The primary outcome measure was the rate of first-attempt success. Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores were similar between groups (20.9 ± 8.2 vs 19.9 ± 7.9). First-attempt success was achieved in 74% of the Glidescope video laryngoscopy group compared with 40% in the direct laryngoscopy group (p < 0.001). All unsuccessful direct laryngoscopy patients were successfully intubated with Glidescope video laryngoscopy, 82% on the first attempt. There was no significant difference in rates of complications between direct laryngoscopy and Glidescope video laryngoscopy: esophageal intubations (7% vs 0%; p = 0.05), aspiration events (7% vs 9%; p = 0.69), desaturation (8% vs 4%; p = 0.27), and hypotension (13% vs 11%; p = 0.64). CONCLUSIONS: Glidescope video laryngoscopy improves the first-attempt success rate during urgent endotracheal intubation performed by pulmonary and critical care medicine fellows when compared with direct laryngoscopy.