Clinical review of COVID-19 patients presenting to a quaternary care private hospital in South India: A retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been declared a global public-health crisis due to its impact on health, economy, and mental well-being. Here, we evaluated the clinical and epidemiological parameters associated with COVID-19 in South India. METHODS: A retrospective, quaternary care hospital-based study that included COVID-19 positive patients admitted to MIOT International Hospital, Chennai between 8 April-7 August 2020. Cases were identified by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Epidemiological, demographic, clinical, and radiological findings were recorded and analyzed. The primary endpoint was stable discharge from hospital/patient recovery or death. Associations between risk factors and comorbidities were analyzed using Chi-Square/Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: Of the 5264 cases reviewed, 3345 cases were included. The mean (standard deviation, SD) age of the patients was 47.58 (16.69) years with a median and range hospital stay of 5 (2-41) days. 69.20% of patients were male. The most frequent comorbidities were diabetes (37.10%) and hypertension (29.10%). Contact history was available for 58% of patients. The most common symptoms were cough (36.60%), fever (28.30%), and myalgia (15.40%). Abnormal chest radiography was reported in 16.9% of patients. Phase of admission, age ≥50 years, hypertension, diabetes, coronary artery disease, chronic kidney disease was significantly associated with mortality (p < 0.05). There were 142 (4.2%) deaths in this study. CONCLUSION: In this single centre hospital-based study, late presentation and more severe form of COVID pneumonia lead to higher mortality although it had lower mortality rate for COVID-19 in comparison. Late phase of the pandemic showed better outcomes vs. the early group.

Large clear cell tumor of the lung mimicking malignant behavior.

An 18-year-old man presented with a large (12 x 10 cm) cystic mass involving the lower lobe and lingula of the left lung on computed tomography. Intraoperatively a large cystic mass was seen densely adherent to the left lung and the chest wall. A left pneumonectomy was performed because of the dense adhesions and extreme vascularity. Pathologic examination revealed a benign sugar cell tumor of the lung. We believe this is the first case report of such a large, clear cell tumor of the lung, mimicking malignant behavior in terms of vascularity and local invasion and requiring pneumonectomy.

Bridging the cleft over the throbbing heart.

Primary repair of sternal cleft deformities are best achieved in the neonatal period. Conversion of a partial defect to a complete sternal cleft with sternal bar mobilization is able to achieve sternal approximation in most cases. We describe a new technique of fracturing the clavicles in unyielding cases as was our experience in a 6-week-old infant.

Chest wall mass with double pathology.

Intrathoracic neurogenic tumors arising from chest wall are generally rare tumors. The benign soft tissue tumors may produce compression effect on the chest wall but are generally free. The presence of unusual adherence raises the suspicion of malignancy. Our case report describes the clinical features of a young male who underwent excision of a left posterosuperior chest wall mass with a portion of the fourth rib. Histopathological examination unexpectedly revealed the existence of two different pathologies. The mass was found to be benign schwannoma and the rib showed features of tuberculous osteomyelitis. Inflammatory response and fibrous reaction mimicked the features of malignancy.