Articles: pandemics.
-
Association between First-pass Intubation Success and Enhanced PPE Use during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
We evaluated first-pass endotracheal intubation (ETI) success within the critical care transport (CCT) environment using a natural experiment created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Our primary objective was to evaluate if the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) or the COVID-19 time period was associated with differences in first-pass success rates of ETI within a large CCT system with a high baseline ETI first-pass success rate. We hypothesized that pandemic-related challenges would be associated with decreased first-pass success rates. ⋯ In a large regional CCT system with a high ETI first-pass success rate, neither PPE use nor the COVID-19 time period were associated with differences in ETI first-pass success while controlling for relevant patient and operational factors. Other emergency medical services (EMS) systems may have encountered different effects of pandemic-related PPE use on intubation success rates. Further studies are needed to evaluate the influence of sustained use of enhanced PPE or changes in training or procedural experience on post-pandemic ETI first-pass success rates for non-CCT EMS clinicians.
-
Comparative Study
Retrospective Cohort Study Comparing the Clinical Profile and Outcomes of Critically Ill Pregnant Patients in Kuwait During the COVID-19 Pandemic Waves.
COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2 virus). This virus evolved into several variants, each with different severity. There are surges in the number of infected patients, commonly described as "waves." In Kuwait, three waves occurred. Our study describes and compares the clinical presentation and outcomes of critically ill pregnant patients infected with different variants. ⋯ In Kuwait, the number of admissions and the rate of maternal complications, morbidity, and mortality increased with successive waves.
-
Anesthesiologists are experiencing unprecedented levels of workplace stress and staffing shortages. This analysis aims to assess how U.S. attending anesthesiologist burnout changed since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and target well-being efforts. ⋯ Burnout is more prevalent in anesthesiology since early 2020, with workplace factors of perceived support and staffing being the predominant associated variables. Interventions focused on the drivers of burnout are needed to improve well-being among U.S. attending anesthesiologists.
-
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated access barriers for patients with opioid use disorder. Telehealth presents an opportunity to improve access, treatment quality, and patient outcomes. ⋯ Our findings suggest that telehealth-initiated buprenorphine treatment is associated with reduced opioid overdose rate and improved patient engagement. Our findings strengthen the case for extending telehealth exemptions and prescribing flexibilities for treatment.
-
Internal medicine journal · Jan 2024
Thrombo-inflammatory response in hospitalized patients with COVID-19; a single institution experience.
Severe COVID-19 causes acute inflammation, which is complicated by venous thromboembolism events (VTE). However, it is unclear if VTE risk has evolved over time since the COVID-19 outbreak. ⋯ We observed lower rates of VTE compared to the internationally reported rate for the same period. We conclude that in the setting of controlled hospital admission rate and standard anticoagulation guidelines, COVID-19 resulted in similar thrombo-inflammatory response and VTE rates over the first 1.5 years of the pandemic.