Publications by authors named "Marcos Heras"

In pediatric intensive care units (PICU), achieving adequate sedation for patients can be a challenging task for healthcare staff. While the use of intravenous sedatives helps improve comfort and treatment tolerance, it is a priority to develop strategies to use in patients who are difficult to sedate. This case study presents the first reported use of inhaled sevoflurane in a patient admitted to a PICU who was unresponsive to conventional intravenous sedatives.

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Introduction: Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, cases of COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) have been described. Possible risk factors for the development of this condition have been proposed, although evidence in Latin American populations is limited. The objectives were to identify risk factors for the development of CAPA and describe the characteristics of this infection.

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Introduction: Critically ill patients often develop the Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS). Current sedation guidelines mainly rely on intravenous agents. Inhaled sedatives are a promising alternative with favorable pharmacokinetics and potential benefits in critical care settings.

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The apnea test, employed for brain death assessment, aims to demonstrate the absence of respiratory drive due to hypercapnia. The tracheal oxygen insufflation apnea test mode (I-AT) involves disconnecting the patient from invasive mechanical ventilation (iMV) for approximately 8 minutes while maintaining oxygenation. This test supports the diagnosis of brain death based on a specified increase in PaCO2.

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In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), single lung transplantation (SLT) is sometimes performed as an alternative to bilateral lung transplantation due to limited organ availability. However, the postoperative management of SLT presents challenges, including complications related to the distinct compliance of each lung. This case report presents the case of a 65-year-old male patient who underwent SLT and was in the weaning period from mechanical ventilation.

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Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome is a genodermatosis of autosomal dominant inheritance characterized by mutations in the folliculin (FLCN) gene. There is an inappropriate inhibition/activation of a protein, the foliculin, which may cause tumor lesions in skin, renal and lung lesions; they could have more risk of developing pneumothorax compared to the normal population. A 38-year-old male patient with bronchial asthma who consulted for hemoptysis three weeks after recovery from COVID-19 infection.

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Background: Assessment of the efficacy and complications associated with performing bronchoscopy-guided percutaneous tracheostomy in COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients.

Methods: Prospective observational study conducted between March of 2020 and February of 2022. All adult patients who underwent elective bronchoscopy-guided percutaneous tracheostomy were included.

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Background: The criteria for the selection of COVID-19 patients that could benefit most from ECMO organ support are yet to be defined. In this study, we evaluated the predictive performance of ECMO mortality predictive models in patients with COVID-19. We also performed a cost-benefit analysis depending on the mortality predicted probability.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study focuses on the importance of measuring IgM and IgA antibodies in assessing malaria exposure in highly endemic areas, highlighting their potential as diagnostic markers alongside the more commonly studied IgG.
  • It involved 201 people in Ghana, revealing that IgM and IgA levels increased with age and were associated with worse health outcomes in children suffering from microscopic malaria.
  • The findings suggest a high prevalence of submicroscopic malaria, raising concerns about the limitations of current rapid diagnostic tests and prompting a call for the development of better diagnostic markers.
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Unlabelled: The substance known as 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) that is commonly named ecstasy is a designer drug used for recreation. The intoxication for MDMA could generate hyperthermia, hepatotoxicity, acute renal failure, cardiovascular toxicity, hyponatremia, serotonin syndrome, coma, and, eventually could lead to, death. There is no antidote available, that is why the treatment is symptomatic and of advanced vital support until the resolution of the case.

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We conducted a retrospective cohort study to report the clinical characteristics, incidence and outcomes of patients with severe COVID-19 with acute kidney injury (AKI). One-hundred and sixtytwo intensive care unit (ICU) admitted patients in a tertiary level hospital in the city of Buenos Aires with COVID-19 diagnosis were included. We hypothesized that COVID-19 related AKI would develop in the period of more severe hypoxemia as an early event and late AKI would be more probably related to intensive care unit complications.

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Introduction: The role of the use of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) in patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is under discussion. Whereas in patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) the ECMO is a usual rescue measure used to optimize the oxygenation as a bridge to pulmonary rehabilitation, in patients that have refractory hypoxemic respiratory failure with recovery potential, the use of ECMO could also be beneficial.

Objective: The purpose of this work is to report the first case of COVID-19 that required ECMO in Argentina, with a good response.

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Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic poses a major challenge for healthcare systems. In South America, local information about the incidence and clinical characteristics of critically ill patients diagnosed with COVID-19 is still limited. In this observational and retrospective study, we aimed to describe critically ill patients' clinical and respiratory characteristics with COVID-19.

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Pandemics pose a major challenge for public health preparedness, requiring a coordinated international response and the development of solid containment plans. Early and accurate identification of high-risk patients in the course of the current COVID-19 pandemic is vital for planning and making proper use of available resources. The purpose of this study was to identify the key variables that account for worse outcomes to create a predictive model that could be used effectively for triage.

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