Gram-negative bacterial colonizations before bilateral lung transplant. The impact of 'targeted' versus 'standard' surgical prophylaxis.

Background: Infections are one of the most common causes of death after lung transplant (LT). However, the benefit of 'targeted' prophylaxis in LT recipients pre-colonized by Gram-negative (GN) bacteria is still unclear.

Methods: All consecutive bilateral LT recipients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the University Hospital of Padua (February 2016-2023) were retrospectively screened.

Fungal Infections and Colonization after Bilateral Lung Transplant: A Six-Year Single-Center Experience.

Fungal infections (FIs) are one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality within the first year of lung transplant (LT) in LT recipients (LTRs). Their prompt identification and treatment are crucial for a favorable LTR outcome. The objectives of our study were to assess (i) the FI incidence and colonization during the first year after a bilateral LT, (ii) the risk factors associated with FI and colonization, and (iii) the differences in fungal incidence according to the different prophylactic strategies.

Noninvasive respiratory support after extubation: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Background: The effect of noninvasive respiratory support (NRS), including high-flow nasal oxygen, bi-level positive airway pressure and continuous positive airway pressure (noninvasive ventilation (NIV)), for preventing and treating post-extubation respiratory failure is still unclear. Our objective was to assess the effects of NRS on post-extubation respiratory failure, defined as re-intubation secondary to post-extubation respiratory failure (primary outcome). Secondary outcomes included the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), discomfort, intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital mortality, ICU and hospital length of stay (LOS), and time to re-intubation.

Two Consecutive Runs of Veno-Venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in a Peripartum Patient with COVID-19 Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-V ECMO) may be required to treat critically ill patients with COVID-19-associated severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We report the case of a 43-year-old peripartum patient, who underwent two sequential V-V ECMO runs. The first extracorporeal support was established for COVID-19 ARDS, as characterized by severe hypoxemia and hypercapnia (arterial partial pressure of oxygen to inspired oxygen fraction ratio 85 mmHg and arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide 95 mmHg) and reduction of respiratory system static compliance to 25 mL/cmHO, unresponsive to mechanical ventilation and prone positioning.

High-frequency percussive ventilation: a new strategy for separation from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

We report the case of a 48-year-old woman who developed severe septic shock and lung injury after community-acquired pneumonia. She was supported on arteriovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for 19 days. To facilitate decannulation and separation from ECMO, we began trials of high-frequency percussive ventilation (HFPV) using the volumetric diffusive respiration ventilator VDR-4 (Percussionaire Corp, Sandpoint, Idaho) for 4 consecutive days (1 before and 3 after).