Lactate Profile Assessment-A Good Predictor of Prognosis in Patients with COVID-19 and Septic Shock Requiring Continuous Renal Therapy.

INTRODUCTION: Lactate is a useful prognostic marker, as its level increases in hypoxic tissue and/or during accelerated aerobic glycolysis due to excessive beta-adrenergic stimulation and decreased lactate clearance. The Surviving Sepsis Campaign Bundle 2018 Update suggests premeasurement of lactate within 2-4 h so that physicians perform, assist, administer, and introduce lactate-guided resuscitation to reduce mortality due to sepsis. METHODS: A total of 108 patients with septic shock who underwent continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) for acute kidney injury were enrolled in this observational study. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were collected, and patients were divided into two groups: survivors and non-survivors. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis demonstrated that lactate levels at 24 h after initiation of CRRT treatment, but not lactate levels at intensive care unit (ICU) admission, were associated with mortality. Lactate clearance was associated with lower mortality among the survivors (OR = 0.140) at 6 h after ICU admission and late mortality (OR = 0.260) after 24 h. The area under the ROC curves for mortality was 0.682 for initial lactate; 0.797 for lactate at 24 h; and 0.816 for lactate clearance at 24 h. CONCLUSIONS: Our result reinforces that the determination of lactate dynamics represents a good predictor for mortality, and serial lactate measurements may be more useful prognostic markers than initial lactate in patients with septic shock.

Risk Assessment of Venous Thromboembolism among Septic Shock Patients: Single versus Concurrent Insertion of Central Venous Catheters.

Background and Objectives: Thrombosis is a serious complication experienced by some hospitalized patients. While concurrent placement of two catheters (CVCs) in the same central vein offers several benefits in clinical settings, we aimed to investigate the role of this procedure in relation to the risk of thrombosis. Materials and Methods: Over a two-year retrospective analysis, we examined 114 patients with septic shock caused by a pulmonary infection, who underwent the insertion of one or more central lines into a central vein during their ICU stay. Logistic regression models were employed to assess the correlation between the Caprini risk score, the placement of two CVCs in the same vein, COVID-19 infection and the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Results: In total, 53% of the patients underwent the concurrent insertion of two CVCs. The placement of two CVCs in the same vein appears to elevate the VTE risk by 2.5 times (95% CI: 1.03-6.12). Logistic regression analysis indicated that hemodialysis catheters amplify the VTE risk by nearly five times, even when accounting for a series of factors (95% CI: 1.86-12.31). Conclusions: Our study suggests that the elevated risk of VTE is likely associated with the insertion of the hemodialysis catheters rather than solely the presence of two concurrent catheters.

Lactate Levels and Clearance: Key Predictors of Prognosis for COVID-19 and Non-COVID-19 Septic Shock Patients in the Emergency Department.

BACKGROUND: This investigation assesses the prognostic value of lactate levels and their clearance in septic shock patients, particularly emphasizing the comparative analysis between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients in the emergency department. This study aims to elucidate the unique prognostic implications of lactate dynamics in these distinct patient groups, thereby enhancing the management of septic shock. METHODS: An observational prospective study was conducted, enrolling 114 septic shock patients from the Emergency County Hospital Resita, Romania, categorizing them into COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 groups to examine their initial lactate levels, clearance rates, and their correlation with patient outcomes. RESULTS: This study identified significant differences in the initial lactate levels and clearance rates between the two groups, indicating higher initial lactate levels and slower clearance rates in COVID-19 patients. Survivors demonstrated significantly lower initial lactate levels (1.5 ± 0.4 mmol/L) and higher lactate clearance rates (33 ± 15%) compared to non-survivors (2.5 ± 0.5 mmol/L and 24 ± 9%, respectively; lactate levels p = 0.001, clearance rates p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Lactate monitoring, particularly clearance rates, is crucial in the prognostic assessment of septic shock patients. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions in COVID-19 patients to improve outcomes, underscoring lactate dynamics as a vital component of septic shock management in differing patient populations.

Cardiac Arrest and Complete Heart Block: Complications after Electrical Cardioversion for Unstable Supraventricular Tachycardia in the Emergency Department.

Synchronous electrical cardioversion is a relatively common procedure in the emergency department (ED), often performed for unstable supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) or unstable ventricular tachycardia (VT). However, it is also used for stable cases resistant to drug therapy, which carries a risk of deterioration. In addition to the inherent risks linked with procedural sedation, there is a possibility of malignant arrhythmias or bradycardia, which could potentially result in cardiac arrest following this procedure. Here, we present a case of complete heart block unresponsive to transcutaneous pacing and positive inotropic and chronotropic drugs for 90 min, resulting in multiple cardiac arrests. The repositioning of the transcutaneous cardio-stimulation electrodes, one of them placed in the left latero-sternal position and the other at the level of the apex, led to immediate stabilization of the patient. The extubation of the patient was performed the following day, with full recovery and discharge within 7 days after the insertion of a permanent pacemaker.

Non-Ventilated Patients with Spontaneous Pneumothorax or Pneumomediastinum Associated with COVID-19: Three-Year Debriefing across Five Pandemic Waves.

Spontaneous pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum (SP-SPM) are relatively rare medical conditions that can occur with or independently of COVID-19. We conducted a retrospective analysis of SP-SPM cases presented to the emergency departments (EDs) of two University-affiliated tertiary hospitals from 1 March 2020 to 31 October 2022. A total of 190 patients were identified: 52 were COVID-19 cases, and 138 were non-COVID-19 cases. The primary outcome we were looking for was in-hospital mortality. The secondary outcomes concerned the disease severity assessed by (a) days of hospitalization; (b) required mechanical ventilation (MV); and (c) required intensive care (IC). All were investigated in the context of the five pandemic waves and the patients' age and comorbidities. The pandemic waves had no significant effect on the outcomes of these patients. Logistic regression found age (OR = 1.043; 95%CI 1.002-1.085), COVID-19 (OR = 6.032; 95%CI 1.757-20.712), number of comorbidities (OR = 1.772; 95%CI 1.046-3.001), and ground-glass opacities over 50% (OR = 5.694; 95%CI 1.169-27.746) as significant risk predictors of in-hospital death while controlling for gender, smoking, the pandemic wave, and the extension of SP-SPM. The model proved good prediction performance (Nagelkerke R-square = 0.524) and would hold the same significant predictors for MV and IC.

The Learning Experience of Romanian Medical Students During the Online Teaching Imposed by the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted many aspects of society, including medical education. In response to the pandemic, Romanian medical schools and universities have turned to online learning as a means of continuing instruction while maintaining social distancing protocols. While online learning in medical education was utilized prior to the pandemic, its widespread adoption has brought both challenges and opportunities to the field. The purpose of this study was to assess medical students' perception towards implementing E-learning during COVID 19 pandemic. Material and Methods: This cross-sectional multicentric study comprised 611 medical students from several medical university centers from Romania. A self-developed questionnaire was online applied between January and March 2021 and used for the evaluation and analysis of perceived changes in teaching before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results: Most students (n = 71.5%) considered that the pandemic had an overall negative impact on their professional development. A significant negative correlation (p < 0.01, for all), was observed between during COVID-19 pandemic and the level of medical training, motivation to learn, and level of self-confidence. Conclusion: The shift to online learning during the pandemic decreased the psychological and professional development of medical students, resulting in a low perception of self-confidence, motivation, and practical involvement. However, there are many benefits brought by the use of electronic technologies for medical education both in Romania and in the world. These benefits should be systematically evaluated, and effective strategies should be developed to permanently improve the e-learning methods of these students.