scholarly journals Clinical Management of Critical COVID-19 Patients: Insights from the Literature and “On the Field” Experience

2020 ◽  
Vol 07 (02) ◽  
pp. 054-061 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Alessandri ◽  
Federico Bilotta ◽  
Giancarlo Ceccarelli ◽  
Franco Ruberto ◽  
Fabio Araimo ◽  
...  

AbstractThe recent outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a health emergency all over the world. Several health care professionals are currently putting their best efforts to deal with this situation. The aim of this review is to report insights from the literature and “on the field” experience in clinical management of critical COVID-19 patients. Respiratory support varies from high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) to noninvasive and invasive mechanical ventilation, often associated with nitric oxide, prone position, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Experienced specialists have to manage the airways minimizing any contamination and virus spread. The hemodynamic management of critical COVID-19 patients requires not only an accurate fluid strategy, but also an appropriate use of vasopressors and inotropes. Various adjuvant treatments have been proposed: antiviral drugs, immunomodulators, anticoagulants, antibiotics, and nutrition.

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. e030476 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Dale Casey ◽  
Erin R Vaughan ◽  
Bradley D Lloyd ◽  
Peter A Bilas ◽  
Eric J Hall ◽  
...  

IntroductionFollowing extubation from invasive mechanical ventilation, nearly one in seven critically ill adults requires reintubation. Reintubation is independently associated with increased mortality. Postextubation respiratory support (non-invasive ventilation or high-flow nasal cannula applied at the time of extubation) has been reported in small-to-moderate-sized trials to reduce reintubation rates among hypercapnic patients, high-risk patients without hypercapnia and low-risk patients without hypercapnia. It is unknown whether protocolised provision of postextubation respiratory support to every patient undergoing extubation would reduce the overall reintubation rate, compared with usual care.Methods and analysisThe Protocolized Post-Extubation Respiratory Support (PROPER) trial is a pragmatic, cluster cross-over trial being conducted between 1 October 2017 and 31 March 2019 in the medical intensive care unit of Vanderbilt University Medical Center. PROPER compares usual care versus protocolized post-extubation respiratory support (a respiratory therapist-driven protocol that advises the provision of non-invasive ventilation or high-flow nasal cannula based on patient characteristics). For the duration of the trial, the unit is divided into two clusters. One cluster receives protocolised support and the other receives usual care. Each cluster crosses over between treatment group assignments every 3 months. All adults undergoing extubation from invasive mechanical ventilation are enrolled except those who received less than 12 hours of mechanical ventilation, have ‘Do Not Intubate’ orders, or have been previously reintubated during the hospitalisation. The anticipated enrolment is approximately 630 patients. The primary outcome is reintubation within 96 hours of extubation.Ethics and disseminationThe trial was approved by the Vanderbilt Institutional Review Board. The results will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at one or more scientific conferences.Trial registration numberNCT03288311.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
jie liu ◽  
Li-na QIAO ◽  
De-yuan LI ◽  
Li-li LUO ◽  
Zhong-qiang LIU ◽  
...  

Abstract Background:Different causes of acute respiratory insufficiency threaten the lives of pediatric patients, while High-flow nasal cannula oxygen therapy (HFNC) is a new type of non-invasive respiratory support technique that widely used in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs);however, improper use of HFNC is likely to bring adverse consequences to critically ill children.Our objective in this study was to identify the risk factors for the failure of HFNC, that can guide clinicians during managing of HFNC treatment correctly.Methods: Divided the patients into different categories: HFNC success group (237 patients), a 48 h failure group (112 patients), a 24 h failure group (84 patients), and a 2 h failure group (24 patients). The clinical indexes and the change trend in HFNC before and after treatment were dynamically observed in 67 pediatric patients. Risk factors for HFNC failure were determined using multivariate logistic regression analysis.Results:PRISM III score >4 points and PaCO2 >43 mmHg were risk factors for 48 h failure (OR were 4.064, 4.516, P<0.05); PaCO2 >43 mmHg was risk factors for 24 h failure (OR was 3.152, P<0.05); PRISM III score >6.5 points and PaCO2/PaO2 ratio >0.67 were risk factors for 2 h failure (OR were 27.977, 64.366, P<0.05) and the risk of HFNC failure increased more than 5 times when the oxygenation index decreased by >28% after 2 h of HFNC treatment, and the invasive mechanical ventilation time was statistically longer in the patients that upgraded from HFNC to invasive respiratory support than that of patients who received invasive respiratory support directly(P<0.05).Conclusions: The PRISM III score, PaCO2 and PaCO2/PaO2 ratio were risk factors for HFNC failure. Totally the shorter the failure time, the higher the values of the risk factors were, and the higher the failure risk of HFNC was. The change trend in oxygenation index before and after HFNC is a warning factor for early HFNC failure. And early HFNC failure might lead to prolonged invasive mechanical ventilation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valéria Cabral Neves ◽  
Joyce de Oliveira de Souza ◽  
Adriana Koliski ◽  
Bruno Silva Miranda ◽  
Debora Carla Chong e Silva

Abstract Introduction: The use of a high-flow nasal cannula as an alternative treatment for acute respiratory failure can reduce the need for invasive mechanical ventilation and the duration of hospital stays. Objective: The present study aimed to describe the use of a high-flow nasal cannula in pediatric asthmatic patients with acute respiratory failure and suspected COVID-19. Methods: To carry out this research, data were collected from medical records, including three patients with asthma diagnoses. The variables studied were: personal data (name, age in months, sex, weight, and color), clinical data (physical examination, PRAM score, respiratory rate, heart rate, and peripheral oxygen saturation), diagnosis, history of the current disease, chest, and laboratory radiography (arterial blood gases and reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction). Clinical data were compared before and after using a high-flow nasal cannula. Results: After the application of the therapy, a gradual improvement in heart, respiratory rate, PaO2/FiO2 ratio, and the Pediatric Respiratory Assessment Measure score was observed. Conclusion: The simple and quick use of a high-flow nasal cannula in pediatric patients with asthma can be safe and efficient in improving their respiratory condition and reducing the need for intubation.


Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 620
Author(s):  
Francesca Simioli ◽  
Anna Annunziata ◽  
Giorgio Emanuele Polistina ◽  
Antonietta Coppola ◽  
Valentina Di Spirito ◽  
...  

Background: Pneumomediastinum, subcutaneous emphysema and pneumothorax are not rarely observed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Such complications can worsen gas exchange and the overall prognosis in critical patients. The aim of this study is to investigate what predisposing factors are related to pneumomediastinum and pneumothorax in SARS-CoV2-Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS), what symptoms may predict a severe and potentially fatal complication and what therapeutical approach may provide a better outcome. Methods: In this single center cohort study, we recorded data from 45 critically ill COVID-19 patients who developed one or more complicating events among pneumomediastinum, subcutaneous emphysema and pneumothorax. All patients showed ARDS and underwent non-invasive ventilation (NIV) at baseline. Patients with mild to moderate ARDS and pneumomediastinum/pneumothorax (n = 25) received High Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC), while patients with severe ARDS and pneumomediastinum/pneumothorax underwent HFNC (n = 10) or invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) (n = 10). Results: Pneumomediastinum/pneumothorax developed in 10.5% of subjects affected by SARS-coV2-ARDS. Dyspnea affected 40% and cough affected 37% of subjects. High resolution computed tomography of the chest showed bilateral diffuse ground glass opacities (GGO) in 100% of subjects. Traction bronchiolectasis, reticulation, crazy paving and distortion were observed in 64%. Furthermore, 36% showed subcutaneous emphysema. Non-severe ARDS cases received HFNC, and 76% patients recovered from pneumomediastinum/pneumothorax over a median follow up of 5 days. Among severe ARDS cases the recovery rate of pneumomediastinum/pneumothorax was 70% with the HFNC approach, and 10% with IMV. Conclusion: HFNC is a safe and effective ventilatory approach for critical COVID-19 and has a positive role in associated complications such as pneumomediastinum and pneumothorax.


Children ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 66
Author(s):  
Valentina Fainardi ◽  
Lara Abelli ◽  
Maria Muscarà ◽  
Giovanna Pisi ◽  
Nicola Principi ◽  
...  

Bronchiolitis (BR), a lower respiratory tract infection mainly caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), can be very severe. Presently, adequate nutritional support and oxygen therapy remain the only interventions recommended to treat patients with BR. For years, mild BR cases were treated with noninvasive standard oxygen therapy (SOT), i.e., with cold and poorly or totally non-humidified oxygen delivered by an ambient headbox or low-flow nasal cannula. Children with severe disease were intubated and treated with invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). To improve SOT and overcome the disadvantages of IMV, new measures of noninvasive and more efficient oxygen administration have been studied. Bi-level positive air way pressure (BiPAP), continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), and high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) are among them. For its simplicity, good tolerability and safety, and the good results reported in clinical studies, HFNC has become increasingly popular and is now widely used. However, consistent guidelines for initiation and discontinuation of HFNC are lacking. In this narrative review, the role of HFNC to treat infants with BR is discussed. An analysis of the literature showed that, despite its widespread use, the role of HFNC in preventing respiratory failure in children with BR is not precisely defined. It is not established whether it can offer greater benefits compared to SOT and when and in which infants it can replace CPAP or BiPAP. The analysis of the results clearly indicates the need for multicenter studies and official guidelines. In the meantime, HFNC can be considered a safe and effective method to treat children with mild to moderate BR who do not respond to SOT.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 2214
Author(s):  
Manuel Rubio-Rivas ◽  
Xavier Corbella ◽  
Francesc Formiga ◽  
Estela Menéndez Fernández ◽  
María Martín Escalante ◽  
...  

(1) Background: The inflammation or cytokine storm that accompanies COVID-19 marks the prognosis. This study aimed to identify three risk categories based on inflammatory parameters on admission. (2) Methods: Retrospective cohort study of patients diagnosed with COVID-19, collected and followed-up from 1 March to 31 July 2020, from the nationwide Spanish SEMI-COVID-19 Registry. The three categories of low, intermediate, and high risk were determined by taking into consideration the terciles of the total lymphocyte count and the values of C-reactive protein, lactate dehydrogenase, ferritin, and D-dimer taken at the time of admission. (3) Results: A total of 17,122 patients were included in the study. The high-risk group was older (57.9 vs. 64.2 vs. 70.4 years; p < 0.001) and predominantly male (37.5% vs. 46.9% vs. 60.1%; p < 0.001). They had a higher degree of dependence in daily tasks prior to admission (moderate-severe dependency in 10.8% vs. 14.1% vs. 17%; p < 0.001), arterial hypertension (36.9% vs. 45.2% vs. 52.8%; p < 0.001), dyslipidemia (28.4% vs. 37% vs. 40.6%; p < 0.001), diabetes mellitus (11.9% vs. 17.1% vs. 20.5%; p < 0.001), ischemic heart disease (3.7% vs. 6.5% vs. 8.4%; p < 0.001), heart failure (3.4% vs. 5.2% vs. 7.6%; p < 0.001), liver disease (1.1% vs. 3% vs. 3.9%; p = 0.002), chronic renal failure (2.3% vs. 3.6% vs. 6.7%; p < 0.001), cancer (6.5% vs. 7.2% vs. 11.1%; p < 0.001), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (5.7% vs. 5.4% vs. 7.1%; p < 0.001). They presented more frequently with fever, dyspnea, and vomiting. These patients more frequently required high flow nasal cannula (3.1% vs. 4.4% vs. 9.7%; p < 0.001), non-invasive mechanical ventilation (0.9% vs. 3% vs. 6.3%; p < 0.001), invasive mechanical ventilation (0.6% vs. 2.7% vs. 8.7%; p < 0.001), and ICU admission (0.9% vs. 3.6% vs. 10.6%; p < 0.001), and had a higher percentage of in-hospital mortality (2.3% vs. 6.2% vs. 23.9%; p < 0.001). The three risk categories proved to be an independent risk factor in multivariate analyses. (4) Conclusion: The present study identifies three risk categories for the requirement of high flow nasal cannula, mechanical ventilation, ICU admission, and in-hospital mortality based on lymphopenia and inflammatory parameters.


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