scholarly journals A fatal case of infective endocarditis complicated by acute COVID-19 pneumonia

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (11-12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anmol Pandey ◽  
William R Davies ◽  
Patrick A Calvert

ABSTRACT A 74-year-old man with no co-morbidities presented to hospital with a 3-day history of diarrhoea and vomiting. He met the modified Duke’s criteria for definite infective endocarditis and was immediately started on an intravenous antibiotic. Over Days 1–9, he developed renal failure. On Day 10, he was transferred to a tertiary hospital for mitral valve replacement. However, he tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 on arrival at the tertiary hospital, which delayed his surgery. He underwent bi-weekly nasopharyngeal swabs for SARS-CoV-2 with a plan to operate as soon as he tested negative, or as soon as his incubation period for COVID-19 pneumonia had elapsed. Unfortunately, he died on Day 31 from acute respiratory distress syndrome secondary to COVID-19 pneumonia. We describe the challenges in deciding on the optimal timing for valve replacement. We conclude by suggesting that earlier valve replacement may result in better outcomes.

Author(s):  
A.J. Möhr ◽  
R.G. Lobetti ◽  
J.J. Van der Lugt

This retrospective study describes 4 cases of canine babesiosis with histologically confirmed acute pancreatitis. In addition, 16 dogs with babesiosis are reported with serum amylase (>3500 U/l ) and/or lipase (>650 U/l ) activity elevations of a magnitude that would support a diagnosis of probable acute pancreatitis, although extra-pancreatic sources of the enzymes could not be excluded in these cases. Median time of pancreatitis diagnosis was 2.5 days post-admission, with primarily young (median age 3 years), sexually intact dogs affected. The development of pancreatitis was unrelated to the degree of anaemia at time of admission. In addition to pancreatitis, 80 % of cases suffered from other babesial complications, namely icterus (13), acute respiratory distress syndrome (6), immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia (6), renal failure (3), haemoconcentration (2) and cerebral syndrome (2). Acute respiratory distress syndrome, renal failure and cerebral syndrome were associated with a poor prognosis, with 4 of the 5 dogs included in the overall 26 % mortality rate having at least 1 of these complications. Haemolytic anaemia with ischaemia-reperfusion injury to the pancreas is proposed as a possible primary pathophysiological mechanism in babesial pancreatitis. Hypotensive shock, immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia, haemoconcentration and possibly altered lipid metabolism in babesiosis may also be involved. The previously postulated pro-inflammatory cytokine milieu of complicated babesiosis may underlie the progression, if not the primary initiation, of pancreatic pathology. Acute pancreatitis may represent the previously reported 'gut' form of babesiosis.


2015 ◽  
Vol 64 (5) ◽  
pp. 402-408 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui-Chuan Chen ◽  
Huey-Dong Wu ◽  
Hsiang-Wen Liu ◽  
Hong-Jer Chang ◽  
Ming-Der Lee ◽  
...  

Perfusion ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 375-382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Devasagayaraj ◽  
Nicholas C. Cavarocchi ◽  
Hitoshi Hirose

Introduction: Patients who develop severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) despite full medical management may require veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECMO) to support respiratory function. Survival outcomes remain unclear in those who develop acute kidney injury (AKI) requiring continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) during VV ECMO for isolated severe respiratory failure in adult populations. Methods: A retrospective chart review (2010-2016) of patients who underwent VV ECMO for ARDS was conducted with university institutional review board (IRB) approval. Patients supported by veno-arterial ECMO were excluded. AKI was defined by acute renal failure receiving CRRT and the outcomes of patients on VV ECMO were compared between the AKI and non-AKI groups. Results: We identified 54 ARDS patients supported by VV ECMO (mean ECMO days 12 ± 6.7) with 16 (30%) in the AKI group and 38 (70%) in the non-AKI group. No patient had previous renal failure and the serum creatinine was not significantly different between the two groups at the time of ECMO initiation. The AKI group showed a greater incidence of complications during ECMO, including liver failure (38% vs. 5%, p=0.002) and hemorrhage (94% vs. 45%, p=0.0008). ECMO survival of the AKI group (56% [9/16]) was inferior to the non-AKI group (87% [33/38], p=0.014). Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that VV ECMO successfully manages patients with severe isolated lung injury. However, once patients develop AKI during VV ECMO, they are likely to further develop multi-organ dysfunction, including hepatic and hematological complications, leading to inferior survival.


1998 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 59-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc Moss ◽  
Polly E. Parsons

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a form of acute lung injury which usually occurs within 24 hours of a major illness or injury. Unfortunately a clear definition of ARDS does not presently exist, and the variability in the diagnostic criteria may impact on the results of clinical trials for ARDS and our understanding of the epidemiology and pathogenesis of this syndrome. In this article the history of ARDS is reviewed and a few of the definitions that have evolved over wtime are explored in depth. In addition, several controversies with these existing defiitions are discussed.


Cardiology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 138 (3) ◽  
pp. 195-199
Author(s):  
Israel Mazin ◽  
Shlomi Matetzky ◽  
Linor Shemer ◽  
Dana Fourey ◽  
Paul Fefer ◽  
...  

Objectives: During the past decade, the most common causes of mortality and morbidity were cardiovascular diseases and malignancies. The aim of the current study was to describe the incidence, course of admission, and short-term (30-day) prognosis of patients with and without malignancy, admitted to a tertiary center intensive cardiovascular care unit (ICCU). Methods: A prospective observational study of 2,259 patients admitted to the ICCU was conducted between January 2014 and December 2015. Patients with malignancies (n = 256) were divided into 2 groups: those with solid and those with homogenous tumors. Results: The time of diagnosis was categorized into 3 patient groups: recent (<6 months), 59 patients (23%); late (6-24 months), 49 patients (19%), and very late (>24 months), 148 patients (58%). Those with a history of malignancy were older (73 ± 12 vs. 64 ± 15, p < 0.001) and were more likely to be female (p = 0.002). After using a multivariate logistic regression model analysis, no differences were found in therapeutic interventions and clinical outcomes, including major bleeding and acute renal failure, between patients with and without malignancies. Conclusions: Patients with a malignancy comprised about 10% of the entire ICCU population. While mortality was independently associated with advanced age, renal failure, and a diagnosis of ST-elevation myocardial infarction, malignancy alone was not found to be independently associated with a higher mortality rate at 30 days of follow-up.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 96-101
Author(s):  
I. P. Klishch ◽  

Nowadays, acute renal failure remains one of the most complex problems in modern medicine. Multiple studies have proved that acute renal failure is frequently accompanied by the development of acute lung injury and its most severe form – acute respiratory distress syndrome. According to the literature, lethality in case of acute lung injury or acute respiratory distress syndrome is extremely high and is 30-65%. In case of combination of acute renal failure and acute lung injury or acute respiratory distress syndrome, the most frequently observed in critical patients, lethality reaches 80%. The purpose of the study was to study the possibility of ultrastructural changes of the respiratory tract in the lungs due to experimental modeling of acute renal failure. Materials and methods. The experiments were performed on 30 mature white male rats weighting 180-220 grams. Acute renal failure was induced by intramuscular administration of 50% glycerol water solution in dose of 10 ml per 1 kg of body mass. The sampling of lung tissue for electron microscopy study was carried out under the ketamine anaesthesia in 24 hours after beginning of the experiment. The pieces of lung tissue were fixed in 2.5% solution of gluteraldehyde with further postfixation in 1% solution of osmium tetroxide. After dehydration, the material was poured over epon araldite. The cuts, obtained on ultramicrotome “Tesla BS-490”, were studied using electron microscope “PEM-125K”. Results and discussion. In 24 hours after the beginning of the experiment, the changes in the alveolocytes of types I and II, endotheliocytes, alveolar macrophages are accompanied by the development of intracellular edema with ultrastructural disorder of organelles. Because of endotheliocytes edema and aggregation of forming blood elements, some blood capillaries lumens are closed or drastically narrowed. In some blood capillaries, we observe disorder of the luminal membrane integrity of endothelial cells accompanied by exit of the intracellular content into the micro blood vessel lumen. The expressed disorders of structural organization of the components of pulmonary aero-hematic barrier cause the exit of forming blood elements into the interstitial tissue and alveoli. Conclusion. Тhe detected changes in 24 hours of the experiment have a dystrophic-destructive character and are manifested by the development of edema in alveolocytes of types I and II, alveolar macrophages, endotheliocytes of hemocapillaries. Perspective for further research. Considering the severity of ultrastructural changes that develop in experimental acute renal failure, it would be reasonable to conduct a further study in order to find possible methods of prevention and timely correction


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