COVID-19 complicating pregnancy: A retrospective study of nine intensive care unit patients.

Background: With the emergence of the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, it was essential to determine the impact of this disease on pregnant women and neonatal outcomes. In this study, we present a series of nine cases of pregnant women with COVID-19 disease requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Methods: We retrospectively collected clinical data of pregnant women with COVID-19 disease admitted to ICU between September 2020 and September 2021. Results: Most common presenting symptom was cough. Two patients had no respiratory symptoms at presentation. Five of the nine patients required invasive mechanical ventilation. Seven patients required caesarean section, four of whom delivered preterm. There were no maternal or neonatal deaths. Conclusions: Although maternal and neonatal outcomes reported in our study are encouraging, it is imperative to emphasize the importance of an individualized, multidisciplinary approach, and good healthcare infrastructure for optimal management of this group of patients.

Innovations with Validation: An Ingenious Way Forward?

How to cite this article: Ajith Kumar AK, Nikhil N. Innovations with Validation: An Ingenious Way Forward? Indian J Crit Care Med 2023;27(6):377-378.

Is Anxiety a Rising Concern during COVID-19 Pandemic among Healthcare Workers?

How to cite this article: Murthy PR, Venkatesha Gupta KV, Ajith Kumar AK. Is Anxiety a Rising Concern during COVID-19 Pandemic among Healthcare Workers? Indian J Crit Care Med 2020;24(5):369-370.

Adrenomedullin in Sepsis: Finally, a Friend or an Enemy?

Adrenomedullin (ADM) is a 52 amino acid containing free circulating vasoactive peptide hormone found to be active in various pathophysiological states including sepsis. High ADM levels at admission have been correlated with vasopressor requirements, organ dysfunction, and mortality in sepsis patients. ADM stimulation results in vasodilation and loss of vascular resistance in humans resulting in hypotension with the potential for negative impact in septic shock. However, in vitro human and animal experiments have shown that ADM decreases hyperpermeability and capillary leak, thus having an endothelial barrier stabilizing effect during septic shock. Adrenomedullin thus appears to be a double-edged weapon. This editorial critically reviews the article by Daga et al. who evaluated serum ADM as a prognostic marker to review the gender-related difference in mortality pattern, and also the correlation of ADM level to APACHE II and SOFA scores. The role of adrenomedullin in sepsis and the potential developments in the future have been discussed concisely. How to cite this article: Ajith Kumar AK. Adrenomedullin in Sepsis: Finally, a Friend or an Enemy? Indian J Crit Care Med 2020;24(12):1151-1153.