Resolution Of Respiratory Failure Research Articles

ЛЕГЕНЕВИЙ АЛЬВЕОЛЯРНИЙ ПРОТЕЇНОЗ: ВИПАДОК СУБТОТАЛЬНОГО УРАЖЕННЯ ПАРЕНХІМИ ЛЕГЕНЬ)

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is a rare pulmonary disease, characterized by the intraalveolar accumulation of surfactant-like lipoprotein substance. There are three forms of the disease: autoimmune (formerly known as idiopathic), secondary and congenital PAP. The disturbances of surfactant metabolism (protein-lipoid complex secreted by type II pneumocytes) play the crucial role in the development of the disease. Surfactant decreases a surface tension of alveoli and prevents its collapse at the end of the expiration and takes part in protection against infections as well. Surfactant is inactivated through the transformation into the surface-inactive aggregates, which are mainly absorbed by type II pneumocytes. The rest of surfactant are catabolized by alveolar macrophages (AM). This process is regulated by cytokines, especially granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) being the most important of them. Disturbances of interrelation between GM-CSF and cellular receptors blocks the signals to effector cells for surfactant deactivation. This is resulted in excessive accumulation of surfactant in alveoli. General lavage of the lung is a standard method of symptomatic management of PAP. Contemporary pathogenesis treatment uses two approaches — increasing the clearance of surfactant by means of exogenous GM-CSF administration and decreasing the level of GM-CSF antibodies using the rituximab and plasmapheresis. Due to the use of broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) 5-year survival rate of th patients reaches 95 %. The mortality depends on the area of lung lesion and reversely correlated with the timely diagnosis and treatment. We report the case of subtotal lung parenchyma lesion associated with severe respiratory failure in 46 years old patient. Three series of BAL (5 procedures in each with 1-2 months interval) were performed using the limited volume of lavage fluid due to the severity of the patient’s condition. The results was an improvement of clinical condition, resolution of respiratory failure, significant reduction of the size of the lesions, improved lung transparency on CT scan, restoration of lung diffusion and total lung capacity. Conclusion. Therapeutic BAL is an effective method of PAP management. The outcome of clinical case presented and our many years experience confirm not only the effectiveness of conventional BAL with reduced lavage volume application but also a safety of fiberoptic bronchoscopy, especially in patients with subtotal involvement of lung parenchyma. Key words: pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, subtotal pulmonary parenchyma involvement, pulmonary bronchoalveolar lavage, efficiency.

Risks and benefits of urinary catheterisation during inpatient diuretic therapy for acute heart failure: a retrospective, non-inferiority, cohort study

ObjectivesPatients with acute congestive heart failure (HF) regularly undergo urinary catheterisation (UC) at hospital admission. We hypothesised that UC has no clinical benefits with regard to weight loss during inpatient...

Application of the Technique of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in a Patient With Respiratory Distress Syndrome Associated With Myasthenia Gravis

Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune neuromuscular disease characterized by pathologically rapid fatigue of striated muscles [1]. The main symptom of myasthenia gravis is the presence of pathological muscle weakness with involvement of the ocular, bulbar and skeletal muscles in the pathological process. The provoking factors for the development of myasthenia gravis can be infectious diseases, surgery, drugs [2, 3]. The main danger is represented by myasthenic and cholinergic crises, which are characterized by a severe course and high mortality; therefore, the problems of treating myasthenia gravis are still of high medical and social significance. The prevalence of myasthenia gravis is 17.5–20.3 per 100 thousand population, and the number of patients is increasing by 5–10% annually [4, 5]. In recent years, there has been a steady increase in morbidity with an increase in age over 50 years [6, 7]. Myasthenia gravis is a serious disease with a high mortality rate of up to 30–40% [3]. There are difficulties in the early differential diagnosis of muscle weakness in patients with respiratory failure between myasthenia gravis, myasthenic syndrome and critical illness polyneuropathy. These difficulties and insufficient awareness of patients and doctors of various specialties about myasthenia gravis can lead to the choice of the wrong treatment tactics and the development of myasthenic crisis, which is manifested by respiratory failure, requiring respiratory support. The progression of respiratory failure against the background of myasthenic crisis may require the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).It is necessary to expand the differential diagnosis of muscle weakness in a patient during the period of resolution of respiratory failure, allowing to move away from compulsory respiratory support, termination of ECMO.

Refractory thrombocytopenia in a severe COVID-19 patient

Severe acute respiratory syndromerelated coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has spread worldwide. The most of patients presents fever, dyspnea and cough as a typical viral infection, others show peculiar clinical and laboratory signs, such as anosmia, ageusia and thrombocytopenia. We here describe a severe coronavirus disease 2019 patient (76-year old, male) that developed an immune thrombocytopenia and acquired pseudo-thrombocytopenia that were refractory to immunomodulators even after resolution of respiratory failure. The patient developed thrombocytopenia (platelets 88,000/mm3) that got worse the following day (14,000/mm3). We started 1 mg/kg of methylprednisolone i.v. daily. Platelet count increased up to 209,000/mm3, in sodium citrate, but remained about 14,000/mm3 in EDTA 10 days after the beginning of methylprednisolone. The patient showed great improvement in respiratory parameters and radiological finding. About one week after he developed a thrombocytopenia up to 70,000/mm3. We did not modify the steroids dosage. Platelet count slowly began to increase and in about 10 days returned to normal values.

Point-of-Care Thoracic Ultrasonography in Patients With Cirrhosis and Liver Failure.

Point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) helps determine liver-related pathologies like an abscess, portal vein or hepatic vein thromboses, presence of ascites, site for pleural or ascitic paracentesis, and guiding biopsies. POCUS is revolutionizing the management of critically ill patients presenting with pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute-on-chronic liver failure, and in the emergency. The objectives of thoracic ultrasonography (TUS) are to aid the clinician in differentiating between pneumonia, effusions, interstitial edema and collections, and in estimating the volume status of patients with liver disease using inferior vena cava dynamic indices. The use of POCUS in patients with cirrhosis has since evolved. It is now widely used to help diagnose volume status, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, myocardial infarction, and right ventricular dilation due to pulmonary embolism and to determine the causes for weaning failures such as effusions, lung collapse, and pneumothorax. During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, moving patients for computed tomography can be difficult. Therefore, TUS is now essential in liver transplantation and intensive care practice to assess ventilatory pressures, cardiac function, and fluid management. This review indicates the current and optimized use of TUS, offers a practical guide on TUS in the liver intensive care unit (ICU), and presents a diagnostic pathway for determining lung and pleural pathology, resolution of respiratory failure, and aid weaning from mechanical ventilation.

Treatment of complex laryngotracheal stenosis in childhood\u2013experience of a tertiary University Hospital from 2016 to 2019

BackgroundLaryngotracheal stenosis is a major cause of airway obstruction in pediatric age. The correction of such abnormality still remains a challenge, both because of anatomical issues in childhood and also due to the difficulty in having properly trained professionals and adequate hospital facilities. As treatment, many different surgical techniques are offered ranging from endoscopic and less invasive procedures to open surgeries, such as laryngotracheal reconstruction and cricotracheal resection. The treatment for complex laryngotracheal stenosis is considered successful when we have decannulation or resolution of respiratory failure with release from intensive care unit. Eighteen patients who were monitored at the pediatric otorhinolaryngology service between 2016 and 2019 were diagnosed with complex stenosis, with the collection of demographic data, comorbidities, degree of initial stenosis, post-treatment aspect, and whether or not decannulation occurred.ResultsOf the eighteen cases, three had congenital stenosis, fourteen had acquired stenosis, and one had mixed stenosis. Ages ranged from 4 months old to 15 years old. Six (33.3%) underwent endoscopic dilation procedures only, six (33.3%) underwent laryngotracheoplasty, and five (27.7%) cricotracheal resections. One patient underwent a slide tracheoplasty. Seven patients (38.8%) had to undergo more than one type of procedure to improve stenosis. Out of the eighteen patients, three of them were never tracheostomized. Of the remaining fifteen patients, fourteen (93.3%) were decannulated.ConclusionsThe success rate in decannulation or the resolution of respiratory failure with discharge from the ICU, after the procedures for correcting stenosis in childhood in our service, was 94.4%.

Neurogenic pulmonary edema following febrile status epilepticus in a 22-month-old infant with multiple respiratory virus co-detection: a case report

BackgroundNeurogenic pulmonary edema is a rare but serious complication of febrile status epilepticus in children. Comprehensive screening for viral pathogens is seldomly performed in the work-up of febrile children.Case presentationA 22-month-old girl presented with her first episode of febrile status epilepticus, after which she developed acute pulmonary edema and respiratory failure. After the termination of seizure activity, the patient was intubated and managed on mechanical ventilation in the emergency room. The resolution of respiratory failure, as well as the neurological recovery, was achieved 9 h after admission, and the patient was discharged 6 days after admission without any complications. Molecular biological diagnostic methods identified the presence of human coronavirus HKU1, influenza C virus, and human parainfluenza virus 2 from the patient’s nasopharyngeal specimens.ConclusionsNeurogenic pulmonary edema following febrile status epilepticus was suspected to be the etiology of our patient’s acute pulmonary edema and respiratory failure. Timely seizure termination and rapid airway and respiratory intervention resulted in favorable outcomes of the patient. Molecular biological diagnostic methods identified three respiratory viruses; however, their relevance and association with clinical symptoms remain speculative.

Severe Dyspnea Is an Independent Predictor of Readmission or Death in COPD Patients Surviving Acute Hypercapnic Respiratory Failure in the ICU.

Background: Predicting outcome after index admission in the ICU for COPD-related acute hypercapnic respiratory failure (AHRF) is difficult. Simple tools to stratify this risk and to promote interventions to mitigate it are needed.Aim: To prospectively evaluate the ability of severe dyspnea (NYHAIII-IV) to predict hospital readmission or death in COPD patients surviving AHRF in the ICU.Methods: 50 consecutive COPD patients were recruited from a larger cohort of patients (n = 78) surviving AHRF in the ICU. All predictive variables were collected within 15 days after resolution of respiratory failure before hospital discharge. COPD was diagnosed by spirometry. Heart failure was diagnosed with clinical rules and echocardiography. NYHA was measured upon hospital discharge. Hospital readmission and death were recorded at regular intervals for 3 months.Results: 21/50 (42%) COPD patients died or were readmitted to the hospital during the observation period: 12 out of the 20 NYHA III-IV patients (60%) and 8 out of the 28 NYHA I-II patients (29%). NYHA III-IV was associated with risk of readmission or death (univariate HR: 2.73, IC95: 1.11–6.69, p = 0.028). After controlling for age, FEV1, heart failure and BMI, NYHA III-IV remained associated with readmission or death (multivariate HR: 2.71, IC95: 1.06–6.93, p = 0.038).Conclusions: Our findings suggest that severe dyspnea measured upon hospital discharge in COPD patients surviving AHRF can stratify patient's risk of 3-month readmission or death.

Treatment for disseminated intravascular coagulation in patients with acute and chronic leukemia.

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is an acquired syndrome characterized by systemic intravascular activation of coagulation, leading to deposition of fibrin in the bloodstream. It may occur in patients with acute and chronic leukemia and is particularly associated with acute promyelocytic leukemia (a subtype of acute myeloid leukemia). To assess the clinical benefits and harms of any pharmacological intervention for treating DIC in patients with acute or chronic leukemia. We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (the Cochrane Library 2015, Issue 05), MEDLINE (1946 to 7 May 2015), LILACS (1982 to 7 May 2015) and African Index Medicus (7 May 2015). There was no language restrictions. We sought additional randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform and the reference lists of primary studies identified. RCTs assessing the clinical benefits and harms of interventions for treating DIC in patients with acute and chronic leukemia. Two review authors independently performed trial selection, 'Risk of bias' assessment and data extraction. Primary outcomes were overall mortality, in-hospital mortality from any cause (15-day and 30-day) and adverse events. In this Cochrane Review update we did not include any new RCT compared with the first review version. Accordingly, four RCTs (388 participants) met the inclusion criteria. These trials evaluated the human activated protein C, recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin, tranexamic acid and dermatan sulphate. Included trials reported data on mortality and bleeding. The studies were conducted in Japan, Italy and the Netherlands. We classified the included trials as: 1) including patients with or without leukemia which did not report data for the leukemia subgroup (366 participants); and 2) only including patients with leukemia (22 participants). Overall, the risk of bias of the included trials was high, since the trial authors did not provide a detailed description about trial design and execution.According to the GRADE recommendations, we judged the overall quality of the body of evidence for all prefixed outcomes as 'very low', due to methodological limitations and very small sample size.One trial, including 10 participants with leukemia and comparing dermatan sulphate with heparin, reported no deaths during trial treatment.In terms of bleeding data, we were unable to pool results from two studies that were only conducted with leukemia patients due to the inconsistency in the measurement and reporting of this outcome. One trial, including 12 participants with leukemia, found very low quality evidence that tranexamic acid can reduce the cumulative hemorrhagic score in participants compared with those assigned to placebo (P = 0.0015, very low quality evidence). On the contrary, there is no evidence that dermatan sulphate compared with placebo reduces new events of hemorrhagic diathesis (1/5 (20%) versus 2/5 (40%); RR 0.50; 95% CI 0.06 to 3.91; P = 0.51, very low quality evidence).No thromboembolic complications were reported in either trial that included patients with leukemia only (very low quality evidence). The safety profile was inconclusive.The included trials did not assess overall mortality, resolution of respiratory failure, renal failure or shock. Due to a lack of new RCTs, our conclusions in this Cochrane Review update are the same as the previous review version. We included four RCTs which reported mortality and bleeding data. It is not possible to determine whether human activated protein C, recombinant human soluble thrombomodulin, tranexamic acid and dermatan sulphate are effective or harmful for patients presenting with DIC related to acute or chronic leukemia. The quality of the evidence was low to very low. Therefore, prescription of these interventions for treating DIC in patients with acute and chronic leukemia can neither be supported nor rejected, unless new evidence from a large high-quality trial alters this conclusion.

Continuous multiorgan variability analysis to track severity of organ failure in critically ill patients

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to evaluate the utility of using continuous heart rate variability (HRV) and respiratory rate variability (RRV) monitoring for (a) tracking daily organ dysfunction in critically ill patients and (b) identifying patterns of variability changes during onset of shock and resolution of respiratory failure. Materials and MethodsThirty-three critically ill patients experiencing respiratory and/or cardiac failure underwent continuous recording of their electrocardiogram and capnogram (CO2) waveforms from admission or intubation until discharge (maximum 14 days). HRV and RRV were computed in 5-minute overlapping windows, using Continuous Individualized Multi-organ Variability Analysis software. Multiple organ dysfunction scores were recorded daily. HRV and RRV trajectories were characterized during onset of shock and resolution of respiratory failure. ResultsBoth HRV and RRV decreased with increasing severity of multiple organ dysfunction scores for a variety of variability metrics. A decline in several measures of HRV and no decline in RRV were observed before onset of shock (n = 6). In contrast, during resolution of respiratory failure, an increase in RRV was observed in patients who successfully passed extubation (n = 12), with no change in RRV in those who subsequently failed extubation (n = 2). ConclusionsThere is an association between reduced HRV and RRV and increasing organ dysfunction in critically ill patients. The significance of observing trends of decreasing HRV (with onset of shock) and increasing RRV (with resolution of respiratory failure) merits further investigation.

Conventional mechanical ventilation can injury intact lungs in severe trauma patients

Conventional mechanical ventilation (MV) may cause additional lung injury in ALI/ARDS due to overdistention of aerated lung regions (high Vt) and cyclic lung reopening (low PEEP level). Hyperproduction of inflammatory mediators is one of the side effects in these cases. This factor could delay or prevent resolution of respiratory failure [1,2]. However, it is not clear whether conventional mechanical ventilation damages intact lungs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of conventional and protective mechanical ventilation on intact lungs in patients with severe trauma.

Selective Hemosorption of Endotoxin in the Treatment of Abdominal Sepsis

Sepsis remains to be one of the most urgent problems of modern medicine, which are associated with a steadily high mortality (as high as 70%). The central point of the pathogenesis of abdominal pathogenesis is the translocation of the gram-negative flora and the elevated blood concentrations of lipopolysaccharide in the bacterial cell wall (endotoxin), which induces a systemic inflammatory reaction and has direct and indirect cell damaging actions. The technologies that have recently emerged in the clinic for the selective hemosorption of endotoxin in combination with dynamic monitoring of its blood level (LAL test) open up wide prospects for the treatment of abdominal sepsis. The paper gives a clinical example of successful therapy for septic shock, by using the sorbent LPS adsorber (Alteco, Switzerland) in a patient with abdominal sepsis in the presence of blood cancer. Selective hemosorption of endotoxin could substantially reduce its blood concentration, which attenuated a systemic inflammatory reaction, stabilized hemodynamics, and improved lung microcirculation with resolution of respiratory failure. Key words: abdominal sepsis, endotoxin, selective hemosorption.

Short-term Noninvasive Pressure Support Ventilation Prevents ICU Admittance in Patients With Acute Cardiogenic Pulmonary Edema

Noninvasive ventilation, although effective as treatment for patients with acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema when prolonged for hours, is of limited use in the emergency department (ED). The aim of the study was to determine whether a short attempt at noninvasive pressure support ventilation avoids ICU admittance and to identify lack of response prediction variables. Prospective inception cohort study. ED of a university hospital. Fifty-eight consecutive patients with cardiogenic pulmonary edema who had been unresponsive to medical treatment and were admitted between January 1999 and December 2000. Pressure support ventilation was instituted through a full-face mask until the resolution of respiratory failure. A 15-min "weaning test" was performed to evaluate clinical stability. Responder patients were transferred to a medical ward. Nonresponding patients were intubated and were admitted to the ICU. The included optimal length of intervention, the avoidance of ICU admittance, the incidence of myocardial infarction, and predictive lack of response criteria. Patients completed the trial (mean [+/- SD] duration, 96 +/- 40 min). None of the responders (43 patients; 74%) was subsequently ventilated or was admitted to the ICU. Two new episodes of myocardial infarction were observed. Thirteen of 58 patients died. A mean arterial pressure of < 95 mm Hg (odds ratio [OR], 10.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.8 to 60.8; p < 0.01) and COPD (OR, 9.4; 95% CI, 1.6 to 54.0; p < 0.05) at baseline predicted the lack of response to noninvasive ventilation. A short attempt at noninvasive ventilation is effective in preventing invasive assistance. A 15-min weaning test can identify patients who will not need further invasive ventilatory support. COPD and hypotension at baseline are negative predictive criteria.