Clinical characteristics, risk factors and outcomes in patients with severe COVID-19 registered in the International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infection Consortium WHO clinical characterisation protocol: a prospective, multinational, multicentre, observational study.

Due to the large number of patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), many were treated outside the traditional walls of the intensive care unit (ICU), and in many cases, by personnel who were not trained in critical care. The clinical characteristics and the relative impact of caring for severe COVID-19 patients outside the ICU is unknown. This was a multinational, multicentre, prospective cohort study embedded in the International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infection Consortium World Health Organization COVID-19 platform.

Left thoracotomy approach for implantation of the Abiomed left ventricular assist device.

We describe a left thoracotomy approach for implantation of the Abiomed AB5000 left ventricular assist device (LVAD). The technique is easily performed and spares the patient a sternotomy in anticipation of future transplantation or LVAD exchange.

Litigation in nontraumatic aortic diseases--a tempest in the malpractice maelstrom.

Objectives: Physicians are vulnerable to highly litigated thoracic aortic diseases. On the basis of a review of litigated cases, we aim to determine legally protective strategies for physicians and methods to improve treatment.

Methods: Thirty-three nontraumatic, thoracic aorta-related legal cases were analyzed.

Improving glycemic control in the cardiothoracic intensive care unit: clinical experience in two hospital settings.

Objective: Recent studies suggest that strict perioperative glycemic control improves clinical outcomes after cardiothoracic surgery. However, optimal methods and targets for controlling blood glucose (BG) levels in this setting have not been established. Currently published intensive insulin infusion protocols (IIPs) have important practical limitations, which may affect their utility.