Improved survival in COVID-19 related sepsis and ARDS treated with a unique "triple therapy" including therapeutic plasma exchange: A single center retrospective analysis.

Background: Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the mortality of critically ill patients remained high. Our group developed a treatment regimen targeting sepsis and ARDS which we labeled "triple therapy" consisting of (1) corticosteroids, (2) therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE), and (3) timely intubation with lung protective ventilation. Our propensity analysis assesses the impact of triple therapy on survival in COVID-19 patients with sepsis and ARDS.

High-Frequency Oscillatory Ventilation for Refractory Hypoxemia in Severe COVID-19 Pneumonia: A Small Case Series.

BACKGROUND COVID-19 continues to place a tremendous burden on the healthcare system, with most deaths resulting from respiratory failure. Management strategies have varied, but the mortality rate for mechanically ventilated patients remains high. Conventional management with ARDSnet ventilation can improve outcomes but alternative and adjunct treatments continue to be explored.

The successful use of therapeutic plasma exchange for severe COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome with multiple organ failure.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about an urgent need for effective treatment, while conserving vital resources such as intensive care unit beds and ventilators. Antivirals, convalescent plasma, and biologics have been used with mixed results. The profound "cytokine storm" induced endotheliopathy and microthrombotic disease in patients with COVID-19 may lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis, and multi-organ failure.

Dysregulation in microRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of sepsis patients is associated with immunopathology.

Sepsis is a major cause of death worldwide. It triggers systemic inflammation, the role of which remains unclear. In the current study, we investigated the induction of microRNA (miRNA) during sepsis and their role in the regulation of inflammation.

Dural venous thrombosis following splenectomy in a patient with hereditary spherocytosis.

Hereditary spherocytosis is a common form of hemolytic anemia sometimes requiring splenectomy in recalcitrant cases. The complications of splenectomy include an increased risk of thrombosis, usually presenting with deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism. However, common complaints such as headache should warn clinicians of involvement in less common sites, primarily the dural venous system.

Hypoxemia secondary to right-to-left interatrial shunt through a patent foramen ovale in a patient with an elevated right hemidiaphragm.

Though uncommon, right-to-left shunt through a patent foramen ovale with normal right-side pressure and with a normal interatrial pressure gradient has been reported. The speculated pathophysiology is attributed to directional blood flow streaming from the vena cava to the left atrium. Hypoxemia secondary to right-to-left shunt with normal pulmonary artery pressure has been extensively documented after right pneumonectomy.

Post-endoscopy checklist reduces length of stay for non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Objective: To examine the effect of improved gastroenterologist-to-admitting service communication on hospital stay for upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Hypothesis: a detailed checklist addressing factors relevant to discharge planning would shorten hospital stay, when added to the procedure report.

Design: Pre-post intervention design, recording balance measures (potential confounders).

Utility of preoperative scores for predicting morbidity after cholecystectomy in patients with cirrhosis.

Background & Aims: Patients with cirrhosis have an increased risk for cholelithiasis but also have an increased risk for morbidity and mortality after cholecystectomy. Current preoperative assessment of surgical risk is imprecise. Our aims were to identify preoperative factors that would accurately predict the risk for cholecystectomy in patients with cirrhosis.