Cystic fibrosis and COVID-19: Care considerations.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has demanded large scale changes in patient care. People with cystic fibrosis have unique considerations, including underlying lung disease and routine aerosolizing therapies, but there is insufficient evidence to create comprehensive practice guidelines. We share a case of a patient with CF and COVID-19 as well as alterations to routine CF care at a large academic center.

Critical Care Transesophageal Echocardiography in Patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has placed an extraordinary strain on healthcare systems across North America. Defining the optimal approach for managing a critically ill COVID-19 patient is rapidly changing. Goal-directed transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is frequently used by physicians caring for intubated critically ill patients as a reliable imaging modality that is well suited to answer questions at bedside.

Bronchial Artery Embolization for Hemoptysis in Cystic Fibrosis Patients: A 17-Year Review.

Purpose: To review safety and efficacy of bronchial artery embolization (BAE) for treatment of hemoptysis in adult patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and to report 30-day, 1-year, and 3-year outcomes.

Materials And Methods: Between January 2001 and April 2018, 242 patients with CF were evaluated for hemoptysis. Thirty-eight BAEs were performed in 28 patients with hemoptysis.

Estimated impact of hepatitis C-positive lung donor utilization on US donor lung supply.

The availability of highly effective direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has led to reports of safely transplanting HCV donor lungs into HCV candidates. However, it remains unclear how the ability to use HCV donor lungs for lung transplant could affect the number of donor lungs available for transplant. Using Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipient data, we identified all deceased organ donors within the United States from March 1, 2015, to February 28, 2018, and stratified by HCV status.

Skin Necrosis Distal to a Rapid Infusion Catheter: Understanding Possible Complications of Large-bore Vascular Access Devices.

Rapid infusion catheters (RICs) allow expedient conversion of peripheral intravenous (PIV) catheters to peripheral sheaths; however, little is known about potential complications. In this case, a 64-year-old male polytrauma patient had a 20-gauge PIV catheter in the right cephalic vein upsized to an 8.5 French (Fr) RIC without incident during an arrest with pulseless electrical activity (PEA).

Multiple listing in lung transplant candidates: A cohort study.

Lung transplant candidates can be waitlisted at more than one transplant center, a practice known as multiple listing. The factors associated with multiple listing and whether multiple listing modifies waitlist mortality or likelihood of lung transplant is unknown. US lung transplant waitlist candidates were identified as either single or multiple listed using data from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients.

Correlations between cystic fibrosis genotype and sinus disease severity in chronic rhinosinusitis.

Objective: Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients commonly develop chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). The impact of the most common cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) mutation, F508del, on the severity of sinonasal disease remains inconclusive. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of CFTR genotype functional classification on sinonasal disease severity in patients with CRS.

Racial and ethnic disparities in lung transplant listing and waitlist outcomes.

Background: The United States lung transplant registry data demonstrate differences in adult waitlist mortality by race/ethnicity. It is unknown whether these differences persist after risk adjustment or occur secondary to disparities in disease severity at the time of listing.

Methods: Adult lung transplant waitlist candidates between May 4, 2005 and March 5, 2015 were identified and compared by non-Hispanic white (NHW), non-Hispanic black (NHB), Hispanic and Asian race/ethnicity.

Increased prevalence of tracheal diverticula in cystic fibrosis patients.

Objective: This investigation sought to evaluate the prevalence and imaging characteristics of tracheal diverticula (TD) among patients with cystic fibrosis (CF).

Methods: A total of 113 patients with CF at our institution, with a median age of 29 years, had chest CT examinations between 2002 and 2014. These imaging studies were retrospectively reviewed to assess for the presence and characteristics of TD, including quantity, size and location.

Outpatient endoscopic sinus surgery in cystic fibrosis patients: predictive factors for admission.

Background: An increasing number of adult patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) are becoming candidates for elective endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). We sought to identify perioperative factors in this patient population that were predictive of postoperative admission.

Methods: Retrospective chart review of CF patients who underwent ESS during the years 2005 through 2012.