Decrease in hemoglobin level predicts increased risk for severe respiratory failure in COVID-19 patients with pneumonia.

Background: In December 2019, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), emerged in Wuhan, China, and has since spread throughout the world. This study aimed to investigate the association between the change in laboratory markers during the three days after pneumonia diagnosis and severe respiratory failure in COVID-19 patients.

Methods: Data of 23 COVID-19 patients with pneumonia, admitted to the Kumamoto City Hospital between February and April 2020 were retrospectively analyzed.

[Case of tracheal agenesis found during surgery].

We reported a case of tracheal agenesis (TA) that was diagnosed during surgery. A female infant, weighing 1,104 g, was born at the 29 weeks of gestation. She showed severe respiratory distress without crying.

[Propofol was useful for intractable convulsion in a patient with tetanus: a case report].

An 82-year-old woman with severe tetanus was admitted to our ICU. Anti-convulsive treatment was started by continuous intravenous administration of midazolam followed by thiamylal. On day 15, thiamylal became insufficient to manage the spastic convulsion without frequent intravenous administration of other sedative and muscle relaxants.

[Anesthesia for cesarean section in a patient with transient diabetes insipidus].

A 32-year-old pregnant female was admitted to our hospital at 32 week gestation and was scheduled for emergent cesarean section because of fetal distress. She had been suffering hydrodipsia and dry mouth, and had lost 4 kg in 2 weeks. Hypernatremia, hyperchloremia, and lower urinary specific gravity were preoperatively noted.