Chest
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Multicenter Study
Prolonged prone position ventilation is associated with reduced mortality in intubated COVID-19 patients.
Prone position ventilation (PPV) is resource-intensive, yet the optimal strategy for PPV in intubated patients with COVID-19 is unclear. ⋯ Among intubated COVID-19 patients who received PPV, prolonged PPV was associated with reduced mortality. Prolonged PPV was associated with fewer pronation and supination events and a small increase in rates of facial edema. These findings suggest that prolonged PPV is a safe, effective strategy for mortality reduction in intubated COVID-19 patients.
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Septic shock is defined by the need for vasopressor agents to correct hypotension and lactic acidosis resulting from infection, with 30%-40% case fatality rates. The care of patients with worsening septic shock involves multiple treatment decisions involving vasopressor choices and adjunctive treatments. In this edition of "How I Do It", we provide a case-based discussion of common clinical decisions regarding choice of first-line vasopressor, BP targets, route of vasopressor delivery, use of secondary vasopressors, and adjunctive medications. We also consider diagnostic approaches, treatment, and monitoring strategies for the patient with worsening shock, as well as approaches to difficult weaning of vasopressors.
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Chest radiography (CXR) continues to be the most frequently performed imaging examination worldwide, yet it remains prone to frequent errors in interpretation. These pose potential adverse consequences to patients and are a leading motivation for medical malpractice lawsuits. ⋯ The medicolegal implications of such errors are explained. Awareness of commonly missed CXR findings, their causes, and their consequences are important in developing approaches to reduce and mitigate these errors.
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Multicenter Study
Ventilatory Parameters in Obstetric Patients with COVID-19 and Impact of Delivery: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study.
Current evidence on obstetric patients requiring advanced ventilatory support and impact of delivery on ventilatory parameters is retrospective, scarce, and controversial. ⋯ Contrary to expectations, pregnant patient lung mechanics were similar to those of the general population with COVID-19 in the ICU. Delivery was induced mainly for maternal reasons, but did not change ventilatory parameters other than Pao2 to Fio2 ratio. SOFA24 score was the only risk factor for IMV. Maternal mortality was associated independently with BMI and comorbidities. Risk factors for fetal and neonatal mortality were SOFA24 score and gestational age at delivery.
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Chest radiography (CXR), the most frequently performed imaging examination, is vulnerable to interpretation errors resulting from commonly missed findings. Methods to reduce these errors are presented. ⋯ Artificial intelligence is among the emerging and promising methods to enhance detection of CXR abnormalities. Despite their potential adverse consequences, errors offer opportunities for continued education and quality improvements in patient care, if managed within a just, supportive culture.