Department Of Critical Care Medicine Research Articles

The use of antibiotics in the early stage of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in patients without obvious signs of infection: a multicenter, randomized, parallel-controlled study.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic respiratory disease with high prevalence and mortality. In some acute exacerbations of COPD (AECOPD) in patients with no obvious signs of infection, early antibiotic treatment seems to clinically improve the disease, but more studies are needed to determine the prognostic impact of antibiotic treatment in AECOPD patients with no obvious signs of infection. To clarify the impact of antibiotic treatment on the short-term and long-term prognoses of AECOPD patients without obvious signs of infection. The impact of the two treatment methods on the prognosis of patients was compared at 30, 90, 180, and 360days after discharge. A multicenter, randomized, parallel-controlled clinical trial was conducted in a department of respiratory and critical care medicine in Central China. All patients met the inclusion criteria for AECOPD, and the patients were randomly assigned to the antibiotic group or the nonantibiotic group at a 1:1 ratio. Patients in the antibiotic group were given moxifloxacin 400mg/day intravenously for 7days. Patients in the nonantibiotic group were intravenously injected with the same amount of normal saline as the amount of moxifloxacin given to those in the antibiotic group for 7days. There were 406 patients in the antibiotic group and 410 patients in the nonantibiotic group. During the short-term and long-term follow-ups, the acute exacerbation frequency, intensive care unit (ICU) treatment rate, mortality, and mMRC and CAT scores were not significantly different between the two groups (p > 0.05). At the 180- and 360-day follow-ups, the forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV1%) and peak expiratory flow (PEF) were not significantly different between the two groups (p > 0.05). The 30-day readmission rate was significantly lower in the antibiotic group than in the nonantibiotic group (p < 0.05). The time from discharge to the first acute exacerbation was not significantly different between the two groups (p > 0.05). The length of the first hospital stay after discharge was significantly lower in the antibiotic group (5.84days) than in the nonantibiotic group (6.75days) (p < 0.05). At the 30-day follow-up, the acute exacerbation frequency, age, C-reactive protein (CRP) level, and sputum viscosity were significantly greater in the nonantibiotic group than in the antibiotic group (p < 0.05). In addition, according to the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, the frequency of acute exacerbations at the 30-day follow-up was significantly greater in COPD patients aged >62.5years, with a CRP level >12.56mg/L or with a sputum viscosity >III, in the nonantibiotic group than in those in the antibiotic group, suggesting that the short-term prognosis was poor. Patients who are >62.5years of age, have a CRP concentration >12.56mg/L, or have a sputum viscosity >III without obvious signs of infection should be treated with antibiotics to improve their short-term prognosis. (https://www.chictr.org.cn), (ChiCTR1800018921).

Mean Blood Glucose Level During ICU Hospitalization is a Strong Predictor of the Mortality of COVID-19.

To investigate the potential prognostic value of mean blood glucose (MBG) in hospital for prognosis of COVID-19 adult patients in the intensive unit care unit (ICU). A single-site and retrospective study enrolled 107 patients diagnosed as COVID-19 from department of critical care medicine in the Second Xiangya Hospital between October 2022 and June 2023. Demographic information including glucose during ICU hospitalization, comorbidity, clinical data, types of medications and treatment, and clinical outcome were collected. The multivariate logistic and cox regression was used to explore the relationship between blood glucose changes and clinical outcomes of COVID-19 during ICU stay. In total, 107 adult patients confirmed with COVID-19 were included. Multivariate logistic regression results showed an increase in MBG was associated with ICU mortality rate. Compared with normal glucose group (MBG <= 7.8 mmol/L), the risk of ICU mortality, 7-day mortality and 28-day mortality from COVID-19 were significantly increased in high glucose group (MBG >7.8mmol/L). MBG level during ICU hospitalization was strongly correlated to all-cause mortality and co-infection in COVID-19 patients. These findings further emphasize the importance of overall glucose management in severe cases of COVID-19.

LOXL2 inhibition ameliorates pulmonary artery remodeling in pulmonary hypertension

Background: Conduit pulmonary arterial stiffening and the resultant increase in pulmonary vascular impedance has emerged as an important underlying driver of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Given that matrix deposition is central to vascular remodeling, we evaluated the role of the collagen crosslinking enzyme lysyl oxidase like 2 (LOXL2) in this study. Methods and Results: Human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) subjected to hypoxia showed increased LOXL2 secretion. LOXL2 activity and expression were markedly higher in primary PASMCs isolated from pulmonary arteries of the rat Sugen 5416 + hypoxia (SuHx) model of severe PH. Similarly, LOXL2 protein and mRNA levels were increased in pulmonary arteries (PA) and lungs of rats with PH (SuHx and monocrotaline (MCT) models). Pulmonary arteries (PAs) isolated from rats with PH exhibited hypercontractility to phenylephrine and attenuated vasorelaxation elicited by acetylcholine, indicating severe endothelial dysfunction. Tensile testing revealed a a significant increase in PA stiffness in PH. Treatment with PAT-1251, a novel small-molecule LOXL2 inhibitor, improved active and passive properties of the PA ex vivo. There was an improvement in right heart function as measured by right ventricular pressure volume loops in-vivo with PAT-1251. Importantly PAT-1251 treatment ameliorated PH, resulting in improved pulmonary artery pressures, right ventricular remodeling, and survival. Conclusion: Hypoxia induced LOXL2 activation is a causal mechanism in pulmonary artery stiffening in PH, as well as pulmonary artery mechanical and functional decline. LOXL2 inhibition with PAT-1251 is a promising approach to improve pulmonary artery pressures, right ventricular elastance, cardiac relaxation, and survival in PAH. This work was supported by a NHLBI grant R01HL105296 (to D.E.B.), a NHLBI grant R01HL148112 01 (to L.S.), two Stimulating and Advancing ACCM Research (StAAR) grants from the Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, JHU (to L.S. and J.S.), NHLBI grants R01HL073859 and R01HL126514 (to L.A.S) and a NHLBI K08 grant K08HL145132 (to J.S.). This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Mitral Annular Plane Systolic Excursion (MAPSE) as a Predictor of Weaning Failure in Mechanically Ventilated Patients

Weaning failure is multifactorial in nature; it can result from diaphragmatic dysfunction, excess mechanical load, weaning-induced cardiovascular dysfunction, or a reduced ability to clear secretions. To investigate mitral annular plane systolic excursion (MAPSE) by using M-mode echocardiography as a predictor of weaning failure and its relation to length of intensive care unit stay, and to hospital mortality, and correlation of MAPSE with APACHE II and SOFA scores as predictors of outcome. This was a prospective observational cohort study conducted on 50 patients admitted to Critical Care Medicine Department, Cairo University Hospitals (Kasr Al-Aini Hospitals), with a diagnosis of acute respiratory failure who required mechanical ventilation, from January 2019 to December 2020. There was significant relation between weaning from mechanical ventilation and APACHE II score, we found highly significant difference with SOFA score. ROC curve for detection of weaning using MAPSE showed Area Under the Curve of 0.918 with highly statistically significant relation with cut off value is 13.9 with Sensitivity 83.3% and Specificity 92.3%; and thus, MAPSE could be a good indicator for successful weaning. We concluded that; Low Mitral annular plane systolic excursion (MAPSE) could be a good predictor of weaning failure and mortality, The higher MAPSE values are correlated with lower ICU stay duration. We found that RSBI and SOFA score are predictors for successful weaning, also SOFA and APACHE II scores are indicators of mortality.

Efficacy of different doses of corticosteroids in treating severe COVID-19 pneumonia

BackgroundTo investigate the efficacy of different doses of corticosteroids in treating severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia.MethodsBetween May 01, 2023, and June 20, 2023, 48 patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia were treated at the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine of Jinan Fourth People's Hospital. The observation group (21 patients) received standard care and high-dose corticosteroids, (high-dose group). The control group (27 patients) received standard care and low-dose corticosteroids (low-dose group). We collected baseline data and recorded inflammatory marker levels after 3 days of treatment, body temperature recovery time, length of stay, and 28-day all-cause mortality. The results of outpatient follow-up were recorded after 1 month.ResultsThere were no significant differences in 28-day mortality and length of stay. The number of days it took for body temperature to return to normal in the high-dose group was less than in the low-dose group. The high-dose group had significantly more reduced inflammatory factors (C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6). A total of 20 discharged patients were given 8–16 mg of methylprednisolone, depending on chest computed tomography (CT) and clinical symptoms after 1 month; in all discharged patients using oral corticosteroids, CT features improved.ConclusionHigh-dose corticosteroids had a significantly positive effect on the reduction of inflammatory factors and shortening body temperature recovery time. In the treatment of severe COVID-19 pneumonia, early administration of high-dose, short-course corticosteroids should be implemented.

Clinical characteristics of hospitalized children with respiratory syncytial virus infection and risk prediction of severe illness during the post-COVID-19 era in Kunming

Objective: To compare the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of hospitalized children with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in Kunming among the pre-and post-COVID-19 era, and to establish a prediction model for severe RSV infection in children during the post-COVID-19 period. Methods: This was a retrospective study. Clinical and laboratory data were collected from 959 children hospitalized with RSV infection in the Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Kunming Children's Hospital during January to December 2019 and January to December 2023. Patients admitted in 2019 were defined as the pre-COVID-19 group, while those admitted in 2023 were classified as the post-COVID-19 group. Epidemiological and clinical characteristics were compared between the two groups. Subsequently, comparison of the clinical severity among the two groups was performed based on propensity score matching (PSM). Furthermore, the subjects in the post-COVID-19 group were divided into severe and non-severe groups based on clinical severity. Chi-square test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for pairwise comparison between groups, and multivariate Logistic regression was applied for the identification of independent risk factors and construction of the prediction model. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and calibration curve were employed to evaluate the predictive performance of this model. Results: Among the 959 children hospitalized with RSV infection, there were 555 males and 404 females, with an onset age of 15.4 (7.3, 28.5) months. Of which, there were 331 cases in the pre-COVID-19 group and 628 cases in the post-COVID-19 group. The peak period of RSV hospitalization in the post-COVID-19 group were from May to October 2023, and the monthly number of inpatients for each of these months were as follows: 72 cases (11.5%), 98 cases (15.6%), 128 cases (20.4%), 101 cases (16.1%), 65 cases (10.4%), and 61 cases (9.7%), respectively. After PSM for general data, 267 cases were matched in each group. The proportion of wheezing in the post-COVID-19 group was lower than that in the pre-COVID-19 group (109 cases (40.8%) vs. 161 cases (60.3%), χ2=20.26, P<0.001), while the incidences of fever, tachypnea, seizures, severe case, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 levels were all higher than those in the pre-COVID-19 group (146 cases (54.7%) vs. 119 cases (44.6%), 117 cases (43.8%) vs. 89 cases (33.3%), 37 cases (13.9%) vs. 14 cases (5.2%), 69 cases (25.8%) vs. 45 cases (16.9%), 3.6 (1.9, 6.4) vs. 2.3 (1.8, 4.6), 9.9 (7.1, 15.2) vs. 7.8 (4.5, 13.9) mg/L, 20.5 (15.7, 30.4) vs. 17.2 (11.0, 26.9) ng/L, χ2=5.46, 6.36, 11.47, 6.42, Z=4.13, 3.06, 2.96, all P<0.05). There were 252 cases and 107 cases with co-infection in the post-and pre-COVID-19 groups, respectively. The proportion of triple and quadruple infection in the post-COVID-19 group was higher than that in the pre-COVID-19 group (59 cases (23.4%) vs. 13 cases (12.1%), 30 cases (11.9%) vs. 5 cases (4.7%), χ2=5.94, 4.46, both P<0.05). Among the 252 cases with co-infection in post-COVID-19 group, the most prevalent pathogens involving in co-infections, in order, were Mycoplasma pneumoniae 56 cases (22.2%), Influenza A virus 53 cases (21.0%), Rhinovirus 48 cases (19.0%), Parainfluenza virus 35 cases (13.9%), and Adenovirus 28 cases (11.1%).The result of multivariate Logistic regression showed that age (OR=0.70, 95%CI 0.62-0.78, P<0.001), underlying diseases (OR=10.03, 95%CI 4.10-24.55, P<0.001), premature birth (OR=6.78, 95%CI 3.53-13.04, P<0.001), NLR (OR=1.85, 95%CI 1.09-3.15, P=0.023), and co-infection (OR=1.28, 95%CI 1.18-1.38, P<0.001) were independently associated with the development of severe RSV infection in the post-COVID-19 group. The ROC curve of the prediction model integrating the above five factors indicated an area under the curve of 0.85 (95%CI 0.80-0.89, P<0.001), with an optimal cutoff of 0.21, a sensitivity of 0.83 and a specificity of 0.80. The calibration curve showed that the predicted probability in this model did not differ significantly from the actual probability (P=0.319). Conclusions: In the post-COVID-19 era in Kunming, the peak in pediatric hospitalizations for RSV infection was from May to October, with declined incidence of wheezing and increased incidence of fever, tachypnea, seizures, severe cases, and rates of triple and quadruple co-infections. Age, underlying diseases, premature birth, NLR, and co-infection were identified as independent risk factors for severe RSV infection in the post-COVID-19 period. In this study, a risk prediction model for severe pediatric RSV infection was established, which had a good predictive performance.

Stressors, emotions, and social support systems among respiratory nurses during the Omicron outbreak in China: a qualitative study

BackgroundRespiratory nurses faced tremendous challenges when the Omicron variant spread rapidly in China from late 2022 to early 2023. An in-depth understanding of respiratory nurses’ experiences during challenging times can help to develop better management and support strategies. The present study was conducted to explore and describe the work experiences of nurses working in the Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine (PCCM) during the Omicron outbreak in China.MethodsThis study utilized a descriptive phenomenological method. Between January 9 and 22, 2023, semistructured and individual in-depth interviews were conducted with 11 respiratory nurses at a tertiary hospital in Wuhan, Hubei Province. A purposive sampling method was used to select the participants, and the sample size was determined based on data saturation. The data analysis was carried out using Colaizzi’s method.ResultsThree themes with ten subthemes emerged: (a) multiple stressors (intense workload due to high variability in COVID patients; worry about not having enough ability and energy to care for critically ill patients; fighting for anxious clients, colleagues, and selves); (b) mixed emotions (feelings of loss and responsibility; feelings of frustration and achievement; feelings of nervousness and security); and (c) a perceived social support system (team cohesion; family support; head nurse leadership; and the impact of social media).ConclusionNursing managers should be attentive to frontline nurses’ needs and occupational stress during novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreaks. Management should strengthen psychological and social support systems, optimize nursing leadership styles, and proactively consider the application of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and products in clinical care to improve the ability of nurses to effectively respond to future public health crises.

Effects of helium-oxygen mechanical ventilation on inflammatory response of diseased lung segments and diaphragm function in patients with pneumonia

To investigate the clinical effect of helium-oxygen mechanical ventilation on inflammation of the diseased lung segment and diaphragm function in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by pneumonia who suffered difficulty weaning from mechanical ventilation. A prospective controlled study was conducted. A total of 40 patients with ARDS caused by pneumonia and requiring tracheal intubation with difficulty weaning from mechanical ventilation, admitted to the department of critical care medicine in Pingtan Branch of Fujian Medical University Union Hospital from October 2020 to December 2021 were enrolled. Patients were divided into nitrogen oxygen ventilation group and helium-oxygen ventilation group according to random number table, with 20 cases in each group. The nitrogen oxygen ventilation group was given 60% nitrogen and 40% oxygen ventilation treatment, and the helium-oxygen ventilation group was given 60% helium and 40% oxygen ventilation treatment. Peak airway pressure (Ppeak), plateau airway pressure (Pplat), tidal volume (VT), minute ventilation volume (MV) and pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2) were collected at 0, 1, 2, 3 hours after ventilation treatment. At the same time, the concentrations of inflammatory factors interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in epithelial lining fluid in patients with diseased lung segments were measured before and after ventilation treatment for 3 hours, and the diaphragmatic excursion and the diaphragmatic thickening fraction were measured before and after ventilation treatment for 3 hours. There were no significant differences in gender, age, oxygenation index, serum CRP, serum procalcitonin (PCT), body temperature, serum creatinine (SCr), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), fasting blood glucose (FPG), hemoglobin (Hb), and basic heart and lung diseases between the two groups. Under the condition that VT and SpO2 are relatively unchanged, the airway pressure in helium-oxygen ventilation group decreased significantly after 1 hour of ventilation [Ppeak (cmH2O, 1 cmH2O≈0.098 kPa): 22.80±4.47 vs. 28.00±5.07, Pplat (cmH2O): 19.15±3.90 vs. 23.20±3.81, both P < 0.05], and the airway pressure in the nitrogen oxygen ventilation group increased significantly after 1 hour [Ppeak (cmH2O): 22.35±2.13 vs. 19.75±1.94, Pplat (cmH2O): 18.50±1.70 vs. 16.50±1.88, both P < 0.05]. There were no significant differences in CRP and IL-6 levels in epithelial lining fluid in the diseased lung segment before and after ventilation in the nitrogen oxygen ventilation group, while the levels of these indexes in the helium-oxygen ventilation group after ventilation were significantly lower than those before ventilation, and significantly lower than those in the nitrogen oxygen ventilation group [CRP (mg/L): 10.15 (6.39, 15.84) vs. 16.10 (11.63, 18.66), IL-6 (μg/L): 1.15 (0.78, 1.86) vs. 2.67 (1.67, 4.85), both P < 0.05]. There were no statistically significant differences in the diaphragmatic excursion and the diaphragmatic thickening fraction before and after ventilation in the nitrogen oxygen ventilation group, while the above indexes in the helium-oxygen ventilation group were significantly higher than those before ventilation, and were significantly higher than those in the nitrogen oxygen ventilation group [diaphragmatic excursion (cm): 1.93 (1.69, 2.20) vs. 1.34 (1.22, 1.83), diaphragmatic thickening fraction: (48.22±8.61)% vs. (33.29±11.04)%, both P < 0.05]. Helium-oxygen ventilation can reduce the airway pressure of patients with mechanical ventilation, alleviate the inflammatory response of lung segment, improve the function of respiratory muscle, and is expected to be an important treatment for severe lung rehabilitation.

Comparison of Phenylephrine infusion vs Nor-epinephrine Infusion on Maternal Hemodynamics and Neonatal Outcomes During Elective Lower Segment Caesarean Section under Sub-Arachnoid Block

Objective: To compare the efficacy of Phenylephrine and Nor-epinephrine IV infusions in maintaining maternal hemodynamics during EL-LSCS. Methodology: This randomized control trial study was conducted department of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Islamabad from March, 2023 to November, 2023. This study enrolled 62 patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria i.e., patient of age 18-45 years undergoing elective LSCS under SAB were enrolled in the study. While those having hypertension, pre-clampsia, eclampsia, pre-existing bradycardia, fetal distress and hypersensitivity to the medications used in the study were excluded. Enrolled patients were divided into two groups using computer generated random numbers with Group N patients received Nor-epinephrine infusion at rate of 2.5 Mcg/min while Group P patients received phenylephrine infusion at rate of 50 Mcg/min. Intraoperatively maternal hemodynamics were monitored and infusions were titrated to effect. Neonatal outcomes were assessed using APGAR score with umbilical cord ABGS carried out if clinically indicated. Results: Group P patients had statistically significant lower mean heart rate at 5,10,15 and 20 minutes as compared to group N. Similarly, pressures were significantly higher in group P than group N at 5,10,15,20 and 25 minutes. This required frequent changes in the rate of Phenylephrine infusion with the desired effect being achieved after 25 minutes of induction of Sub-Arachnoid block. Conclusion: Low dose Nor-Epinephrine infusion is safe and provides a better hemodynamic profile during Caesarean Section.

Atracurium for Rapid Sequence Induction; A dose determining Randomized Control Trial at a Tertiary Care Hospital.

Introduction: Expert airway management is one of the essential anesthetic skills. Rapid Sequence induction is a technique of providing rapid securement of airway with endotracheal tube in patients who are at risk of aspiration. Objective: To find out the efficacy of 3-4 ED95 dose of Atracurium in providing optimal intubating conditions for Rapid Sequence Induction. Methodology: Single-blind randomized control trial was carried out Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Islamabad. 118 patients were included and divided into two groups by help of computer-generated random numbers. All the patients were pre-medicated with 8 mg of IV Dexamethasone. Group A patients received 1 mg/kg while group B patients received 0.75 mg/kg of Atracurium. Intubating conditions were assessed on the basis of number of coughing episodes along with degree of vocal cord movement or paralysis. Results: Patients who received 0.75 mg/kg of Atracurium had statistically significant better intubating conditions as compared to those receiving 1 mg/kg of Atracurium (p value &lt; 0.05). Coughing episodes were more common among patients receiving higher dose of Atracurium while degree of vocal cord paralysis was similar in both groups. Furthermore 75% of histamine related adverse effects such as erythema and bronchospasm were observed in higher dose group. The difference was statistically significant with a p value of &lt;0.05. Conclusion: Atracurium at a dose of 0.75 mg/kg along with pre-medication with 8 mg of IV Dexamethasone provided better and safer intubating conditions for rapid sequence induction.

Evaluation of characteristics and prognosis of COVID-19 patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation during dominance of nonvariant, alpha, delta, and omicron variants in tertiary hospitals of Japan

BackgroundIn November 2021, the B.1.1.529 (omicron) variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was detected in South Africa and subsequently rapidly spread around the world. Despite the reduced severity of the omicron variants, many patients become severely ill after infection and undergo invasive mechanical ventilation, but there are few reports on their background and prognosis throughout all variant periods. This study aimed to evaluate risk factors affecting patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation with each variant of COVID-19 pandemic in Japan from nonvariants to omicron variants.MethodThis retrospective observational study was conducted at the Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Kansai Medical University Hospital and Kansai Medical University Medical Center, Osaka, Japan, from March 2020 to March 2023. Eligible patients were those who underwent invasive ventilation for COVID-19 pneumonia. We set the primary endpoint as in-hospital mortality. Multivariable logistic regression analysis adjusted for clinically important variables was performed to evaluate the clinical outcomes.ResultsWe included 377 patients: 118 in the Nonvariant group, 154 in the Alpha group, 42 in the Delta group, and 63 patients in the Omicron group. Mortality rates for each group were 23.7% for the Nonvariant group, 12.3% for the Alpha group, 7.1% for the Delta group, and 30.5% for the Omicron group. Patient age was significantly associated with increased mortality (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 1.097; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.057–0.138, P < 0.001). Immunodeficiency (AOR: 3.388, 95% CI: 1.377–8.333, P = 0.008), initial SOFA score (AOR: 1.190, 95% CI: 1.056–1.341, P = 0.004), dialysis prior to COVID-19 (AOR: 3.695, 95% CI: 1.117–11.663, P = 0.026), and smoking history (AOR: 2.548, 95% CI: 1.153–5.628, P = 0.021) were significantly associated with increased mortality. Differences in variants were not significant factors associated with high mortality.ConclusionWe compared the background and prognosis of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia requiring invasive mechanical ventilation between SARS-CoV-2 variants. In these patients, differences in variants did not affect prognosis. Hospital mortality in critically ill COVID-19 patients was significantly higher in the older patients with bacterial coinfection, or patients with immunodeficiency, COPD, and chronic renal failure on dialysis.

Role of General Anesthesia and Rapid On-site Evaluation in the Diagnosis of Lung Cancer with EBUS-TBNA

Lung cancer is a common malignant tumor of respiratory system. Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a valuable tool for the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer. EBUS-TBNA is predominantly performed under local anesthesia or conscious sedation. However, the diagnostic performance of EBUS-TBNA under general anesthesia and in conjunction with rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) remains uncertain. This study aims to investigate the value of general anesthesia and ROSE in the diagnosis of lung cancer with EBUS-TBNA. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 164 patients treated in the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine of The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University from January 2018 to December 2022. All patients were preoperatively suspected of lung cancer and underwent EBUS-TBNA. Based on whether they received general anesthesia and ROSE, the patients were divided into three groups: local anesthesia group (LA group)(n=54), general anesthesia group (GA group)(n=67) and general anesthesia with ROSE group (GA-ROSE group)(n=43). The puncture characteristics and diagnostic differences were analyzed among the groups. The number of lymph node puncture needles in the LA group was higher than in GA-ROSE group (P<0.01). The overall diagnostic rates of EBUS-TBNA for the three groups were 87.04%, 89.55% and 90.70%, respectively, with malignant tumor diagnostic rates of 88.24%, 88.89% and 94.74%. No statistically significant differences were observed among the three groups (P>0.05). There were no instances of severe complications or adverse anesthesia reactions in any of the groups. Compared to the combination of local anesthesia with intravenous analgesia and sedation, the implementation of EBUS-TBNA under general anesthesia, with or without ROSE, achieves equally accurate results, and general anesthesia combined with ROSE can reduce in the number of lymph node puncture needles.

Chinese expert consensus on diagnosis and treatment strategies for novel coronavirus infection in immunocompromised populations (2023 edition)

AbstractSince the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) was identified in 2019, it has caused more than 664 million confirmed cases and more than 6.7 million deaths globally by January 20, 2023. So far, the novel coronavirus has undergone mutations from the original, Alpha, Delta, and Omicron strains. Omicron was first detected in South Africa in November 2021 and has since spread rapidly to more than 100 countries around the world, leading the World Health Organization (WHO) to classify it as a “variant of concern” for COVID‐19. Due to its stronger infectivity, faster transmission, and higher reinfection rate, it is more likely to cause immune evasion and infection breakthrough in the vaccinated population. Omicron has replaced Delta strain as the main epidemic strain imported from overseas and in China. People with immunodeficiency are more susceptible to the novel coronavirus due to abnormal immune function, and viral infections tend to be more lasting and severe. In addition, due to the existence of underlying diseases, most people with immunodeficiency have been taking immunosuppressants and other related drugs for a long time, and there are different degrees of interaction between novel coronavirus treatment drugs and original drugs, which brings great challenges to the diagnosis and treatment of people with immunodeficiency after infection with novel coronavirus. According to the Novel Coronavirus Infection Diagnosis and Treatment Protocol (Trial 10th Edition) issued by the National Health Commission, which emphasizes “strengthening the protection of key groups,” people with immune deficiency belong to the high‐risk groups of severe or critical disease. Based on the evidence of evidence‐based medicine and after many discussions by experts from multiple disciplines (Department of Respiratory and Critical Care, Department of Organ Transplantation, Department of Rheumatology, Department of Hematology, Department of Infection, Department of Critical Care Medicine, etc.), 13 recommendations are summarized to provide theoretical and practical reference for the diagnosis and treatment strategy of this special population.

Clinical significance of negative fluid balance and infection management in the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by severe novel coronavirus infection

To explore the clinical significance of negative fluid balance and infection management in the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by severe novel coronavirus infection. A retrospective survey was conducted. Patients with ARDS caused by severe novel coronavirus infection who were hospitalized in the department of critical care medicine of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Gansu University of Chinese Medicine and received non-invasive ventilator assisted ventilation were selected as the research objects. The fluid intake and output of all patients were accurately counted every day, and the fluid intake of the next day was adjusted according to the output of the previous day. According to the fluid negative balance, and whether the hospital infection management measures were complied with during the treatment and inspection of the patients, 45 patients with a negative fluid balance of more than 200 mL/d and strict management of nosocomial infection were taken as the observation group, and 48 patients with a negative fluid balance of less than 200 mL/d and no strict management of nosocomial infection were taken as the control group. The general data, weaning success rate, endotracheal intubation rate, mortality, as well as laboratory indicators such as white blood cell count (WBC), procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP) after treatment were compared between the two groups. There were no significant differences in gender (male: 51.1% vs. 52.1%), age (years old: 66.31±15.92 vs. 67.50±13.59), acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II: 18.98±4.81 vs. 18.54±4.35) between the observation group and the control group (all P > 0.05), indicating that the baseline data were balanced and comparable. Compared with the control group, the weaning success rate of the observation group significantly increased [53.3% (24/45) vs. 31.2% (15/48), P = 0.031], endotracheal intubation rate significantly decreased [22.2% (10/45) vs. 43.8% (21/48), P = 0.028], mortality significantly reduced [20.0% (9/45) vs. 41.7% (20/48), P = 0.024], laboratory indicators WBC, PCT and CRP levels were significantly reduced [WBC (×109/L): 8.085±4.136 vs. 16.898±7.733, CRP (mg/L): 82.827±52.680 vs. 150.679±74.625, PCT (μg/L): 3.142±2.323 vs. 7.539±5.939, all P < 0.01]. Fluid negative balance and infection management have significant clinical significance in the treatment of severe novel coronavirus infection with ARDS.

Application of the 2022 ACR/EULAR criteria to Chinese patients with previously diagnosed eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis: The concordance rate between the 2022 ACR/EULAR criteria and the 1990 criteria for EGPA in China.

This study aimed to investigate the concordance rate between the 2022 American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR) criteria and the 1990 criteria for eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) in Chinese patients. 68 patients were diagnosed with EGPA according to the 1990 ACR criteria in the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Beijing Chao-yang Hospital Department, from May 2005 to December 2022, and those patients were reclassified using the 2022 ACR/EULAR criteria for EGPA. Among the 68 patients, 88.2% (60 cases) met the 2022 ACR/EULAR criteria for EGPA, and 11.8% (8 cases) patients failed to meet the new criteria. Only 66.2% of the patients were detected blood eosinophil count ≥ 1 × 109/L, while more patients (77.9%) met the item blood eosinophil count > 10% in the 1990 criteria. The report rate of nasal polyps was 13.2% in these patients. The concordance rate between the 2022 ACR/EULAR criteria and the 1990 criteria for EGPA was 88.2%. Compared with the 1990 criteria, the 2022 ACR/EULAR put more weighting on the blood eosinophil count and nasal polyps, while the diagnostic rate of them is low in Chinese patients. Thus improving the positive rate is important and routinely screening for nasal polyps should be performed in the future.

Use of cardiac troponin I, lactic acid, procalcitonin, and serum complement C3 as prognostic indicators in patients with sepsis

Sepsis is a heterogeneous syndrome caused by the immune response to severe infection. This study aimed to investigate the value of cardiac troponin I, lactic acid, procalcitonin, and serum complement C3 levels for predicting death in patients with sepsis. Patients with sepsis who were hospitalized in the Department of Critical Care Medicine at our hospital between June 2017 and October 2022 were included in this retrospective study and divided into a survival group and a death group according to their survival status after 28 days. The Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores, and levels of cardiac troponin I, lactic acid, procalcitonin, and serum complement C3 were measured. A total of 516 patients were included in the analysis. Multivariable analysis showed that the APACHE II score (P &lt; .001), SOFA score (P &lt; .001), and cardiac troponin I (P &lt; .001), lactic acid (P = .002), procalcitonin (P &lt; .001), and serum complement C3 (P = .01) levels were independent predictors of sepsis death. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was 0.882 (95% CI: 0.794–0.941) in patients with sepsis predicted using a combination of cardiac troponin I, lactic acid, procalcitonin, and serum complement C3 levels, which was better than the predictive value of cardiac troponin I (AUC: 0.734, 95% CI: 0.628–0.824), lactic acid (AUC: 0.686, 95% CI: 0.576–0.781), procalcitonin (AUC: 0.727, 95% CI: 0.620–0.817), or serum complement C3 (AUC: 0.684, 95% CI: 0.575–0.780) alone. Cardiac troponin I, lactic acid, and procalcitonin levels are independent predictors of death, whereas serum complement C3 protects against death in patients with sepsis. The combination of cardiac troponin I, lactic acid, procalcitonin, and serum complement C3 levels has a better predictive value for death than any single measure alone in patients with sepsis.

Endobronchial Lipoma: A Rare Cause of Bronchial Stenosis or Obstruction.

Endobronchial lipoma (EL) is a rare benign tumor characterized by tracheobronchial smooth-surfaced mass, often resulting in bronchial obstruction without standard guidelines for management. This study seeks to clarify the clinical features and interventions of EL, aiming to improve its diagnosis and outcomes. A retrospective review was conducted on 28516 outpatients treated between January 2015 and December 2019 at the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medical University to collect patients diagnosed with EL. Their clinical, bronchoscopic, chest imaging, and histopathological features along with management were analyzed. Among the patients reviewed, nine were histopathologically diagnosed with EL, comprising seven males and two females. All EL patients exhibited noticeable symptoms, including cough (in eight patients), dyspnea (in six patients), fever (in three patients), expectoration (in two patients), chest pain (in two patients), hemoptysis (in one patient), and fatigue (in one patient). Chest CT abnormalities included endobronchial mass (in four patients), inflammatory exudation (in three patients), atelectasis (in three patients), and infiltration or consolidation (in two patients). In three patients, imaging showed fat density, directly leading to the diagnosis of EL. The EL lesions were distributed with six in the right lung and three in the left lung, all located within the first three subdivisions of the tracheobronchial tree. Treatment approaches varied, with one patient undergoing combined bronchoscopic resection and surgery. The remaining patients received bronchoscopic intervention such as electrosurgical snare resection, argon plasma coagulation (APC), cryotherapy, and holmium laser. Histopathological analysis confirmed the EL diagnosis. Finally, the mass removal restored bronchus patency. Taken together, EL symptoms lack specificity, necessitating reliance on histopathology for EL accurate diagnosis. Bronchoscopic interventions emerge as the preferred option for EL management, surpassing surgical approaches.

Prognosis analysis of multi-indicator combined with sequential organ failure assessment in patients with sepsis

To explore the prognostic value of early multiple detection indicators in combination with sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) in sepsis patients. A retrospective analysis was conducted. Patients with sepsis admitted to the department of critical care medicine of Huanggang Central Hospital of Yangtze University from May 2020 to May 2022 were selected as the research subjects. Coagulation indicators, inflammatory factors, blood routine, liver and kidney function, and blood gas analysis were collected at admission. Organ dysfunction was assessed based on the SOFA score within 24 hours after admission. Patients were divided into a survival group and a death group according to the outcome of 28 days in ICU. Differences in the above indicators between the two groups were compared. Multifactorial Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze prognostic factors of 28-day mortality in sepsis patients. Receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve) was drawn to analyze the predictive performance of various indicators, the SOFA score, and the combine model for the 28-day outcome in patients with sepsis. A total of 101 patients with sepsis were enrolled, 56 patients survived and 45 patients died. Compared to the survival group, patients in the death group were older, the proportion of patients with septic shock was larger, the SOFA score, and the proportion of pulmonary infection were higher, the prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) were significantly prolonged, the prothrombin activity (PTA) was significantly shortened, and antithrombin (AT) was significantly decreased, the levels of hypersensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), total bilirubin (TBil), and lactic acid (Lac) were significantly increased, while the platelet count (PLT) was significantly decreased. Multifactorial Logistic regression analysis showed that pulmonary infection [odds ratio (OR) = 0.010, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was 0.001-0.164, P = 0.001], AT (OR = 0.944, 95%CI was 0.910-0.978, P = 0.002), hs-CRP (OR = 1.008, 95%CI was 1.001-1.015, P = 0.017), Lac (OR = 1.619, 95%CI was 1.195-2.193, P = 0.002), and SOFA score (OR = 1.363, 95%CI was 1.076-1.727, P = 0.010) were independent prognostic factors for 28-day mortality in patients. A combined model was constructed using pulmonary infection, AT, hs-CRP, Lac, and SOFA score. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the ROC curve (AUC) for the combine model in predicting sepsis prognosis was 0.936 (95%CI was 0.869-0.975, P < 0.001), which was higher in value compared to single indicators (AUC of AT, hs-CRP, Lac, and SOFA score were 0.775, 0.666, 0.802, 0.796, respectively, all P < 0.05). The predictive ability of the SOFA score for sepsis patient outcomes is limited. The combine model combining infection site, AT, hs-CRP, and Lac shows better predictive ability.

Clinical characteristics of a case of severe pneumonia caused by coinfection of COVID-19 and Chlamydia Psittaci

A 69-year-old female patient was admitted to the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University due to a "cough and fever for eight days". On admission, a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) nucleic acid test was positive, and a chest CT scan showed progressive patchy shadows and consolidation shadows in both lungs. Arterial blood gas analysis showed type Ⅰ respiratory failure. The primary diagnosis was severe community-acquired pneumonia in an older adult without underlying disease. However, oxygen inhalation, steroid, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial empirical treatment with piperacillin/tazobactam was ineffective. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing of bronchoscopy alveolar lavage fluid showed Chlamydia psittaci(C. psittaci). Severe pneumonia was confirmed, caused by coinfection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and C. psittaci. A combination of doxycycline and moxifloxacin significantly improved the targeted and symptomatic treatment of the underlying cause. After discharge, the patient recovered within four weeks of follow-up. Therefore, clinicians should be alert to the possibility of coinfection of C. psittaci in patients already diagnosed with COVID-19.

Esophageal dysmotility detection in patients with gastroesophageal reflux-related cough and its influence on the efficacy of anti-reflux therapy

Objective: To investigate the characteristics of esophageal dysmotility in patients with an initial diagnosis of acid/non-acid gastroesophageal reflux-related cough (GERC), and its correlation with the therapeutic response to anti-reflux treatments to search for the useful indicators to screen patients with chronic cough suitable for anti-reflux therapy. Methods: A total of 173 patients with suspicious GERC who attended the Chronic Cough Specialist Clinic of Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University between June 2020 and December 2022 were retrospectively selected for the study. The age of the patients was (45.1±14.6) years old, including 87 males and 86 females. Their demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations, and the results of high-resolution manometry (HRM) and multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH monitoring (MII-pH) were collected. Information on the etiological identification process and final diagnosis was also recorded. The recruited cases were grouped according to therapeutic outcomes and divided into cases with a favourable response to conventional anti-reflux treatment, cases with a favourable response to intensified anti-reflux treatment, and cases with no response to anti-reflux treatment. Factors influencing the efficacy of anti-reflux treatment were investigated. Differences between groups were compared using the χ2 test, Student-Newman-Keuls test, and Kruskal-Wallis H(K) test, where applicable. Logistic regression analysis using forward stepwise regression based on maximum likelihood estimation was used to screen for influence factors. Results: The 175 patients with suspicious GERC included 45 (26.0%) patients who responded to conventional anti-reflux treatment, 54 (31.2%) who responded to intensified anti-reflux treatment and 74 (42.8%) who did not respond to anti-reflux therapies. Esophageal dysmotility was present in 52.0% of patients (90/173), but was less common in patients who responded to conventional anti-reflux treatment (χ2=8.09, P=0.018). Although the majority of reflux episodes were non-acid (136/173, 78.6%), the proportion of acid reflux (χ2=19.49, P<0.001) and acid exposure time (H=11.04, P=0.004) were significantly higher in patients who responded to conventional anti-reflux treatment. The patients with acid and non-acid GERC had comparable proportion of esophageal dysmotility (64.9% vs. 48.5%, χ2=3.11, P=0.078), with a shorter break [2.4 (0.7, 5.6) cm vs. 6.1 (1.4, 10.0) cm, Z=-2.39, P=0.017], longer upper esophageal sphincter [(4.1±0.9) cm vs. (3.7±1.3) cm, t=-2.09, P=0.038], higher percentage of normal esophageal contractions [60.0% (17.8%, 90.0%) vs. 30.0% (0, 80.0%), Z=-2.14, P=0.032], and lower percentage of large break [10.0% (0, 40.0%) vs. 50.0% (0, 100.0%), Z=-2.92, P=0.004] in the patients with non-acid GERC. The mean resting pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter was significantly lower (H=7.49, P=0.024), while the percentage of ineffective esophageal contractions was markedly higher (H=8.60, P=0.014) in the patients who responded to intensified anti-reflux treatment and in the patients who did not respond to the anti-reflux therapies. Multifactorial logistic regression analysis identified the percentage of ineffective contraction as an independent factor predicting the efficacy of conventional anti-reflux treatment, with a cut-off value of≤45% and a moderate predictive value (AUC=0.67, P=0.004). Conclusions: Esophageal dysmotility is common in GERC patients with different characteristics in acid and non-acid GERC. The percentage of ineffective esophageal contraction may be a useful indicator for selecting an anti-reflux strategy and predicting treatment outcomes.