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Sarcoidosis is a multisystem disease that, in most cases, affects the lung. With pulmonary involvement, body plethysmography often reveals a restrictive ventilation disorder with limited diffusion capacity. Depending on the involvement of the various organ systems and the severity of the disease, the non-specific, inhalative provocation test, the respiratory muscle measurement, blood gas analysis and spiroergometry can provide indications of sarcoidosis. With cardiac involvement, conduction disorders are often found in the resting ECG and supraventricular arrhythmias in the long-term ECG. Per se, sarcoidosis is not an independent risk factor for COVID-19. However, a moderately to severely impaired lung function (e.g. due to pulmonary sarcoidosis) represents an increased risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arterial catheters are commonly used to monitor blood pressure continuously and to take blood gas samples from patients in intensive care units. The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) issued a rapid response report in 2008 because of a number of incidents related to their use. This article describes the risks associated with the use of arterial catheters and outlines the recommendations made by the NPSA to promote safe practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]