Long-term survival comparison between the first and second waves among 265 critical COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU: A retrospective cohort study.

Backgroud: Management of severe COVID-19 patients admitted to ICU considerably evolved during the first months of the pandemic. It is unclear, however, whether these changes improved long-term survival of these critically ill patients.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study in adults with COVID-19 pneumonia admitted to a French ICU between February 2020 and January 2021, a timeframe that covered the first two waves of the pandemic.

Does using pressure-controlled ventilation to rest respiratory muscles improve sleep in ICU patients?

Purpose: Sleep is commonly altered in critically ill patients. Ventilatory mode may impact on quality of sleep. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect on sleep of pressure-controlled ventilation (PCV) to spontaneous ventilation with 6 cm H2O inspiratory pressure (low-PSV).

Noninvasive ventilation using a mouthpiece in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and acute respiratory failure.

Background: Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) delivered via a mouthpiece (mNPPV) has been successfully used in stable chronic restrictive respiratory insufficiency, but not in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and acute respiratory failure (ARF).

Objectives: The purpose of this matched case-control study was to compare the usefulness of mNPPV to noninvasive ventilation using a nasal or oronasal mask (nNPPV) or standard medical treatment (SMT) in COPD patients with ARF.

Methods: Twenty-nine patients receiving mNPPV were matched with 29 patients receiving nNPPV and 29 patients receiving SMT regarding age, SAPSII, admission PaCO(2) and pH.

Assist-control ventilation vs. low levels of pressure support ventilation on sleep quality in intubated ICU patients.

Objective: To compare the impact of assist-control ventilation (ACV) and pressure support ventilation with 6 cmH2O inspiratory pressure (low PSV) on sleep quality.

Design: Prospective randomized cross-over study.

Patients: Twenty intubated and mechanically ventilated patients for acute on chronic respiratory failure.

Oxygen consumption and PEEPe in ventilated COPD patients.

The intrinsic positive-end-expiratory pressure (PEEPi) increases the inspiratory load, the cost of breathing and thus oxygen consumption (V(O2)). It has been shown that applying an extrinsic positive-end-expiratory pressure (PEEPe) reduces the inspiratory threshold load but the optimal PEEPe level is still in debate. We hypothesize that the best level of PEEPe could induce a decrease in V(O2) by reducing the V(O2) demands from PEEPi.

[Phenylbutazone-induced sialadenitis fever simulating angioedema].

Background: Drug-induced sialadenitis is uncommon and unrecognized. Drugs such as nitrofurantoïn, nifedipine and methimazole have been reported to induce sialadenitis. However, phenylbutazone and oxyphenbutazone are the most frequently implicated agents.

[Spontaneous rupture of the esophagus or Boerhaave syndrome. Report of 3 cases and review of the literature].

A triad of signs constitutes Boerhaave syndrome: forceful vomiting, chest pain and subcutaneous emphysema. The syndrome results from spontaneous rupture of the oesophageal wall leading to an oeso-pleural or oeso-mediastinal fistula. Positive diagnosis is established with a water-soluble swallow, sometimes coupled with computed tomography of the thorax.

[Effects of a pressure support ventilation of 6 cm H2O on oxygen consumption of the respiratory muscles during weaning of mechanical ventilation].

Objective: To determine the effects of a pressure support ventilation (PSV) of 6 cm H(2)O during spontaneous breathing on oxygen consumption of the respiratory muscles (VO(2) resp), gas exchange, respiratory rate, tidal volume and to determine if these low levels of PSV can reduce or cancel the increase in work of breathing induced by the resistances of the endotracheal tube and the circuit of the respirator.

Patients And Methods: Prospective study. Twenty intubated patients were studied.

[Lipid pneumonia and pleural-pulmonary atypical mycobacteriosis].

We report a case of fat deposit pneumonia extending to the parietal pleura with a granulomatous reaction centered on the fat vaculoles. This case was complicated by an atypical and fatal mycobacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium chelonae. The severity of Mycobacterium chelonae infection in fat deposit pneumonia warrants early empirical antibiotic therapy.

[Pulmonary cavitated opacity in immunocompromised patient].

Lung abscesses are uncommon in legionellosis and usually are observed in immunocompromised patients. The radiographic presentation may lead to misdiagnosis and subsequently to increased mortality.

Progesterone treatment in chylothorax associated with pulmonary tuberous sclerosis.

We report the case of a young woman with tuberous sclerosis who developed a chylous pleural effusion after several invasive procedures for treatment of recurring pneumothoraces. Oophorectomy was rejected by the patient and progesterone therapy initiated. Medroxyprogesterone acetate administration led to a complete disappearance of the chylothorax in 8 months.

[Swyer-James or Macleod syndrome or unilateral translucent lung].

The syndrome, described by Swyer and James in 1953 and by Macleod in 1954 is a specific entity within a much larger group of radiological conditions brought together under the term of unilateral translucent lung. Generally acquired in childhood subsequent to viral bronchopulmonary infections, the syndrome is caused by predominantly unilateral obliteration of the distal bronchi. The lung is usually small as the infection during childhood inhibited the normal growth pattern.

Oxygen cost of breathing in patients with emphysema or chronic bronchitis in acute respiratory failure.

This study compared the oxygen cost of breathing (VO2 resp) in 19 patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease intubated for acute respiratory failure. Ten patients showed radiologic (X-ray and/or computed tomographic scan) evidence of emphysema. The remaining ones were considered as having chronic bronchitis.