Early detection of deterioration in COVID-19 patients by continuous ward respiratory rate monitoring: a pilot prospective cohort study.

Background: Tachypnea is among the earliest signs of pulmonary decompensation. Contactless continuous respiratory rate monitoring might be useful in isolated COVID-19 patients admitted in wards. We therefore aimed to determine whether continuous monitoring of respiratory patterns in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 predicts subsequent need for increased respiratory support.

Detailed stratified GWAS analysis for severe COVID-19 in four European populations.

Given the highly variable clinical phenotype of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a deeper analysis of the host genetic contribution to severe COVID-19 is important to improve our understanding of underlying disease mechanisms. Here, we describe an extended genome-wide association meta-analysis of a well-characterized cohort of 3255 COVID-19 patients with respiratory failure and 12 488 population controls from Italy, Spain, Norway and Germany/Austria, including stratified analyses based on age, sex and disease severity, as well as targeted analyses of chromosome Y haplotypes, the human leukocyte antigen region and the SARS-CoV-2 peptidome. By inversion imputation, we traced a reported association at 17q21.

Elevated plasma levels of epithelial and endothelial cell markers in COVID-19 survivors with reduced lung diffusing capacity six months after hospital discharge.

Background: Some COVID-19 survivors present lung function abnormalities during follow-up, particularly reduced carbon monoxide lung diffusing capacity (DLCO). To investigate risk factors and underlying pathophysiology, we compared the clinical characteristics and levels of circulating pulmonary epithelial and endothelial markers in COVID-19 survivors with normal or reduced DLCO 6 months after discharge.

Methods: Prospective, observational study.

Role of respiratory intermediate care units during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Rationale: The SARS-CoV2 pandemic increased exponentially the need for both Intensive (ICU) and Intermediate Care Units (RICU). The latter are of particular importance because they can play a dual role in critical and post-critical care of COVID-19 patients. Here, we describe the setup of 2 new RICUs in our institution to face the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and discuss the clinical characteristics and outcomes of the patients attended.

Once-daily 1 g ceftriaxone optimizes exposure in patients with septic shock and hypoalbuminemia receiving continuous veno-venous hemodiafiltration.

Purpose: Ceftriaxone total and unbound pharmacokinetics (PK) can be altered in critically ill patients with septic shock and hypoalbuminemia receiving continuous veno-venous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF). The objective of this study was to determine the dosing strategy of ceftriaxone that maximizes the probability of maintaining the concentration above the MIC of the susceptible bacteria (≤2 mg/L by the EUCAST) for a 100% of the dosing interval (100% ƒT).

Methods: In a prospective PK study in the intensive care units of two tertiary Spanish hospitals, six timed blood samples were collected per patient; for each sample, ceftriaxone total and unbound concentrations were measured using a liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry method.

Low birth weight as a potential risk factor for severe COVID-19 in adults.

The identification of factors predisposing to severe COVID-19 in young adults remains partially characterized. Low birth weight (LBW) alters cardiovascular and lung development and predisposes to adult disease. We hypothesized that LBW is a risk factor for severe COVID-19 in non-elderly subjects.

Severe acute kidney injury in critically ill COVID-19 patients.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is frequent in Coronavirus Infection Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Factors associated with AKI in COVID-19 intensive care unit (ICU) patients and their outcomes have not been previously explored.

Methods: Prospective observational study of COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICUs of the Hospital Clínic of Barcelona (Spain), from March 25th to April 21st, 2020, who developed AKI stage 2 or higher (AKIN classification).

Sequential intrapleural administration of fibrinolytic drugs and dornase alfa for empyema management. Treatment protocol based on its physicochemical stability.

Objective: Intrapleural administration of fibrinolytics and dornase alfa has been shown in randomized studies to be able to reduce both the  need for surgical debridement of empyema and the average  hospital stay. However, its application in clinical practice is limited,  probably due to the lack of protocols that simplify its administration. The  present study aims to analyze the physicochemical stability of the  simultaneous urokinase and dornase alfa administration for the  subsequent development of a clinical practice use protocol.

Distribution, temporal stability and association with all-cause mortality of the 2017 GOLD groups in the ECLIPSE cohort.

Background: In 2017, the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) proposed a new classification of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Material And Methods: We contrasted the distribution of COPD patients according to GOLD 2017 and 2011 classifications, the temporal stability of the 2017 groups during 3 years follow-up and their association with all-cause mortality in the ECLIPSE cohort.

Results: We found that GOLD 2017: (1) switched a substantial proportion of GOLD 2011C and D patients to A and B groups at recruitment; (2) about half of A, B and D patients remained in the same group at the end of follow-up, whereas 74% of C patients (the smallest group of all) changed, either because exacerbation rate decreased or dyspnea increased; and, (3) all-cause mortality by group was not significantly different between GOLD 2011 and 2017.

Medical and surgical management for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension: a single center experience.

Introduction: Pulmonary endarterectomy (PE) is the treatment of choice for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). The aim of this study was to analyze our experience in the medical and surgical management of CTEPH.

Methods: We included 80 patients diagnosed with CTEPH between January 2000 and July 2012.

[Extracorporeal lung assist in severe respiratory failure and ARDS. Current situation and clinical applications].

Despite improvements in ventilation support techniques, lung protection strategies, and the application of new support treatment, acute respiratory distress syndrome continues to have a high mortality rate. Many strategies and treatments for this syndrome have been investigated over the last few year. However, the only therapeutic measure that has systematically shown to be able to improve survival is that of low volume lung protective ventilation.

Treatment guidelines and outcomes of hospital-acquired and ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Hospital-acquired pneumonia is the second most frequent nosocomial infection and the first in terms of morbidity, mortality, and cost. In recent years, international societies and, most recently, the American Thoracic Society jointly with the Infectious Disease Society of America, have developed guidelines for the management of hospital-acquired pneumonia, health care-associated pneumonia, and ventilator-associated pneumonia. These guidelines include recommendations for risk stratification, initial and definitive antibiotic treatment, and prevention.

Non-invasive ventilation after extubation in hypercapnic patients with chronic respiratory disorders: randomised controlled trial.

Background: Non-invasive ventilation can prevent respiratory failure after extubation in individuals at increased risk of this complication, and enhanced survival in patients with hypercapnia has been recorded. We aimed to assess prospectively the effectiveness of non-invasive ventilation after extubation in patients with hypercapnia and as rescue therapy when respiratory failure develops.

Methods: We undertook a randomised controlled trial in three intensive-care units in Spain.

Has mortality from acute respiratory distress syndrome decreased over time?: A systematic review.

Rationale: It is commonly stated that mortality from acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and acute lung injury (ALI) is decreasing.

Objectives: To systematically review the literature assessing ARDS mortality over time and to determine patient- and study-level factors independently associated with mortality.

Methods: We searched multiple databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane CENTRAL) for prospective observational studies or randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published during the period 1984 to 2006 that enrolled 50 or more patients with ALI/ARDS and reported mortality.

Extrapulmonary ventilation for unresponsive severe acute respiratory distress syndrome after pulmonary resection.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of integrating an artificial, pumpless extracorporeal membrane ventilator (Novalung) to near static mechanical ventilation and its efficacy in patients with severe postresectional acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) unresponsive to optimal conventional treatment.

Methods: Indications were severe postresectional and unresponsive acute respiratory distress syndrome, hemodynamic stability, and no significant peripheral arterial occlusive disease or heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. Management included placement of the arteriovenous femoral transcutaneous interventional lung-assist membrane ventilator, lung rest at minimal mechanical ventilator settings, and optimization of systemic oxygen consumption and delivery.

Pneumonia severity index class v patients with community-acquired pneumonia: characteristics, outcomes, and value of severity scores.

Background: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) with a pneumonia severity index (PSI) score in risk class V (PSI-V) is a potentially life-threatening condition, yet the majority of patients are not admitted to the ICU. The aim of this study was to characterize CAP patients in PSI-V to determine the risk factors for ICU admission and mortality, and to assess the performance of CAP severity scores in this population.

Methods: Prospective observational study including hospitalized adults with CAP in PSI-V from 1996 to 2003.