Nonbronchoscopic Bronchoalveolar Lavage Improves Respiratory Culture Accuracy in Critically Ill Patients.

Objectives: Diagnosis of pneumonia is challenging in critically ill, intubated patients due to limited diagnostic modalities. Endotracheal aspirate (EA) cultures are standard of care in many ICUs; however, frequent EA contamination leads to unnecessary antibiotic use. Nonbronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage (NBBL) obtains sterile, alveolar cultures, avoiding contamination.

Early Serial Echocardiographic and Ultrasonographic Findings in Critically Ill Patients With COVID-19.

Background: Cardiac function of critically ill patients with COVID-19 generally has been reported from clinically obtained data. Echocardiographic deformation imaging can identify ventricular dysfunction missed by traditional echocardiographic assessment.

Research Question: What is the prevalence of ventricular dysfunction and what are its implications for the natural history of critical COVID-19?

Study Design And Methods: This is a multicenter prospective cohort of critically ill patients with COVID-19.

Using a Low-Flow Extracorporeal Carbon Dioxide Removal (ECCO 2 R) System in the Management of Refractory Status Asthmaticus: A Case Series.

Rescue treatments for status asthmaticus remain limited. Current literature has mainly focused on using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) as a primary modality of care for these patients. Low-flow extracorporeal CO 2 removal (ECCO 2 R) systems are an attractive option to improve refractory hypercapnic respiratory acidosis because of status asthmaticus.

Antipsychotic Use for ICU Delirium and Associated Inflammatory Markers.

We sought to evaluate critically ill patients with delirium to evaluate inflammatory cytokine production and delirium progression and the role of antipsychotics. Adult critically ill patients with confirmed delirium according to a positive CAM-ICU score were included and IL-6 and IL-8 levels were trended for 24 h in this single-center, prospective, observational cohort study. A total of 23 patients were consented and had blood samples drawn for inclusion.

Clinical features, treatment, and outcomes of mpox in solid organ transplant recipients: A multicenter case series and literature review.

In 2022, the largest global outbreak of mpox to date emerged. In the immunocompetent host, mpox generally presents as a self-limiting illness. However, immunosuppression, such as that seen with advanced HIV, has been associated with significant morbidity and mortality related to mpox infection.

On the horizon: Extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal.

Extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal (ECCOR) uses mechanical systems to treat hypercapnic respiratory failure. Its utility has been investigated in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and status asthmaticus, and as a bridge to lung transplant. In this review, we discuss how it works, why it should help, and current evidence supporting its use.

Functional, imaging, and respiratory evaluation (FIRE) of patients post-hospitalization for COVID-19: protocol for a pilot observational study.

Introduction: We describe a protocol for FIRE CORAL, an observational cohort study that examines the recovery from COVID-19 disease following acute hospitalization with an emphasis on functional, imaging, and respiratory evaluation.

Methods And Analysis: FIRE CORAL is a multicenter prospective cohort study of participants recovering from COVID-19 disease with in-person follow-up for functional and pulmonary phenotyping conducted by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Prevention and Early Treatment of Acute Lung Injury (PETAL) Network. FIRE CORAL will include a subset of participants enrolled in Biology and Longitudinal Epidemiology of PETAL COVID-19 Observational Study (BLUE CORAL), an NHLBI-funded prospective cohort study describing the clinical characteristics, treatments, biology, and outcomes of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 across the PETAL Network.

Critical Care Among Disadvantaged Minority Groups Made Equitable: Trends Throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: US racial and ethnic minorities have well-established elevated rates of comorbidities, which, compounded with healthcare access inequity, often lead to worse health outcomes. In the current COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to understand existing disparities in minority groups' critical care outcomes and mechanisms behind these-topics that have yet to be well-explored.

Objective: Assess for disparities in racial and ethnic minority groups' COVID-19 critical care outcomes.

A High Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio Is Associated With Increased Morbidity and Mortality in Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019.

Objectives: The neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio is an inexpensive and simple inflammatory marker. A higher ratio, indicative of an acute hyperinflammatory response or diminished overall physiologic health status, has been associated with poor prognoses. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic potential of admission neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio in patients admitted to the medical ICU with coronavirus disease 2019.

Tocilizumab in Coronavirus Disease 2019-Related Critical Illness: A Propensity Matched Analysis.

Unlabelled: The primary objective was to evaluate ICU mortality at 28 days in patients with severe hypoxemic respiratory failure due to coronavirus disease 2019 infection who received tocilizumab. The secondary objectives were to evaluate ICU-, hospital-, mechanical ventilation-, and vasopressor-free days at day 28 and development of secondary infections.

Design: Retrospective, observational, multicenter, cohort study between March 15, 2020, and May 31, 2020.

Implementation of Protocolized Care in ARDS Improves Outcomes.

Background: Treatments for ARDS that improve patient outcomes include use of lung-protective ventilation, prone ventilation, and conservative fluid management. Implementation of ARDS protocols via educational programs might improve adherence and outcomes. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of an ARDS protocol implementation on outcomes and adherence with ARDS guidelines.

Effect of Vitamin C Infusion on Organ Failure and Biomarkers of Inflammation and Vascular Injury in Patients With Sepsis and Severe Acute Respiratory Failure: The CITRIS-ALI Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Experimental data suggest that intravenous vitamin C may attenuate inflammation and vascular injury associated with sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Objective: To determine the effect of intravenous vitamin C infusion on organ failure scores and biological markers of inflammation and vascular injury in patients with sepsis and ARDS.

Design, Setting, And Participants: The CITRIS-ALI trial was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial conducted in 7 medical intensive care units in the United States, enrolling patients (N = 167) with sepsis and ARDS present for less than 24 hours.

Correction to: Clinical predictors of renal non-recovery in acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Following publication of the original article.

Correction to: Factors associated with acute kidney injury in acute respiratory distress syndrome.

After publication of the original article [1], we were notified that an author's name has been incorrectly spelled. Andrei Hasting should be replaced with Andrei Hastings.

Clinical predictors of renal non-recovery in acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is the most common extra-pulmonary organ failure in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Renal recovery after AKI is determined by several factors. The objective of this study was to determine the predictors of renal non-recovery in ARDS patients.

Factors associated with acute kidney injury in acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is the most frequent extra-pulmonary organ failure in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The objective of this study was to assess the factors associated with the development and severity of AKI in patients with ARDS.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of ARDS patients without acute or chronic kidney disease prior to the onset of ARDS over a 7-year period (2010-2017).