Clinical outcomes of concomitant use of enteral and intravenous sedatives and analgesics in mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19

Abstract Disclaimer In an effort to expedite the publication of articles related to the COVID-19 pandemic, AJHP is posting these manuscripts online as soon as possible after acceptance. Accepted manuscripts have been peer-reviewed and copyedited, but are posted online before technical formatting and author proofing. These manuscripts are not the final version of record and will be replaced with the final article (formatted per AJHP style and proofed by the authors) at a later time. Purpose To evaluate potential differences in days on mechanical ventilation for patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) based on route of administration of analgesic and sedative medications: intravenous (IV) alone vs IV + enteral (EN). Summary This institutional review board–approved study evaluated ventilation time and fentanyl or midazolam requirements with or without concurrent EN hydromorphone and lorazepam. Patients were included in the study if they were 18 to 89 years old and were admitted to the intensive care unit with a positive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction or antigen test and respiratory failure requiring invasive mechanical ventilation for more than 72 hours. In total, 100 patients were evaluated, 60 in the IV-only group and 40 in the IV + EN group. There was not a significant difference in ventilation time between the groups (mean [SD], 19.6 [12.8] days for IV + EN vs 15.6 [11.2] days for IV only; P = 0.104). However, fentanyl (2,064 [847] μg vs 2,443 [779] μg; P < 0.001) and midazolam (137 [72] mg vs 158 [70] mg; P = 0.004) requirements on day 3 were significantly higher in the IV-only group, and the increase in fentanyl requirements from day 1 to day 3 was greater in the IV-only group than in the IV + EN group (378 [625] μg vs 34 [971] μg; P = 0.033). Conclusion Addition of EN analgesic and sedative medications to those administered by the IV route did not change the duration of mechanical ventilation in patients with COVID-19, but the combination may reduce IV opioid requirements, decreasing the impact of IV medication shortages.

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Efficacy of Hydroxychloroquine and Tocilizumab in Patients With COVID-19: Single-Center Retrospective Chart Review (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.21758 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Sohaib Roomi ◽

Waqas Ullah ◽

Faizan Ahmed ◽

Soban Farooq ◽

Usama Sadiq ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Ventilation ◽

Renal Failure ◽

Acute Renal Failure ◽

Hospital Mortality ◽

Medical Care ◽

Invasive Mechanical Ventilation ◽

Hospitalized Patients ◽

Odds Ratios ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Impact

BACKGROUND During the initial phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an unfounded fervor surrounding the use of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and tocilizumab (TCZ); however, evidence on their efficacy and safety have been controversial. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study is to evaluate the overall clinical effectiveness of HCQ and TCZ in patients with COVID-19. We hypothesize that HCQ and TCZ use in these patients will be associated with a reduction in in-hospital mortality, upgrade to intensive medical care, invasive mechanical ventilation, or acute renal failure needing dialysis. METHODS A retrospective cohort study was performed to determine the impact of HCQ and TCZ use on hard clinical outcomes during hospitalization. A total of 176 hospitalized patients with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis was included. Patients were divided into two comparison groups: (1) HCQ (n=144) vs no-HCQ (n=32) and (2) TCZ (n=32) vs no-TCZ (n=144). The mean age, baseline comorbidities, and other medications used during hospitalization were uniformly distributed among all the groups. Independent t tests and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to calculate mean differences and adjusted odds ratios with 95% CIs, respectively. RESULTS The unadjusted odds ratio for patients upgraded to a higher level of care (ie, intensive care unit) (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.19-5.69; P=.003) and reductions in C-reactive protein (CRP) level on day 7 of hospitalization (21% vs 56%, OR 0.21, 95% CI 0.08-0.55; P=.002) were significantly higher in the TCZ group compared to the control group. There was no significant difference in the odds of in-hospital mortality, upgrade to intensive medical care, need for invasive mechanical ventilation, acute kidney failure necessitating dialysis, or discharge from the hospital after recovery in both the HCQ and TCZ groups compared to their respective control groups. Adjusted odds ratios controlled for baseline comorbidities and medications closely followed the unadjusted estimates. CONCLUSIONS In this cohort of patients with COVID-19, neither HCQ nor TCZ offered a significant reduction in in-hospital mortality, upgrade to intensive medical care, invasive mechanical ventilation, or acute renal failure needing dialysis. These results are similar to the recently published preliminary results of the HCQ arm of the Recovery trial, which showed no clinical benefit from the use of HCQ in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 (the TCZ arm is ongoing). Double-blinded randomized controlled trials are needed to further evaluate the impact of these drugs in larger patient samples so that data-driven guidelines can be deduced to combat this global pandemic.

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The impact of R1and R3a genes on tuber resistance to late blight of the potato breeding clones

Proceedings of the Latvian Academy of Sciences Section B Natural Exact and Applied Sciences ◽

10.1515/prolas-2016-0010 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 70 (2) ◽

pp. 58-63

Author(s):

Nadezhda Zoteyeva ◽

Ilze Skrabule ◽

Ieva Mežaka ◽

Daiga Vilcāne ◽

Guna Usele ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Late Blight ◽

Plant Material ◽

Potato Breeding ◽

Resistance Allele ◽

Chain Reaction ◽

Tuber Resistance ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Polymerase Chain ◽

R1 Gene ◽

The Impact

Abstract Potato breeding clones were evaluated for resistance to late blight (agent Phytophthora infestans) using tuber inoculation tests and for presence of the resistance alleles of R1 and R3a genes in polymerase chain reaction tests. Among clones tested those expressing high, moderate and low resistance were identified. The data were analysed for the impact of R1 and R3a genes on tuber resistance to late blight in tested plant material. In previous evaluations performed on smaller amount of clones the tuber resistance levels significantly depended on presence/absence of the resistance allele of R3a gene and did not depend on presence of R1 gene allele. In the current study the statistical analyses did not prove the significant difference in resistance levels depending on presence of the resistance alleles, neither of R1 gene, nor of R3a gene. Tuber resistant clones bearing R3a gene resistance alleles still noticeably prevailed over the clones bearing the alleles of R1 gene as well as over the clones bearing the no resistance alleles of both genes. In several cases the resistance of clones with detected resistance allele of R1 gene was higher compared to those derived from the same crosses and showing amplification of the allele of R3a gene or those with no resistance alleles. Clones accumulating the resistance alleles of both (R1 and R3a) genes expressed high tuber resistance accompanied by necrotic reaction.

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Pneumothorax and Pneumomediastinum Secondary to COVID-19 Disease Unrelated to Mechanical Ventilation

Case Reports in Critical Care ◽

10.1155/2020/6655428 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-5

Author(s):

Lara Tucker ◽

Sachin Patel ◽

Catherine Vatsis ◽

Antonia Poma ◽

Ali Ammar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Ventilation ◽

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽

Distress Syndrome ◽

Medical Center ◽

Chest Imaging ◽

Chain Reaction ◽

Mechanically Ventilated ◽

Regional Medical ◽

Regional Medical Center ◽

Polymerase Chain

In the recent worldwide coronavirus 2019 pandemic, a notable rise in pneumomediastinum and pneumothorax complications has been witnessed in numerous mechanically ventilated patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Most cases have reported these complications as barotrauma from mechanical ventilation with COVID-19 disease. We aim to report three polymerase chain reaction-confirmed COVID-19 patients who developed pneumomediastinum and pneumothorax unrelated to mechanical ventilation. We originally analyzed 800 patients with COVID-19 disease at Orlando Regional Medical Center from March 1, 2020, to July 31, 2020, of which 12 patients developed pneumomediastinum and pneumothorax in their hospital course. Interestingly, three patients developed pneumomediastinum on chest imaging prior to intubation. We present these three patients, one female and two males, ages of 42, 64, and 65, respectively, who were diagnosed with COVID-19 disease through nasopharyngeal sampling tests with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Spontaneous pneumomediastinum and pneumothorax are potential complications of COVID-19 disease in the lungs unrelated to mechanical ventilation. This is similar to previous outbreaks of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) diseases. Further investigation is needed to define the causality of pneumomediastinum in nonintubated COVID-19 patients to define the incidence of disease.

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Efficacy of Hydroxychloroquine and Tocilizumab in Patients With COVID-19: Single-Center Retrospective Chart Review

Journal of Medical Internet Research ◽

10.2196/21758 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (9) ◽

pp. e21758 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Sohaib Roomi ◽

Waqas Ullah ◽

Faizan Ahmed ◽

Soban Farooq ◽

Usama Sadiq ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Ventilation ◽

Renal Failure ◽

Acute Renal Failure ◽

Hospital Mortality ◽

Medical Care ◽

Invasive Mechanical Ventilation ◽

Hospitalized Patients ◽

Odds Ratios ◽

Significant Difference ◽

The Impact

Background During the initial phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an unfounded fervor surrounding the use of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and tocilizumab (TCZ); however, evidence on their efficacy and safety have been controversial. Objective The purpose of this study is to evaluate the overall clinical effectiveness of HCQ and TCZ in patients with COVID-19. We hypothesize that HCQ and TCZ use in these patients will be associated with a reduction in in-hospital mortality, upgrade to intensive medical care, invasive mechanical ventilation, or acute renal failure needing dialysis. Methods A retrospective cohort study was performed to determine the impact of HCQ and TCZ use on hard clinical outcomes during hospitalization. A total of 176 hospitalized patients with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis was included. Patients were divided into two comparison groups: (1) HCQ (n=144) vs no-HCQ (n=32) and (2) TCZ (n=32) vs no-TCZ (n=144). The mean age, baseline comorbidities, and other medications used during hospitalization were uniformly distributed among all the groups. Independent t tests and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to calculate mean differences and adjusted odds ratios with 95% CIs, respectively. Results The unadjusted odds ratio for patients upgraded to a higher level of care (ie, intensive care unit) (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.19-5.69; P=.003) and reductions in C-reactive protein (CRP) level on day 7 of hospitalization (21% vs 56%, OR 0.21, 95% CI 0.08-0.55; P=.002) were significantly higher in the TCZ group compared to the control group. There was no significant difference in the odds of in-hospital mortality, upgrade to intensive medical care, need for invasive mechanical ventilation, acute kidney failure necessitating dialysis, or discharge from the hospital after recovery in both the HCQ and TCZ groups compared to their respective control groups. Adjusted odds ratios controlled for baseline comorbidities and medications closely followed the unadjusted estimates. Conclusions In this cohort of patients with COVID-19, neither HCQ nor TCZ offered a significant reduction in in-hospital mortality, upgrade to intensive medical care, invasive mechanical ventilation, or acute renal failure needing dialysis. These results are similar to the recently published preliminary results of the HCQ arm of the Recovery trial, which showed no clinical benefit from the use of HCQ in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 (the TCZ arm is ongoing). Double-blinded randomized controlled trials are needed to further evaluate the impact of these drugs in larger patient samples so that data-driven guidelines can be deduced to combat this global pandemic.

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The Impact of NORTH STAR on Suicidality, Substance Problems, Intimate Partner Violence, and Child Abuse

Military Medicine ◽

10.1093/milmed/usaa380 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Amy M Smith Slep ◽

Richard E Heyman ◽

Michael F Lorber ◽

David J Linkh

Keyword(s):

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Child Abuse ◽

Air Force ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Absolute Risk ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

Institutional Review Board ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Institutional Review ◽

The Impact

Abstract Introduction We evaluated the effectiveness of New Orientation for Reducing Threats to Health from Secretive-problems That Affect Readiness (NORTH STAR), a community assessment, planning, and action framework to reduce the prevalence of suicidality, substance problems, intimate partner violence, and child abuse. Materials and Methods One-third of U.S. Air Force bases worldwide were randomly assigned to NORTH STAR (n = 12) or an assessment-and-feedback-only condition (n = 12). Two Air Force-wide, cross-sectional, anonymous, web-based surveys were conducted of randomly selected samples assessing risk/protective factors and outcomes. This study was reviewed and approved by the institutional review board at the investigators’ university and by the institutional review board at Fort Detrick. Results NORTH STAR, relative to control, bases experienced a 33% absolute risk reduction in hazardous drinking rates and cumulative risk, although, given the small number of bases, these effects were not statistically significant. Conclusions Given its relatively low cost, use of empirically supported light-touch interventions, and emphasis on sustainability with existing resources, NORTH STAR may be a useful system for prevention of a range of adult behavioral health problems that are difficult to impact.

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Preemptive ganciclovir for mechanically ventilated patients with cytomegalovirus reactivation

Annals of Intensive Care ◽

10.1186/s13613-020-00793-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Laurent Papazian ◽

◽

Samir Jaber ◽

Sami Hraiech ◽

Karine Baumstarck ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Ventilation ◽

Invasive Mechanical Ventilation ◽

Double Blind ◽

Intravenous Ganciclovir ◽

Subdistribution Hazard ◽

Mechanically Ventilated ◽

Cytomegalovirus Reactivation ◽

Secondary Outcomes ◽

To Receive ◽

Cmv Reactivation

Abstract Background The effect of cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation on the length of mechanical ventilation and mortality in immunocompetent ICU patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation remains controversial. The main objective of this study was to determine whether preemptive intravenous ganciclovir increases the number of ventilator-free days in patients with CMV blood reactivation. Methods This double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial involved 19 ICUs in France. Seventy-six adults ≥ 18 years old who had been mechanically ventilated for at least 96 h, expected to remain on mechanical ventilation for ≥ 48 h, and exhibited reactivation of CMV in blood were enrolled between February 5th, 2014, and January 23rd, 2019. Participants were randomized to receive ganciclovir 5 mg/kg bid for 14 days (n = 39) or a matching placebo (n = 37). Results The primary endpoint was ventilator-free days from randomization to day 60. Prespecified secondary outcomes included day 60 mortality. The trial was stopped for futility based on the results of an interim analysis by the DSMB. The subdistribution hazard ratio for being alive and weaned from mechanical ventilation at day 60 for patients receiving ganciclovir (N = 39) compared with control patients (N = 37) was 1.14 (95% CI from 0.63 to 2.06; P = 0.66). The median [IQR] numbers of ventilator-free days for ganciclovir-treated patients and controls were 10 [0–51] and 0 [0–43] days, respectively (P = 0.46). Mortality at day 60 was 41% in patients in the ganciclovir group and 43% in the placebo group (P = .845). Creatinine levels and blood cells counts did not differ significantly between the two groups. Conclusions In patients mechanically ventilated for ≥ 96 h with CMV reactivation in blood, preemptive ganciclovir did not improve the outcome.

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Etiology, incidence, and outcomes of patient–ventilator asynchrony in critically-ill patients undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-90013-z ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Yongfang Zhou ◽

Steven R. Holets ◽

Man Li ◽

Gustavo A. Cortes-Puentes ◽

Todd J. Meyer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Mechanical Ventilation ◽

Critically Ill ◽

Critically Ill Patients ◽

Invasive Mechanical Ventilation ◽

Surgical Intensive Care ◽

Mechanically Ventilated ◽

History Of ◽

Training Background ◽

The Relationship

AbstractPatient–ventilator asynchrony (PVA) is commonly encountered during mechanical ventilation of critically ill patients. Estimates of PVA incidence vary widely. Type, risk factors, and consequences of PVA remain unclear. We aimed to measure the incidence and identify types of PVA, characterize risk factors for development, and explore the relationship between PVA and outcome among critically ill, mechanically ventilated adult patients admitted to medical, surgical, and medical-surgical intensive care units in a large academic institution staffed with varying provider training background. A single center, retrospective cohort study of all adult critically ill patients undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation for ≥ 12 h. A total of 676 patients who underwent 696 episodes of mechanical ventilation were included. Overall PVA occurred in 170 (24%) episodes. Double triggering 92(13%) was most common, followed by flow starvation 73(10%). A history of smoking, and pneumonia, sepsis, or ARDS were risk factors for overall PVA and double triggering (all P < 0.05). Compared with volume targeted ventilation, pressure targeted ventilation decreased the occurrence of events (all P < 0.01). During volume controlled synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation and pressure targeted ventilation, ventilator settings were associated with the incidence of overall PVA. The number of overall PVA, as well as double triggering and flow starvation specifically, were associated with worse outcomes and fewer hospital-free days (all P < 0.01). Double triggering and flow starvation are the most common PVA among critically ill, mechanically ventilated patients. Overall incidence as well as double triggering and flow starvation PVA specifically, portend worse outcome.

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Empiric use of anticoagulation in hospitalized patients with COVID-19: a propensity score-matched study of risks and benefits

Biomarker Research ◽

10.1186/s40364-021-00283-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Bo Yu ◽

Victor Perez Gutierrez ◽

Alex Carlos ◽

Gregory Hoge ◽

Anjana Pillai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Ventilation ◽

Propensity Score ◽

Propensity Score Matching ◽

Major Bleeding ◽

Risk Estimation ◽

Large Population ◽

Invasive Mechanical Ventilation ◽

Bleeding Risk ◽

Hospitalized Patients ◽

Significant Difference

Abstract Background Hospitalized patients with COVID-19 demonstrate a higher risk of developing thromboembolism. Anticoagulation (AC) has been proposed for high-risk patients, even without confirmed thromboembolism. However, benefits and risks of AC are not well assessed due to insufficient clinical data. We performed a retrospective analysis of outcomes from AC in a large population of COVID-19 patients. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 1189 patients hospitalized for COVID-19 between March 5 and May 15, 2020, with primary outcomes of mortality, invasive mechanical ventilation, and major bleeding. Patients who received therapeutic AC for known indications were excluded. Propensity score matching of baseline characteristics and admission parameters was performed to minimize bias between cohorts. Results The analysis cohort included 973 patients. Forty-four patients who received therapeutic AC for confirmed thromboembolic events and atrial fibrillation were excluded. After propensity score matching, 133 patients received empiric therapeutic AC while 215 received low dose prophylactic AC. Overall, there was no difference in the rate of invasive mechanical ventilation (73.7% versus 65.6%, p = 0.133) or mortality (60.2% versus 60.9%, p = 0.885). However, among patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation, empiric therapeutic AC was an independent predictor of lower mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 0.476, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.345–0.657, p < 0.001) with longer median survival (14 days vs 8 days, p < 0.001), but these associations were not observed in the overall cohort (p = 0.063). Additionally, no significant difference in mortality was found between patients receiving empiric therapeutic AC versus prophylactic AC in various subgroups with different D-dimer level cutoffs. Patients who received therapeutic AC showed a higher incidence of major bleeding (13.8% vs 3.9%, p < 0.001). Furthermore, patients with a HAS-BLED score of ≥2 had a higher risk of mortality (HR 1.482, 95% CI 1.110–1.980, p = 0.008), while those with a score of ≥3 had a higher risk of major bleeding (Odds ratio: 1.883, CI: 1.114–3.729, p = 0.016). Conclusion Empiric use of therapeutic AC conferred survival benefit to patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation, but did not show benefit in non-critically ill patients hospitalized for COVID-19. Careful bleeding risk estimation should be pursued before considering escalation of AC intensity.

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Coronavirus Disease 2019 in a Hemodialysis Patient

Blood Purification ◽

10.1159/000507877 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 49 (6) ◽

pp. 761-764 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Hai Yuan ◽

E. Guo ◽

Zhao Gao ◽

Fengqi Hu ◽

Li Lu

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Ventilation ◽

Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽

Hemodialysis Patient ◽

Multiple Organ ◽

Lung Imaging ◽

Maintenance Hemodialysis ◽

Multiple Organ Dysfunction ◽

Chain Reaction ◽

Pharyngeal Swab ◽

Polymerase Chain

There has been a global outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) since December 2019. Here, we describe the case of a 49-year-old male undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (HD) who got infected with COVID-19 and our experience in performing HD for him. The patient’s symptoms and lung imaging changes were atypical. However, his lymphocyte range decreased upon admission and the polymerase chain reaction of the pharyngeal swab for the COVID-19 nucleic acid was positive. The patient developed respiratory failure and required mechanical ventilation 8 days after admission. In the end, he died from multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. The difficulties in diagnosis, infection control, and treatment of COVID-19 in maintenance HD patients are discussed in this report.

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Impact of Oral Steroids on Tonsillectomy Postoperative Complications and Pain

Ear Nose & Throat Journal ◽

10.1177/01455613211000832 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 014556132110008

Author(s):

Michael E. Kubala ◽

Merit Turner ◽

James Reed Gardner ◽

Adrian Williamson ◽

Gresham T. Richter

Keyword(s):

Postoperative Management ◽

Clinic Visit ◽

Institutional Review Board ◽

Bleeding Rate ◽

Lack Of Information ◽

Institutional Review ◽

Oral Steroids ◽

Study Population ◽

The Impact ◽

Day By Day

Objectives: To analyze the impact of steroids on postoperative tonsillectomy recovery and implement findings for improvement in postoperative management. Methods: Institutional review board approved prospective study with retrospective analysis of private practice setting tonsillectomy patients (November 2015 to January 2017). A questionnaire was provided postoperatively to patients undergoing tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy. The study population was separated into 2 groups: patients who received steroids (3 days of either dexamethasone or prednisolone), postoperative steroid (POS), versus patients who did not receive steroids (PONS). Results: The questionnaire had a return rate of 27.3% (254/931). Nine of the 254 responses were disqualified for lack of information; therefore, the total number of responses was 245. Of these, 115 were POS and 130 were PONS. The groups were similar in mean age (POS: 13.2 ± 10.4 years, PONS: 14.7 ± 12.1 years, P = .32) and sex (POS: Male 40.0%, PONS: Male 40.0%, P = .97). There was an overall decrease of pain and nausea/vomiting (N/V) in the steroid group ( P = .0007). There was reduction in pain ( P < .05) from postoperative day (POD) 2, 3, 4, and 6 in the POS group. Otherwise, there was no significant reduction in pain from POD 7 to 14, day-by-day rate of N/V, bleeding, or rate of emergency department (ED) or clinic visit ( P > .05). Conclusion: Postoperative steroid reduced overall pain and N/V, as well as daily pain on POD 2, 3, 4, and 6. Pain from POD 7 to 14, rate of ED or clinic visit, or daily N/V and bleeding rate were not significantly different between cohorts.

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