Utility and diagnostic test properties of pulmonary and cardiovascular point of care ultra-sonography (POCUS) in COVID-19 patients admitted to critical care unit.

Background: We conducted this study to assess the diagnostic test properties of point of care ultrasonography (POCUS) of lung and cardiovascular system in prediction of mortality in COVID-19 patients. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of 178 Covid-19 patients; POCUS was performed within one hour of admission to the ICU. We estimated sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value for prediction of mortality. Results: The mean (SD) age of these patients was 57.3 (12.8) years. The findings were on cardiac ultrasonography were: mild pericardial effusion (45%), chamber dilatation (15%), hypokinesia (11%), and low ejection fraction (8%). In our study, 30 patients (17%) had died. A cut-off score of > to 13 (for lung ultrasound score [LUS]) had high sensitivity for mortality (93.3%, 95% CI: 77.9-99.2%). However, low ejection fraction (92.3%, 95% CI: 86,6-96.1%), and thrombosis in either vein (96.5%, 95% CI: 92.0-98.9%) were specific for mortality. A combination of LUS > =13 or low ejection fraction or thrombosis or spontaneous echo contrast (slow flow) improved sensitivity for mortality to 96.7% (95% CI: 82.8-99.9%). The agreement between LUS of > =13 and CT score of moderate/severe was 85.7% (95% CI: 62.8-100%). The interrater agreement between these two parameters was 0.82 (95% CI: 0.68, 0.97). Conclusions: Multi-organ POCUS is effective in diagnosis, prognosis, and management of COVID-19 patients. Rather than just lung ultrasound, clinicians should use multiorgan POCUS for early identification of severe lung involvement and thrombotic changes; it may help reduce mortality in these patients.

Increased frequency of pneumothorax and pneumomediastinum in COVID-19 patients admitted in the ICU: A multicentre study from Mumbai, India.

BACKGROUND: There are limited data regarding the incidence of pneumothorax in COVID-19 patients as well as the impact of the same on patient outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective review of the medical records at three large tertiary care hospitals in Mumbai was performed to identify patients hospitalised with COVID-19 from March 2020 to October 2020. The presence of pneumothorax and/or pneumomediastinum was noted when chest radiographs or CT scans were performed. Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients who developed air leak were recorded. RESULTS: 4,906 patients with COVID-19 were admitted, with 1,324 (27%) having severe COVID-19 disease. The overall incidence of pneumothorax and/or pneumomediastinum in patients with severe disease was 3.2% (42/1,324). Eighteen patients had pneumothorax, 16 had pneumomediastinum and 8 patients had both. Fourteen patients (33.3%) developed this complication breathing spontaneously, 28 patients (66.6%) developed it during mechanical ventilation. Overall mortality in this cohort was 74%, compared with 17% in the COVID-19 patients without pneumothorax (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that air leaks occur with a higher frequency in patients with COVID-19 than in other ICU patients. When present, such air leaks contributed to poor outcomes with almost 74% mortality rates in these patients.