Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage in Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation.

Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) is a morbid syndrome that occurs after autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in children and adults. DAH manifests most often in the first few weeks following transplantation. It presents with pneumonia-like symptoms and acute respiratory failure, often requiring high levels of oxygen supplementation or mechanical ventilatory support. Hemoptysis is variably present. Chest radiographs typically feature widespread alveolar filling, sometimes with peripheral sparing and pleural effusions. The diagnosis is suspected when serial bronchoalveolar lavages return increasingly bloody fluid. DAH is differentiated from infectious causes of alveolar hemorrhage when extensive microbiological testing reveals no pulmonary pathogens. The cause is poorly understood, though preclinical and clinical studies implicate pretransplant conditioning regimens, particularly those using high doses of total-body-irradiation, acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), medications used to prevent GVHD, and other factors. Treatment consists of supportive care, systemic corticosteroids, platelet transfusions, and sometimes includes antifibrinolytic drugs and topical procoagulant factors. Therapeutic blockade of tumor necrosis factor-α showed promise in observational studies, but its benefit for DAH remains uncertain after small clinical trials. Even with these treatments, mortality from progression and relapse is high. Future investigational therapies could target the vascular endothelial cell biology theorized to contribute to alveolar bleeding and pathways that contribute to susceptibility, inflammation, cellular resilience, and tissue repair. This review will help clinicians navigate through the limited evidence to diagnose and treat DAH, counsel patients and families, and plan for future research.

A remote monitoring-enabled home exercise prescription for patients with interstitial lung disease at risk for exercise-induced desaturation.

RATIONALE: Alternatives to center-based pulmonary rehabilitation are needed to improve patient access to this important therapy. A critical challenge to overcome is how to maximize safety of unsupervised exercise for at-risk patients. We investigated if a novel remote monitoring-enabled mobile health (mHealth) program is safe, feasible, and effective for patients who experience exercise-induced hemoglobin desaturation. METHODS: An interstitial lung disease (ILD) commonly associated with pronounced exercise desaturation was investigated - the rare, female-predominant ILD lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). Over a 12-week program, hemoglobin saturation (SpO2) was continuously recorded during all home exercise sessions. Intervention effects were assessed with 6-min walk test (6MWT), maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET), lower extremity computerized dynamometry, pulmonary function tests, and health-related quality of life (QoL) surveys. Safety was assessed by blood biomarkers of systemic inflammation and cardiac wall stress, and incidence of adverse events. RESULTS: Fifteen LAM patients enrolled and 14 completed the intervention, with high adherence to aerobic (87 ± 15%) and strength (87 ± 12%) training components. An innovative characterization of exercise training SpO2 revealed that while mild-to-moderate desaturation was common during home workouts, participants were able to self-adjust exercise intensity and supplemental oxygen levels to maintain recommended exercise parameters. Significant improvements included 6MWT distance (+36 ± 34 m, p = 0.003), CPET time (p = 0.04), muscular endurance (p = 0.008), QoL (p = 0.009 to 0.03), and fatigue (p = 0.001 to 0.03). Patient acceptability and satisfaction indicators were high, blood biomarkers remained stable (p > 0.05), and no study-related adverse events occurred. CONCLUSION: A remote monitoring-enabled home exercise program is a safe, feasible, and effective approach even for patients who experience exercise desaturation.

Regimen-intensity per count-recovery and hospitalization index: A new tool to assign regimen intensity for AML.

BACKGROUND: Low-intensity regimens have been increasingly used to treat older patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Recent studies, however, suggest older patients can tolerate and potentially benefit from intensive chemotherapeutic regimens. The ability to compare the utility of varying regimen intensities in AML is hindered by the lack of a standardized definition of "regimen intensity." METHODS: We conducted a survey asking AML physicians which of 38 regimens they would consider intensive vs less-intensive. Electronic medical records of 592 patients receiving many of these regimens were used to design a model characterizing regimens as intensive vs less-intensive as identified by ≥75% physician consensus. Variables included frequency and length of hospitalizations, intensive care unit admissions, severe gastrointestinal toxicities, time to nadir, and recovery of neutrophil/platelet count. RESULTS: Physicians agreed at a rate of 75%-100% on the assignment of degree of intensity to the majority (n = 28) of these regimens, while the level of agreement was <75% for the remaining 10 regimens (26%). Logistic regression analyses identified number and length of hospitalizations to be significantly associated with intensive regimens and count recovery with less-intensive regimens. We created the "regimen-intensity per count-recovery and hospitalization" (RICH) index with an AUC of 0.87. Independent model validation yielded an AUC of 0.75. CONCLUSIONS: We were able to generate a novel model that defines regimen intensity for many therapies used to treat AML. Results facilitate a future randomized study comparing intensive vs less-intensive regimens.

A Conceptual and Adaptable Approach to Hospital Preparedness for Acute Surge Events Due to Emerging Infectious Diseases.

At the time this article was written, the World Health Organization had declared a global pandemic due to the novel coronavirus disease 2019, the first pandemic since 2009 H1N1 influenza A. Emerging respiratory pathogens are a common trigger of acute surge events-the extreme end of the healthcare capacity strain spectrum in which there is a dramatic increase in care demands and/or decreases in care resources that trigger deviations from normal care delivery processes, reliance on contingencies and external resources, and, in the most extreme cases, nonroutine decisions about resource allocation. This article provides as follows: 1) a conceptual introduction and approach to healthcare capacity strain including the etiologies of patient volume, patient acuity, special patient care demands, and resource reduction; 2) a framework for considering key resources during an acute surge event-the "four Ss" of preparedness: space (beds), staff (clinicians and operations), stuff (physical equipment), and system (coordination); and 3) an adaptable approach to and discussion of the most common domains that should be addressed during preparation for and response to acute surge events, with an eye toward combating novel respiratory viral pathogens.

Association of Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment With ICU Admission Among Patients Hospitalized Near the End of Life.

Importance: Patients with chronic illness frequently use Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) to document treatment limitations. Objectives: To evaluate the association between POLST order for medical interventions and intensive care unit (ICU) admission for patients hospitalized near the end of life. Design, Setting, and Participants: Retrospective cohort study of patients with POLSTs and with chronic illness who died between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2017, and were hospitalized 6 months or less before death in a 2-hospital academic health care system. Exposures: POLST order for medical interventions ("comfort measures only" vs "limited additional interventions" vs "full treatment"), age, race/ethnicity, education, days from POLST completion to admission, histories of cancer or dementia, and admission for traumatic injury. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was the association between POLST order and ICU admission during the last hospitalization of life; the secondary outcome was receipt of a composite of 4 life-sustaining treatments: mechanical ventilation, vasopressors, dialysis, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. For evaluating factors associated with POLST-discordant care, the outcome was ICU admission contrary to POLST order for medical interventions during the last hospitalization of life. Results: Among 1818 decedents (mean age, 70.8 [SD, 14.7] years; 41% women), 401 (22%) had POLST orders for comfort measures only, 761 (42%) had orders for limited additional interventions, and 656 (36%) had orders for full treatment. ICU admissions occurred in 31% (95% CI, 26%-35%) of patients with comfort-only orders, 46% (95% CI, 42%-49%) with limited-interventions orders, and 62% (95% CI, 58%-66%) with full-treatment orders. One or more life-sustaining treatments were delivered to 14% (95% CI, 11%-17%) of patients with comfort-only orders and to 20% (95% CI, 17%-23%) of patients with limited-interventions orders. Compared with patients with full-treatment POLSTs, those with comfort-only and limited-interventions orders were significantly less likely to receive ICU admission (comfort only: 123/401 [31%] vs 406/656 [62%], aRR, 0.53 [95% CI, 0.45-0.62]; limited interventions: 349/761 [46%] vs 406/656 [62%], aRR, 0.79 [95% CI, 0.71-0.87]). Across patients with comfort-only and limited-interventions POLSTs, 38% (95% CI, 35%-40%) received POLST-discordant care. Patients with cancer were significantly less likely to receive POLST-discordant care than those without cancer (comfort only: 41/181 [23%] vs 80/220 [36%], aRR, 0.60 [95% CI, 0.43-0.85]; limited interventions: 100/321 [31%] vs 215/440 [49%], aRR, 0.63 [95% CI, 0.51-0.78]). Patients with dementia and comfort-only orders were significantly less likely to receive POLST-discordant care than those without dementia (23/111 [21%] vs 98/290 [34%], aRR, 0.44 [95% CI, 0.29-0.67]). Patients admitted for traumatic injury were significantly more likely to receive POLST-discordant care (comfort only: 29/64 [45%] vs 92/337 [27%], aRR, 1.52 [95% CI, 1.08-2.14]; limited interventions: 51/91 [56%] vs 264/670 [39%], aRR, 1.36 [95% CI, 1.09-1.68]). In patients with limited-interventions orders, older age was significantly associated with less POLST-discordant care (aRR, 0.93 per 10 years [95% CI, 0.88-1.00]). Conclusions and Relevance: Among patients with POLSTs and with chronic life-limiting illness who were hospitalized within 6 months of death, treatment-limiting POLSTs were significantly associated with lower rates of ICU admission compared with full-treatment POLSTs. However, 38% of patients with treatment-limiting POLSTs received intensive care that was potentially discordant with their POLST.

The accuracy of the bedside swallowing evaluation for detecting aspiration in survivors of acute respiratory failure.

BACKGROUND: Dysphagia with subsequent aspiration occurs in up to 60% of acute respiratory failure (ARF) survivors. Accurate bedside tests for aspiration can reduce aspiration-related complications while minimizing delay of oral nutrition. In a cohort of ARF survivors, we determined the accuracy of the bedside swallowing evaluation (BSE) and its components for detecting aspiration. METHODS: Patients who were extubated after at least 24hours of mechanical ventilation were eligible for enrollment. Within 3 days of extubation, patients underwent comprehensive BSE including 3-oz water swallowing test (3-WST), followed by a criterion standard test for aspiration, flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES). RESULTS: Forty-five patients were included in the analysis. Median patient age was 55years (interquartile range, 47-65). Median duration of mechanical ventilation was 3.3days (interquartile range 1.8-6.0). Fourteen patients (31%) aspirated on FEES. Physical examination findings on BSE and abnormal swallowing during trials of different consistencies were variably associated with aspiration. Compared with FEES, the 3-WST yielded a sensitivity of 77% (95% confidence interval [CI], 50%-92%), specificity of 65% (95% CI, 47%-79%), and an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.71; a speech language pathologist's recommendation for altered diet yielded a sensitivity of 86% (95% CI, 60%-96%), a specificity of 52% (95% CI, 35%-68%), and an AUCof 0.69; an speech language pathologist's recommendation for nil per os (nothing by mouth) yielded a sensitivity of 50% (95% CI, 27%-73%), a specificity of 94% (95% CI, 79%-98%), and an AUCof 0.72. CONCLUSIONS: The BSE and its components, including the 3-WST, demonstrated variable accuracy for aspiration in survivors of ARF. Investigation to determine the optimal noninvasive test for aspiration in ARF survivors is warranted. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02363686, Aspiration in Acute Respiratory Failure Survivors.

Association Between Resilience and Family Member Psychologic Symptoms in Critical Illness.

OBJECTIVES: There are increased rates of depression, anxiety, and stress disorders in families of critically ill patients. Interventions directed at family members may help their ability to cope with this stress. Specifically, resilience is a teachable psychologic construct describing a person's ability to adapt to traumatic situations. Resilience can inherently assist individuals to diminish adverse psychologic outcomes. Consequently, we determined the relationship between resilience and symptoms of depression, anxiety, and acute stress in family members of critically ill patients. DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional study. SETTING: Three medical ICUs were screened by study staff. PATIENTS: Family members of ICU patients admitted for greater than 48 hours were approached for enrollment. INTERVENTIONS: The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale was used to stratify family members as resilient or nonresilient. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Impact of Event Scale-Revised, and Family Satisfaction in the ICU were collected prior to ICU discharge to measure symptoms of depression, anxiety, and acute stress, as well as satisfaction with care. One-hundred and seventy family members were enrolled. Seventy-eight family members were resilient. Resilient family members had fewer symptoms of anxiety (14.2% vs 43.6%; p < 0.001), depression (14.1% vs 44.9%; p < 0.001), and acute stress (12.7% vs 36.3%; p = 0.001). Resilient family members were more satisfied with care in the ICU (76.7 vs 70.8; p = 0.008). Resilience remained independently associated with these outcomes after adjusting for family member age and gender, as well as the patient's need for mechanical ventilation. CONCLUSIONS: When caring for the critically ill, resilient family members have fewer symptoms of depression, anxiety, and acute stress. Resilient families were generally better satisfied with the care delivered. These data suggest that interventions aimed at increasing resilience may improve a family member's experience in the ICU.

Epidemiology and outcomes associated with surgical site infection following bariatric surgery.

BACKGROUND: Surgical site infection (SSI) is a frequent problem complicating bariatric surgery. However, the potential risk factors, risk stratification, and outcomes of SSIs in this patient population remain poorly defined. The aim of this prospective case-control study was to characterize better the risk factors and to improve risk stratification for SSIs following bariatric surgery. METHODS: Patients studied had SSI following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery (RYGBS) between November 2006 and March 2009 at Harper University Hospital and were each matched with 3 controls based on type of operative procedure, surgeon, and year of surgery. Thirty-day outcomes included mortality, hospital readmissions, outpatient procedures, and emergency room visits. A scoring system (BULCS score) was compared with the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance system risk index using logistic regression. RESULTS: In multivariate analysis, duration of surgery (odds ratio [OR], 3.3; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.62-6.74), diagnosis of bipolar disorder (OR, 3.341; 95% CI: 1.0-12.27), use of prophylactic antibiotics other than cefazolin (OR, 4.2; 95% CI: 1.47-11.69), and sleep apnea (OR, 1.8; 95% CI: 1.05-2.97) were significantly associated with SSI. Patients with SSI were more likely to have return emergency visits (OR, 4.96; 95% CI: 2.9-8.48), readmission (OR, 6.53; 95% CI: 3.44-12.42), and outpatient procedures following surgery (OR, 4.75; 95% CI: 1.32-17.14) than were controls without SSI. The BULCS score was a stronger predictor of SSI than the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance system (C-statistic, -0.62 vs 0.55, respectively). CONCLUSION: SSI following bariatric surgery was associated with receipt of antibiotic prophylaxis other than cefazolin and comorbid conditions including sleep apnea and bipolar disorder. The BULCS score performed favorably as a predictor and risk adjuster for SSI following bariatric surgery. SSI was associated with increased health care resource utilization.