Search

BACKGROUND: Since its first outbreak, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has led to a great deal of published literature highlighting the short-term determinants of morbidity and mortality. Recently, several studies have reported radiological and functional sequelae from 3 months to 1 year among hospitalized COVID-19 survivors; however, long-term (more than 1 year) respiratory consequences in this population remain to be evaluated. OBJECTIVE: To assess the long-term radiological and pulmonary function outcomes of patients with COVID-19 2 years after resolution of the initial infection. METHODS: Hospitalized COVID-19 patients with moderate to severe disease who survived acute illness were included in this prospective and partially retrospective study. Clinical assessment, laboratory tests, high-resolution computed tomography scans, and pulmonary function tests (PFTs) were performed at baseline, followed by radiological and lung function assessments at 6 and 24 months. RESULTS: Among 106 enrolled participants (mean age 62 ± 13.5 years; males: 61), 44 (41.5%) and 27 (25.4%) underwent radiological assessment at 6 and 24 months, respectively. Overall, 22.6% (24) of patients had residual radiological abnormalities. Overt fibrosis was observed in 12.2% of patients. Computed tomography disease severity and extent diminished significantly at 6 (13 ± 6, P < 0.001) and 24 months (11 ± 6, P < 0.001) from baseline. PFTs were performed in 65 (61.3%), 22 (20.7%), and 34 (32%) patients at baseline, 6 and 24 months, respectively. Impaired diffusion capacity (median diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide: 60%, interquartile range [IQR]: 51-80), restrictive lung defect (mean total lung capacity: 73.4% ± 18% predicted), and reduced exercise tolerance (median 6-min walk distance: 360 m, IQR: 210-400) were the predominant features at baseline. With the exception of exercise tolerance, a statistically significant improvement was observed in lung function parameters at the extended follow-up (2 years). CONCLUSIONS: Hospitalized COVID-19 survivors are at increased risk of developing long-term pulmonary complications, including lung fibrosis. A protocol-based approach to the management of post-COVID-19 patients is mandatory to improve future outcomes. Keywords: Coronavirus disease 2019, long-coronavirus disease 2019, post coronavirus disease 2019 interstitial lung disease, postcoronavirus disease 2019 sequelae, pulmonary fibrosis, Author(s): Sadia Imtiaz (corresponding author) [1]; Enas M Batubara [2]; Mohammed H Abuelgasim [2]; Mahdi M Alabad [2]; Lujain Mahmoud Alyousef [2]; Nayef H Alqahtani [3]; Alaa Y Sabbagh [3]; [...]

Purpose Patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are candidates for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy. The evaluation of organ severity is difficult in patients considered for cannulation in a distant hospital. This study was designed to identify early factors associated with hospital mortality in ARDS patients treated with ECMO and retrieved from referring hospitals. Methods Data from 85 consecutive ARDS patients equipped with ECMO by our mobile team and consequently admitted to our ICU were prospectively collected and analyzed. Results The main ARDS etiologies were community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (35 %), influenza pneumonia (23 %) (with 12 patients having been treated during the first half of the study period), and nosocomial pneumonia (14 %). The median (interquartile range) time between contact from the referring hospital and patient cannulation was 3 (1-4) h. ECMO was venovenous in 77 (91 %) patients. No complications occurred during transport by our mobile unit. Forty-eight patients died at the hospital (56 %). Based on a multivariate logistic regression, a score including age, SOFA score, and a diagnosis of influenza pneumonia was constructed. The probability of hospital mortality following ECMO initiation was 40 % in the 0-2 score class (n = 58) and 93 % in the 3-4 score class (n = 27). Patients with an influenza pneumonia diagnosis and a SOFA score before ECMO of less than 12 had a mortality rate of 22 %. Conclusions Age, SOFA score, and a diagnosis of influenza may be used to accurately evaluate the risk of death in ARDS patients considered for retrieval under ECMO from distant hospitals., Author(s): Antoine Roch [sup.1] [sup.2], Sami Hraiech [sup.1] [sup.2], Elodie Masson [sup.2], Dominique Grisoli [sup.3], Jean-Marie Forel [sup.2], Mohamed Boucekine [sup.4], Pierre Morera [sup.3], Christophe Guervilly [sup.2], Mélanie Adda [sup.2], [...]