scholarly journals Case Series: The Coexistence of Thrombocytopenia and Thromboembolism in COVID-19 Patients on ECMO: A Case Series and Literature Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Can Jones ◽  
Kai Chen ◽  
Vijay Narendran
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Ventilation ◽  
Platelet Count ◽  
Respiratory Failure ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Conventional Mechanical Ventilation ◽  
Current Data ◽  
Thromboembolic Events ◽  
Improved Outcomes ◽  
Bleeding History ◽  
Underlying Pathophysiology

Thrombocytopenia and thromboembolism are common complications in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. The fact that COVID-19 patients develop both thrombocytopenia and thromboembolism has been observed, and multiple studies have investigated the underlying pathophysiology. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is reserved for COVID-19 patients who develop respiratory failure and not respond to conventional mechanical ventilation. ECMO induces thromboembolism and raises the incidence of developing thromboembolic events in COVID-19 patients. Here, we report the hospital courses and outcomes of three COVID-19 patients who were treated with ECMO, then developed both thrombocytopenia and thromboembolism. The coexistence of thrombocytopenia and thromboembolism challenges the clinical treatment strategy, including the decision of initiating anticoagulation. Based on current data, anticoagulation is recommended to all hospitalized COVID-19 patients unless there is active bleeding, previous bleeding history within 3 days, or platelet count is lower than 30,000 cells/μl. Further investigation into the mechanisms and implications of thrombocytopenia and thromboembolism in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia will lead to significantly improved outcomes and prognosis for the patients.

scholarly journals Short-Term Corticosteroids in SARS-CoV2 Patients: Hospitalists’ Perspective

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vijairam Selvaraj ◽  
Kwame Dapaah-Afriyie ◽  
Arkadiy Finn ◽  
Timothy Flanigan
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Ventilation ◽  
Respiratory Failure ◽  
Length Of Stay ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Inpatient Mortality ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Systemic Corticosteroids ◽  
Short Course ◽  
Improved Outcomes ◽  
Hypoxic Respiratory Failure

AbstractBackgroundDexamethasone, a synthetic glucocorticoid, has anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties. There is a hyperinflammatory response involved in the clinical course of patients with pneumonia due to SARS-CoV2. To date, there has been no definite therapy for COVID-19. We reviewed the charts of SARS-CoV2 patients with pneumonia and moderate to severely elevated CRP and worsening hypoxemia who were treated with early, short-term dexamethasone.MethodsWe describe a series of 21 patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV2 and were admitted to The Miriam Hospital in Providence and were treated with a short course of dexamethasone, either alone or in addition to current investigative therapies.ResultsCRP levels decreased significantly following the start of dexamethasone from mean initial levels of 129.52 to 40.73 mg/L at time of discharge. 71% percent of the patients were discharged home with a mean length of stay of 7.8 days. None of the patients had escalation of care, leading to mechanical ventilation. Two patients were transferred to inpatient hospice facilities on account of persistent hypoxemia, in line with their documented goals of care.ConclusionsA short course of systemic corticosteroids among inpatients with SARS-CoV2 with hypoxic respiratory failure was well tolerated, and most patients had improved outcomes. This limited case series may not offer concrete evidence towards the benefit of corticosteroids in COVID-19. However, patients’ positive response to short-term corticosteroids demonstrates that they may help blunt the severity of inflammation and prevent a severe hyperinflammatory phase, in turn reducing the length of stay, ICU admissions, and healthcare costs.SummaryIn this series, we demonstrate that timely, short-term use of systemic corticosteroids among hospitalized patients with hypoxic respiratory failure due to SARS-CoV2 was well tolerated with good outcomes. The outcomes were reflected by reductions in inpatient mortality, CRP levels, requirement for mechanical ventilation and escalation of care.

NEAR FATAL AMITRAZ: A NOT SO UNCOMMON POISONING

2021 ◽  
pp. 42-43
Author(s):  
Rohan J Desai ◽  
Prasad Ugargol
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Ventilation ◽  
Respiratory Failure ◽  
Clinical Features ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Agricultural Product ◽  
Common Symptom ◽  
Retrospective Case ◽  
Case Series Study ◽  
Cns Depression ◽  
Series Study

Background: Amitraz is a pharmaceutical, veterinary, and agricultural product which is used worldwide to control ectoparasites in animals. Its widespread use has led to increased cases of poisoning in rural parts of India. Aim: To study the clinical features, complications, laboratory abnormalities and outcome of the patients with acute amitraz intoxication. Methodology: The study is a retrospective case series study conducted in HSK hospital between the period of Feb 2019 and May 2020. Results: A total of 11 patients were analysed and results revealed CNS depression and vomiting in 8 of those patients with 1 patient with respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation. Conclusion: Amitraz poisoning appears to be severe with CNS depression being the most common symptom. But most patients stabilise and recover quickly. Patients should be monitored for respiratory failure as it is a dreadful complication. Treatment is symptomatic as no antidote is available.

Respiratory Failure and the Indications for Mechanical Ventilation

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
John W. Kreit
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Ventilation ◽  
Respiratory Failure ◽  
Gas Exchange ◽  
Disease Process ◽  
Upper Airway ◽  
Lower Airway ◽  
Vital Functions ◽  
Refractory Hypoxemia ◽  
Ventilation Failure ◽  
Underlying Pathophysiology

Respiratory failure occurs when a disease process significantly interferes with the respiratory system’s vital functions and causes arterial hypoxemia, hypercapnia, or both. Typically, respiratory failure is divided into three categories based on the underlying pathophysiology: ventilation failure, oxygenation failure, and oxygenation-ventilation failure. With severe disturbances in gas exchange, mechanical ventilation is often needed to assist the respiratory system and restore the PaCO2, PaO2, or both, to normal. Respiratory Failure and the Indications for Mechanical Ventilation defines and describes the three types of respiratory failure and reviews the four indications for intubation and mechanical ventilation—acute or acute-on-chronic hypercapnia, refractory hypoxemia, inability to protect the lower airway, and upper airway obstruction.

scholarly journals Adverse Outcomes in Pregnant Women Hospitalized With Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection: A Case Series

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne M Hause ◽  
Lakshmi Panagiotakopoulos ◽  
Eric S Weintraub ◽  
Lina S Sy ◽  
Sungching C Glenn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Mechanical Ventilation ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Respiratory Syncytial Virus ◽  
Respiratory Failure ◽  
Virus Infection ◽  
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Adverse Outcomes ◽  
Syncytial Virus

Abstract We identified 10 women hospitalized with respiratory syncytial virus infection during pregnancy. Diagnoses included pneumonia/atelectasis (5), respiratory failure (2), and sepsis (2). Six had obstetrical complications during hospitalization, including 1 induced preterm birth. One required intensive care unit admission and mechanical ventilation. Four infants had complications at birth.

scholarly journals Prone Position after Liberation from Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation in COVID-19 Respiratory Failure

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Andrei Karpov ◽  
Anish R. Mitra ◽  
Sarah Crowe ◽  
Gregory Haljan
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Mechanical Ventilation ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Respiratory Failure ◽  
Respiratory Rate ◽  
Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Prone Positioning ◽  
Retrospective Case ◽  
Number Of Patients

Objective and Rationale. Prone positioning of nonintubated patients has prevented intubation and mechanical ventilation in patients with respiratory failure from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). A number of patients in a recently published cohort have undergone postextubation prone positioning (PEPP) following liberation from prolonged mechanical ventilation in attempt to prevent reintubation. The objective of this study is to systematically search the literature for reports of PEPP as well as describe the feasibility and outcomes of PEPP in patients with COVID-19 respiratory failure. Design. This is a retrospective case series describing the feasibility and tolerability of postextubation prone positioning (PEPP) and its impact on physiologic parameters in a tertiary intensive care unit during the COVID-19 pandemic. Setting and Patients. This study was conducted on patients with COVID-19 respiratory failure hospitalized in a tertiary Intensive Care Unit at Surrey Memorial Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. Measurements and Results. We did not find prior reports of PEPP following prolonged intubation in the literature. Four patients underwent a total of 13 PEPP sessions following liberation from prolonged mechanical ventilation. Each patient underwent a median of 3 prone sessions (IQR: 2, 4.25) lasting a median of 1.5 hours (IQR: 1.2, 2.1). PEPP sessions were associated with a reduction in median oxygen requirements, patient respiratory rate, and reintubation rate. The sessions were well tolerated by patients, nursing, and the allied health team. Conclusions. The novel practice of PEPP after liberation from prolonged mechanical ventilation in patients with COVID-19 respiratory failure is feasible and well tolerated, and may be associated with favourable clinical outcomes including improvement in oxygenation and respiratory rate and a low rate of reintubation. Larger prospective studies of PEPP are warranted.

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