Publications
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Price LC, Garfield B, Bloom C, et al., 2022, Persistent isolated impairment of gas transfer following COVID-19 pneumonitis relates to perfusion defects on dual-energy computed tomography, ERJ OPEN RESEARCH, Vol: 8
McFadyen C, Garfield B, Mancio J, et al., 2022, Use of sildenafil in patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonitis, British Journal of Anaesthesia, Vol: 129, Pages: E18-E21, ISSN: 0007-0912
Bos LDJ, Laffey JG, Ware LB, et al., 2022, Towards a biological definition of ARDS: are treatable traits the solution?, Intensive Care Medicine Experimental, Vol: 10, Pages: 1-14, ISSN: 2197-425X
The pathophysiology of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) includes the accumulation of protein-rich pulmonary edema in the air spaces and interstitial areas of the lung, variable degrees of epithelial injury, variable degrees of endothelial barrier disruption, transmigration of leukocytes, alongside impaired fluid and ion clearance. These pathophysiological features are different between patients contributing to substantial biological heterogeneity. In this context, it is perhaps unsurprising that a wide range of pharmacological interventions targeting these pathophysiological processes have failed to improve patient outcomes. In this manuscript, our goal is to provide a narrative summary of the potential methods to capture the underlying biological heterogeneity of ARDS and discuss how this information could inform future ARDS redefinitions. We discuss what biological tests are available to identify patients with any of the following predominant biological patterns: (1) epithelial and/or endothelial injury, (2) protein rich pulmonary edema and (3) systemic or within lung inflammatory responses.
Wu Z, Banya W, Chaudhuri N, et al., 2022, PAciFy Cough-a multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial of morphine sulphate for the treatment of pulmonary Fibrosis Cough, Trials, Vol: 23, ISSN: 1745-6215
BACKGROUND: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive disease that leads to lung scarring. Cough is reported by 85% of patients with IPF and can be a distressing symptom with a significant impact on patients' quality of life. There are no proven effective therapies for IPF-related cough. Whilst morphine is frequently used as a palliative agent for breathlessness in IPF, its effects on cough have never been tested. PAciFy Cough is a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial of morphine sulphate for the treatment of cough in IPF. METHODS: We will recruit 44 subjects with IPF prospectively from three interstitial lung disease units in the UK, namely the Royal Brompton Hospital, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) and Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Patients will be randomised (1:1) to either placebo twice daily or morphine sulphate 5 mg twice daily for 14 days. They will then crossover after a 7-day washout period. The primary endpoint is the percent change in daytime cough frequency (coughs per hour) from baseline as assessed by objective cough monitoring at day 14 of treatment. DISCUSSION: This multicentre, randomised trial will assess the effect of opioids on cough counts and cough associated quality of life in IPF subjects. If proven to be an effective intervention, it represents a readily available treatment for patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was approved by the UK Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency (Ref: CTA 21268/0224/001-0001 - EUDRACT 2019-003571-19 - Protocol Number RBH2019/001) on 08 April 2020, in compliance with the European Clinical Trials Directive and the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations 2004 and its subsequent amendments. The study was provided with ethical approval by the London Brent Research Ethics Committee (Ref: 20/LO/0368) on 21 May 2020 and is registered with clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04429516) on 12 June 2020, available at https://cli
Patel B, Mumby S, Johnson N, et al., 2022, Decision support system to evaluate ventilation in the acute respiratory distress syndrome (DeVENT study)-trial protocol, Trials, Vol: 23, Pages: 1-18, ISSN: 1745-6215
BackgroundThe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) occurs in response to a variety of insults, and mechanical ventilation is life-saving in this setting, but ventilator-induced lung injury can also contribute to the morbidity and mortality in the condition. The Beacon Caresystem is a model-based bedside decision support system using mathematical models tuned to the individual patient’s physiology to advise on appropriate ventilator settings. Personalised approaches using individual patient description may be particularly advantageous in complex patients, including those who are difficult to mechanically ventilate and wean, in particular ARDS.MethodsWe will conduct a multi-centre international randomised, controlled, allocation concealed, open, pragmatic clinical trial to compare mechanical ventilation in ARDS patients following application of the Beacon Caresystem to that of standard routine care to investigate whether use of the system results in a reduction in driving pressure across all severities and phases of ARDS.DiscussionDespite 20 years of clinical trial data showing significant improvements in ARDS mortality through mitigation of ventilator-induced lung injury, there remains a gap in its personalised application at the bedside. Importantly, the protective effects of higher positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) were noted only when there were associated decreases in driving pressure. Hence, the pressures set on the ventilator should be determined by the diseased lungs’ pressure-volume relationship which is often unknown or difficult to determine. Knowledge of extent of recruitable lung could improve the ventilator driving pressure. Hence, personalised management demands the application of mechanical ventilation according to the physiological state of the diseased lung at that time. Hence, there is significant rationale for the development of point-of-care clinical decision support systems which help personalise ventilatory strateg
Griffiths M, Meade S, Summers C, et al., 2022, RAND appropriateness panel to determine the applicability of international guidelines on the management of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and other strategies in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, Thorax, Vol: 77, Pages: 129-135, ISSN: 0040-6376
Background: COVID-19 has become the commonest cause of ARDS world-wide. Features of the pathophysiology and clinical presentation partially distinguish it from “classical” ARDS. A RAND analysis gauged the opinion of an expert panel about the management of ARDS with and without COVID-19 as the precipitating cause, using recent UK guidelines as a template. Methods: An 11-person panel comprising intensive care practitioners rated the appropriateness of ARDS management options at different times during hospital admission, in the presence or absence of, or varying severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection on a scale of 1-9 (where, 1-3 is inappropriate, 4-6 is uncertain and 7-9 is appropriate). A summary of the anonymised results was discussed at an online meeting moderated by an expert in RAND methodology. The modified online survey comprising 76 questions, subdivided into: investigations 16, non-invasive respiratory support 18, basic ICU management of ARDS 20, management of refractory hypoxaemia 8, pharmacotherapy 7, and anticoagulation 7, was completed again. Results: Disagreement between experts was significant only when addressing the appropriateness of diagnostic bronchoscopy in patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19. Adherence to existing published guidelines for the management of ARDS for relevant evidence-based interventions was recommended. Responses of the experts to the final survey suggested that the supportive management of ARDS should be the same, regardless of a COVID-19 diagnosis. For ARDS patients with COVID-19, the panel recommended routine treatment with corticosteroids and a lower threshold for full anticoagulation based on a high index of suspicion for venous-thrombo-embolic disease.Conclusion: The expert panel found no reason to deviate from the evidence based supportive strategies for managing ARDS outlined in recent guidelines.
Garfield B, Handslip R, Patel B, 2021, Ventilator-Associated Lung Injury, Encyclopedia of Respiratory Medicine, Publisher: Academic Press, Pages: 406-417, ISBN: 9780081027233
This new edition of the Encyclopedia will provide new researchers in respiratory medicine with a solid foundation in unfamiliar topics and will update more experienced researchers seeking to step outside their core areas of research and to ...
Garfield B, Bianchi P, Arachchillage D, et al., 2021, Six month mortality in patients with COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 viral pneumonitis managed with veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, ASAIO Journal, Vol: 67, Pages: 982-988, ISSN: 1058-2916
A significant proportion of patients with COVID-19 develop acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with high risk of death. The efficacy of veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO) for COVID-19 on longer-term outcomes, unlike in other viral pneumonias, is unknown. In this study, we aimed to compare the 6 month mortality of patients receiving VV-ECMO support for COVID-19 with a historical viral ARDS cohort. Fifty-three consecutive patients with COVID-19 ARDS admitted for VV-ECMO to the Royal Brompton Hospital between March 17, 2020 and May 30, 2020 were identified. Mortality, patient characteristics, complications, and ECMO parameters were then compared to a historical cohort of patients with non-COVID-19 viral pneumonia. At 6 months survival was significantly higher in the COVID-19 than in the non-COVID-19 viral pneumonia cohort (84.9% vs. 66.0%, p = 0.040). Patients with COVID-19 had an increased Murray score (3.50 vs. 3.25, p = 0.005), a decreased burden of organ dysfunction (sequential organ failure score score [8.76 vs. 10.42, p = 0.004]), an increased incidence of pulmonary embolism (69.8% vs. 24.5%, p < 0.001) and in those who survived to decannulation longer ECMO runs (19 vs. 11 days, p = 0.001). Our results suggest that survival in patients supported with EMCO for COVID-19 are at least as good as those treated for non-COVID-19 viral ARDS.
Koh MW, Baldi RF, Soni S, et al., 2021, Secreted extracellular cyclophilin a is a novel mediator of ventilator induced lung injury., American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Vol: 204, Pages: 421-430, ISSN: 1073-449X
RATIONALE: Mechanical ventilation is a mainstay of intensive care but contributes to the mortality of patients through ventilator induced lung injury. Extracellular Cyclophilin A is an emerging inflammatory mediator and metalloproteinase inducer, and the gene responsible for its expression has recently been linked to COVID-19 infection. OBJECTIVES: Here we explore the involvement of extracellular Cyclophilin A in the pathophysiology of ventilator-induced lung injury. METHODS: Mice were ventilated with low or high tidal volume for up to 3 hours, with or without blockade of extracellular Cyclophilin A signalling, and lung injury and inflammation were evaluated. Human primary alveolar epithelial cells were exposed to in vitro stretch to explore the cellular source of extracellular Cyclophilin A, and Cyclophilin A levels were measured in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from acute respiratory distress syndrome patients, to evaluate clinical relevance. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: High tidal volume ventilation in mice provoked a rapid increase in soluble Cyclophilin A levels in the alveolar space, but not plasma. In vivo ventilation and in vitro stretch experiments indicated alveolar epithelium as the likely major source. In vivo blockade of extracellular Cyclophilin A signalling substantially attenuated physiological dysfunction, macrophage activation and matrix metalloproteinases. Finally, we found that patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome showed markedly elevated levels of extracellular Cyclophilin A within bronchoalveolar lavage. CONCLUSIONS: Cyclophilin A is upregulated within the lungs of injuriously ventilated mice (and critically ill patients), where it plays a significant role in lung injury. Extracellular Cyclophilin A represents an exciting novel target for pharmacological intervention.
Weatherill A, Laffan M, Gasper M, et al., 2021, Impact of thrombosis and bleeding in patients with severe COVID-19 versus other viral pneumonias in the context of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, Seminars in Thrombosis and Hemostasis, Vol: 48, Pages: 118-123, ISSN: 0094-6176
Montgomery H, Rehill N, Camporota L, et al., 2021, COVID-19: UK frontline intensivists' emerging learning, Journal of the Intensive Care Society, Vol: 22, Pages: 211-213, ISSN: 1751-1437
The Intensive Care Society held a webinar on 3 April 2020 at which representatives from 11 of the most COVID-19 experienced hospital trusts in England and Wales shared learning around five specific topic areas in an open forum. This paper summarises the emerging learning and practice shared by those frontline clinicians.
Van Daele R, Bekkers B, Lindfors M, et al., 2021, A large retrospective assessment of voriconazole exposure in patients treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, Microorganisms, Vol: 9, ISSN: 2076-2607
COVID-19 Host Genetics Initiative, 2021, Mapping the human genetic architecture of COVID-19, Nature, Vol: 600, Pages: 472-477, ISSN: 0028-0836
The genetic make-up of an individual contributes to the susceptibility and response to viral infection. Although environmental, clinical and social factors have a role in the chance of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and the severity of COVID-191,2, host genetics may also be important. Identifying host-specific genetic factors may reveal biological mechanisms of therapeutic relevance and clarify causal relationships of modifiable environmental risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection and outcomes. We formed a global network of researchers to investigate the role of human genetics in SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity. Here we describe the results of three genome-wide association meta-analyses that consist of up to 49,562 patients with COVID-19 from 46 studies across 19 countries. We report 13 genome-wide significant loci that are associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection or severe manifestations of COVID-19. Several of these loci correspond to previously documented associations to lung or autoimmune and inflammatory diseases3-7. They also represent potentially actionable mechanisms in response to infection. Mendelian randomization analyses support a causal role for smoking and body-mass index for severe COVID-19 although not for type II diabetes. The identification of novel host genetic factors associated with COVID-19 was made possible by the community of human genetics researchers coming together to prioritize the sharing of data, results, resources and analytical frameworks. This working model of international collaboration underscores what is possible for future genetic discoveries in emerging pandemics, or indeed for any complex human disease.
Bloom CI, Drake TM, Docherty AB, et al., 2021, Risk of adverse outcomes in patients with underlying respiratory conditions admitted to hospital with COVID-19: a national, multicentre prospective cohort study using the ISARIC WHO Clinical Characterisation Protocol UK, The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, Vol: 9, Pages: 699-711, ISSN: 2213-2600
BackgroundStudies of patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 have found varying mortality outcomes associated with underlying respiratory conditions and inhaled corticosteroid use. Using data from a national, multicentre, prospective cohort, we aimed to characterise people with COVID-19 admitted to hospital with underlying respiratory disease, assess the level of care received, measure in-hospital mortality, and examine the effect of inhaled corticosteroid use.MethodsWe analysed data from the International Severe Acute Respiratory and emerging Infection Consortium (ISARIC) WHO Clinical Characterisation Protocol UK (CCP-UK) study. All patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 across England, Scotland, and Wales between Jan 17 and Aug 3, 2020, were eligible for inclusion in this analysis. Patients with asthma, chronic pulmonary disease, or both, were identified and stratified by age (<16 years, 16–49 years, and ≥50 years). In-hospital mortality was measured by use of multilevel Cox proportional hazards, adjusting for demographics, comorbidities, and medications (inhaled corticosteroids, short-acting β-agonists [SABAs], and long-acting β-agonists [LABAs]). Patients with asthma who were taking an inhaled corticosteroid plus LABA plus another maintenance asthma medication were considered to have severe asthma.Findings75 463 patients from 258 participating health-care facilities were included in this analysis: 860 patients younger than 16 years (74 [8·6%] with asthma), 8950 patients aged 16–49 years (1867 [20·9%] with asthma), and 65 653 patients aged 50 years and older (5918 [9·0%] with asthma, 10 266 [15·6%] with chronic pulmonary disease, and 2071 [3·2%] with both asthma and chronic pulmonary disease). Patients with asthma were significantly more likely than those without asthma to receive critical care (patients aged 16–49 years: adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1·20 [95% CI
Patel BV, Haar S, Handslip R, et al., 2021, Natural history, trajectory, and management of mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients in the United Kingdom, Intensive Care Medicine, Vol: 47, Pages: 549-565, ISSN: 0342-4642
PurposeThe trajectory of mechanically ventilated patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is essential for clinical decisions, yet the focus so far has been on admission characteristics without consideration of the dynamic course of the disease in the context of applied therapeutic interventions.MethodsWe included adult patients undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) within 48 h of intensive care unit (ICU) admission with complete clinical data until ICU death or discharge. We examined the importance of factors associated with disease progression over the first week, implementation and responsiveness to interventions used in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and ICU outcome. We used machine learning (ML) and Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) methods to characterise the evolution of clinical parameters and our ICU data visualisation tool is available as a web-based widget (https://www.CovidUK.ICU).ResultsData for 633 adults with COVID-19 who underwent IMV between 01 March 2020 and 31 August 2020 were analysed. Overall mortality was 43.3% and highest with non-resolution of hypoxaemia [60.4% vs17.6%; P < 0.001; median PaO2/FiO2 on the day of death was 12.3(8.9–18.4) kPa] and non-response to proning (69.5% vs.31.1%; P < 0.001). Two ML models using weeklong data demonstrated an increased predictive accuracy for mortality compared to admission data (74.5% and 76.3% vs 60%, respectively). XAI models highlighted the increasing importance, over the first week, of PaO2/FiO2 in predicting mortality. Prone positioning improved oxygenation only in 45% of patients. A higher peak pressure (OR 1.42[1.06–1.91]; P < 0.05), raised respiratory component (OR 1.71[ 1.17–2.5]; P < 0.01) and cardiovascular component (OR 1.36 [1.04–1.75]; P < 0.05) of the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score and raised lactate (OR 1.33 [0.99–1.79
Baldi RF, Soni S, Patel BV, et al., 2021, Microvesicle-Mediated Enhancement of TNF-Driven Apoptosis During VILI, International Conference of the American-Thoracic-Society (ATS), Publisher: AMER THORACIC SOC, ISSN: 1073-449X
Gupta RK, Harrison EM, Ho A, et al., 2021, Development and validation of the ISARIC 4C Deterioration model for adults hospitalised with COVID-19: a prospective cohort study, The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, Vol: 9, Pages: 349-359, ISSN: 2213-2600
BackgroundPrognostic models to predict the risk of clinical deterioration in acute COVID-19 cases are urgently required to inform clinical management decisions.MethodsWe developed and validated a multivariable logistic regression model for in-hospital clinical deterioration (defined as any requirement of ventilatory support or critical care, or death) among consecutively hospitalised adults with highly suspected or confirmed COVID-19 who were prospectively recruited to the International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infections Consortium Coronavirus Clinical Characterisation Consortium (ISARIC4C) study across 260 hospitals in England, Scotland, and Wales. Candidate predictors that were specified a priori were considered for inclusion in the model on the basis of previous prognostic scores and emerging literature describing routinely measured biomarkers associated with COVID-19 prognosis. We used internal–external cross-validation to evaluate discrimination, calibration, and clinical utility across eight National Health Service (NHS) regions in the development cohort. We further validated the final model in held-out data from an additional NHS region (London).Findings74 944 participants (recruited between Feb 6 and Aug 26, 2020) were included, of whom 31 924 (43·2%) of 73 948 with available outcomes met the composite clinical deterioration outcome. In internal–external cross-validation in the development cohort of 66 705 participants, the selected model (comprising 11 predictors routinely measured at the point of hospital admission) showed consistent discrimination, calibration, and clinical utility across all eight NHS regions. In held-out data from London (n=8239), the model showed a similarly consistent performance (C-statistic 0·77 [95% CI 0·76 to 0·78]; calibration-in-the-large 0·00 [–0·05 to 0·05]); calibration slope 0·96 [0·91 to 1·01]), and greater net benefit than
Bleakley C, Singh S, Garfield B, et al., 2021, Right ventricular dysfunction in critically ill COVID-19 ARDS, International Journal of Cardiology, Vol: 327, Pages: 251-258, ISSN: 0167-5273
AIMS: Comprehensive echocardiography assessment of right ventricular (RV) impairment has not been reported in critically ill patients with COVID-19. We detail the specific phenotype and clinical associations of RV impairment in COVID-19 acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). METHODS: Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) measures of RV function were collected in critically unwell patients for associations with clinical, ventilatory and laboratory data. RESULTS: Ninety patients (25.6% female), mean age 52.0 ± 10.8 years, veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VVECMO) (42.2%) were studied. A significantly higher proportion of patients were identified as having RV dysfunction by RV fractional area change (FAC) (72.0%,95% confidence interval (CI) 61.0-81.0) and RV velocity time integral (VTI) (86.4%, 95 CI 77.3-93.2) than by tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) (23.8%, 95 CI 16.0-33.9), RVS' (11.9%, 95% CI 6.6-20.5) or RV free wall strain (FWS) (35.3%, 95% CI 23.6-49.0). RV VTI correlated strongly with RV FAC (p ≤ 0.01). Multivariate regression demonstrated independent associations of RV FAC with NTpro-BNP and PVR. RV-PA coupling correlated with PVR (univariate p < 0.01), as well as RVEDAi (p < 0.01), and RVESAi (p < 0.01), and was associated with P/F ratio (p 0.026), PEEP (p 0.025), and ALT (p 0.028). CONCLUSIONS: Severe COVID-19 ARDS is associated with a specific phenotype of RV radial impairment with sparing of longitudinal function. Clinicians should avoid interpretation of RV health purely on long-axis parameters in these patients. RV-PA coupling potentially provides important additional information above standard measures of RV performance in this cohort.
Pairo-Castineira E, Clohisey S, Klaric L, et al., 2021, Genetic mechanisms of critical illness in Covid-19, Nature, Vol: 591, Pages: 92-98, ISSN: 0028-0836
Host-mediated lung inflammation is present,1 and drives mortality,2 in critical illness caused by Covid-19. Host genetic variants associated with critical illness may identify mechanistic targets for therapeutic development.3 Here we report the results of the GenOMICC (Genetics Of Mortality In Critical Care) genome-wide association study(GWAS) in 2244 critically ill Covid-19 patients from 208 UK intensive care units (ICUs). We identify and replicate novel genome-wide significant associations, on chr12q24.13 (rs10735079, p=1.65 [Formula: see text] 10-8) in a gene cluster encoding antiviral restriction enzyme activators (OAS1, OAS2, OAS3), on chr19p13.2 (rs2109069, p=2.3 [Formula: see text] 10-12) near the gene encoding tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2), on chr19p13.3 (rs2109069, p=3.98 [Formula: see text] 10-12) within the gene encoding dipeptidyl peptidase 9 (DPP9), and on chr21q22.1 (rs2236757, p=4.99 [Formula: see text] 10-8) in the interferon receptor gene IFNAR2. We identify potential targets for repurposing of licensed medications: using Mendelian randomisation we found evidence in support of a causal link from low expression of IFNAR2, and high expression of TYK2, to life-threatening disease; transcriptome-wide association in lung tissue revealed that high expression of the monocyte/macrophage chemotactic receptor CCR2 is associated with severe Covid-19. Our results identify robust genetic signals relating to key host antiviral defence mechanisms, and mediators of inflammatory organ damage in Covid-19. Both mechanisms may be amenable to targeted treatment with existing drugs. Large-scale randomised clinical trials will be essential before any change to clinical practice.
Garfield B, McFadyen C, Briar C, et al., 2021, Potential for personalised application of inhaled nitric oxide in COVID-19 pneumonia, British Journal of Anaesthesia, Vol: 126, Pages: E72-E75, ISSN: 0007-0912
Smith A, Morgan C, Ledot S, et al., 2021, Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for the acute respiratory distress syndrome: a bridge too far?, Acta Cardiologica: an international journal of cardiology, Vol: 76, Pages: 455-458, ISSN: 0001-5385
Veno-Venous Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (VV-ECMO) provides a bridge to recovery in patients with acute respiratory failure due to the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Survival in ARDS has improved over 15 years, and VV-ECMO may rescue even the most severe of these patients. Predictors of survival on ICU are based upon the principles of reversibility of the inciting aetiology, and premorbid ‘reserve’ – an imprecise term encompassing comorbidities and frailty. ECMO can support failing organs for prolonged periods, thus sometimes masking trajectories of decline, or unmasking irretrievable intrinsic conditions at a later time point in the critical illness. Clinicians are confronted with new on-treatment dilemmas: how long should we continue this high level of care? Will the patient’s limited respiratory reserve manage off ECMO? Or are we hastening their demise? How long is it justifiable to keep someone on ECMO, if the predicted survival off is ultimately poor, but they are in a stable state whilst supported? The palliative withdrawal from ECMO is unchartered territory that requires further study. We describe two representative cases and discuss the wide ethical issues surrounding the initiation and withdrawal of ECMO.
Shroff D, Garfield B, Banya W, et al., 2021, 296: Determinants of ARDS resolution and duration in patients supported with extracorporeal support, 50th Critical Care Congress, Publisher: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, Pages: 135-135, ISSN: 0090-3493
Introduction: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is used to provide life-sustaining support to patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Its use has dramatically increased during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Delayed resolution is associated with poorer patient outcomes and current prediction scores focus on mortality. This study aimed to identify pre-ECMO clinical characteristics that determine early ARDS resolution, to assist clinicians in planning appropriate treatment.Methods: In this retrospective observational study, point of referral data from patients treated with veno-venous ECMO at a regional centre (2017-2019) were analysed. Patients aged 18 years and above with ARDS, defined by the Berlin criteria, were included. The primary outcome was early ARDS resolution, defined as liberation from ECMO within 14 days, or non-early ARDS resolution, defined as ECMO run longer than 14 days (survivors and non-survivors). Multiple logistic and backwards step-wise logistic regression were used to identify independent predictors. Multiple imputation was used for missing values.Results: Of the 159 patients included in the study, 86 (54.1%) had early ARDS resolution. Following univariate analysis and exclusion of colinear variables, multiple logistic regression showed aspiration pneumonia to be a significant predictor of early resolution. Plateau pressure, social alcohol use and prophylactic heparin were significant predictors of non-early resolution. Backwards step-wise regression retained plateau pressure (odds ratio [OR] 1.15, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06-1.24, p=0.001), social alcohol use (OR 2.73, 95% CI 1.17-6.34, p=0.020), prophylactic heparin (OR 3.24, 95% CI 1.46-7.21, p=0.004), aspiration pneumonia (OR 0.19, 95% CI 0.06-0.62, p=0.006) and log (FiO2) (OR 0.06, 95% CI 0.005-0.64, p=0.02) as independent significant predictors.Conclusions: This study identified important clinical characteristics at the point of referral, in particul
Juffermans NP, Radermacher P, Laffey JG, 2020, The importance of discovery science in the development of therapies for the critically ill, Intensive Care Medicine Experimental, Vol: 8, Pages: 1-7, ISSN: 2197-425X
Discovery science, a term which encompasses basic, translational, and computational science with the aim to discover new therapies, has advanced critical care. By combining knowledge on inflammatory and genomic pathways with computational methods, discovery science is currently enabling us to optimize clinical trials design by predictive enrichment and to move into the era of personalized medicine for complex syndromes such as sepsis and ARDS. Whereas computational methods are gaining in interest, efforts to invest in basic and translational science in critical care are declining. As basic and translational science is essential to advance our understanding of the pathophysiology of organ failure, this loss of interest may result in failure to discover new therapies for the critically ill. A renewed emphasis on basic and translational science is essential to find solutions for fundamental questions that remain in critical care. This requires a strategy to prioritize basic and translational science as an essential component within the critical care research “toolkit.” Key aspects of this strategy include an increased focus on basic science in critical care medical curricula as well as in critical care platforms such as conferences and medical journals. Training of critical care clinician scientists in basic and translational research will require new organizational models within the academic institutions, as well as the development of new funding opportunities for early career critical care clinician scientists.
Patel BV, Haar S, Handslip R, et al., 2020, Natural history, trajectory, and management of mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients in the United Kingdom, Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Background To date the description of mechanically ventilated patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has focussed on admission characteristics with no consideration of the dynamic course of the disease. Here, we present a data-driven analysis of granular, daily data from a representative proportion of patients undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) within the United Kingdom (UK) to evaluate the complete natural history of COVID-19.Methods We included adult patients undergoing IMV within 48 hours of ICU admission with complete clinical data until death or ICU discharge. We examined factors and trajectories that determined disease progression and responsiveness to ARDS interventions. Our data visualisation tool is available as a web-based widget (https://www.CovidUK.ICU).Findings Data for 623 adults with COVID-19 who were mechanically ventilated between 01 March 2020 and 31 August 2020 were analysed. Mortality, intensity of mechanical ventilation and severity of organ injury increased with severity of hypoxaemia. Median tidal volume per kg across all mandatory breaths was 5.6 [IQR 4.7-6.6] mL/kg based on reported body weight, but 7.0 [IQR 6.0-8.4] mL/kg based on calculated ideal body weight. Non-resolution of hypoxaemia over the first week of IMV was associated with higher ICU mortality (59.4% versus 16.3%; P<0.001). Of patients ventilated in prone position only 44% showed a positive oxygenation response. Non-responders to prone position show higher D-Dimers, troponin, cardiovascular SOFA, and higher ICU mortality (68.9% versus 29.7%; P<0.001). Multivariate analysis showed prone non-responsiveness being independently associated with higher lactate (hazard ratio 1.41, 95% CI 1.03–1.93), respiratory SOFA (hazard ratio 3.59, 95% CI 1.83–7.04); and cardiovascular SOFA score (hazard ratio 1.37, 95% CI 1.05–1.80).Interpretation A sizeable proportion of patients with progressive worsening of hypoxaemia were also refractory to evid
Bleakley C, Smith MR, Garfield B, et al., 2020, Contrast echocardiography in VV-ECMO dependent COVID-19 patients, Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography, Vol: 33, Pages: 1419-1420, ISSN: 0894-7317
Soni S, Romano R, O'Dea K, et al., 2020, Intra-alveolar neutrophil-derived microvesicles predict development of primary graft dysfunction after lung transplantation, 2020 ERS International Congress, Publisher: European Respiratory Society, Pages: 1-2, ISSN: 0903-1936
Background: Microvesicles (MV) play important roles in mediating intra-alveolar inflammation during acute lung injury. We investigated the MV profiles within bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in patients undergoing lung transplantation and assessed relationship to the development of primary graft dysfunction (PGD).Methods: Lung transplant patients underwent bronchoscopy after completion of surgery and BALF samples (n=31) were analysed by flow cytometry for MVs derived from leucocytes (CD45+), neutrophils (CD66b+/CD11b+), monocytes (CD45+/CD14+), alveolar macrophages (CD206+/CD71+), platelets (CD31+/42b+) and epithelial (EpCAM+/T1α+) cells. MV numbers were correlated to clinical outcomes including hypoxia and development of PGD.Results: Various MV subpopulations were identified in BALF. Neutrophil-derived MVs were the largest population (10,548 (3,925-51,529)) compared to leucocyte MVs (9797 (4763-53444)), monocyte MVs (438 (196-25,627)), alveolar macrophage MVs (755 (343-6054) and platelets MVs (564 (286-953)) (MVs/µL, median (IQR)). Patients with PaO2/FiO2 (P/F) ratio ≤ 200mmHg at 72 hours had significantly higher levels of BALF neutrophil MVs than those with P/F ratio > 200mmHg (p=0.001). Patients who developed PGD also had significantly higher BALF neutrophil MVs than those who did not (p=0.03).Conclusions: We have undertaken a comprehensive evaluation of MVs within BALF of lung transplant recipients and demonstrated an association of BALF neutrophil MV numbers and PGD. Our data may suggest BALF neutrophil MVs as a potential, clinically relevant biomarker for PGD. Moreover, these MV may also have a pathogenic/inflammatory role in development of PGD
Arachchillage DJ, Desai SR, Devaraj A, et al., 2020, Reply to: Sanfilippo et al Caviedes et al., American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Vol: 203, Pages: 261-263, ISSN: 1073-449X
George PM, Barratt SL, Condliffe R, et al., 2020, Respiratory follow-up of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia, Thorax, Vol: 75, Pages: 1009-1016, ISSN: 0040-6376
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an unprecedented surge in hospitalised patients with viral pneumonia. The most severely affected patients are older men, individuals of black and Asian minority ethnicity and those with comorbidities. COVID-19 is also associated with an increased risk of hypercoagulability and venous thromboembolism. The overwhelming majority of patients admitted to hospital have respiratory failure and while most are managed on general wards, a sizeable proportion require intensive care support. The long-term complications of COVID-19 pneumonia are starting to emerge but data from previous coronavirus outbreaks such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) suggest that some patients will experience long-term respiratory complications of the infection. With the pattern of thoracic imaging abnormalities and growing clinical experience, it is envisaged that interstitial lung disease and pulmonary vascular disease are likely to be the most important respiratory complications. There is a need for a unified pathway for the respiratory follow-up of patients with COVID-19 balancing the delivery of high-quality clinical care with stretched National Health Service (NHS) resources. In this guidance document, we provide a suggested structure for the respiratory follow-up of patients with clinicoradiological confirmation of COVID-19 pneumonia. We define two separate algorithms integrating disease severity, likelihood of long-term respiratory complications and functional capacity on discharge. To mitigate NHS pressures, virtual solutions have been embedded within the pathway as has safety netting of patients whose clinical trajectory deviates from the pathway. For all patients, we suggest a holistic package of care to address breathlessness, anxiety, oxygen requirement, palliative care and rehabilitation.
Drake TM, Docherty AB, Harrison EM, et al., 2020, Outcome of hospitalization for COVID-19 in patients with interstitial lung disease: an international multicenter study., American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Vol: 202, Pages: 1656-1665, ISSN: 1073-449X
RATIONALE: The impact of COVID-19 on patients with Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) has not been established. OBJECTIVES: To assess outcomes in patients with ILD hospitalized for COVID-19 versus those without ILD in a contemporaneous age, sex and comorbidity matched population. METHODS: An international multicenter audit of patients with a prior diagnosis of ILD admitted to hospital with COVID-19 between 1 March and 1 May 2020 was undertaken and compared with patients, without ILD obtained from the ISARIC 4C cohort, admitted with COVID-19 over the same period. The primary outcome was survival. Secondary analysis distinguished IPF from non-IPF ILD and used lung function to determine the greatest risks of death. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Data from 349 patients with ILD across Europe were included, of whom 161 were admitted to hospital with laboratory or clinical evidence of COVID-19 and eligible for propensity-score matching. Overall mortality was 49% (79/161) in patients with ILD with COVID-19. After matching ILD patients with COVID-19 had higher mortality (HR 1.60, Confidence Intervals 1.17-2.18 p=0.003) compared with age, sex and co-morbidity matched controls without ILD. Patients with a Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) of <80% had an increased risk of death versus patients with FVC ≥80% (HR 1.72, 1.05-2.83). Furthermore, obese patients with ILD had an elevated risk of death (HR 2.27, 1.39-3.71). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with ILD are at increased risk of death from COVID-19, particularly those with poor lung function and obesity. Stringent precautions should be taken to avoid COVID-19 in patients with ILD. This article is open access and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives License 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Armstrong-James D, Youngs J, Bicanic T, et al., 2020, Confronting and mitigating the risk of COVID-19 Associated Pulmonary Aspergillosis (CAPA), European Respiratory Journal, Vol: 56, Pages: 1-10, ISSN: 0903-1936
Cases of COVID-19 associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) are being increasingly reported and physicians treating patients with COVID-19-related lung disease need to actively consider these fungal co-infections.The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) virus causes a wide spectrum of disease in healthy individuals as well as those with common comorbidities [1]. Severe COVID-19 is characterised acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) secondary to viral pneumonitis, treatment of which may require mechanical ventilation or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) [2]. Clinicians are alert to the possibility of bacterial co-infection as a complication of lower respiratory tract viral infection; for example a recent review found that 72% of patients with COVID-19 received antimicrobial therapy [3]. However, the risk of fungal co-infection, in particular COVID-19 associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA), remains underappreciated.Fungal disease consistent with invasive aspergillosis (IA) has been observed with other severe Coronaviruses such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV-2003) [4, 5] and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) [6]. From the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were warning signs of secondary invasive fungal infection; Aspergillus flavus was isolated from the respiratory tract from one of 99 patients in the first COVID-19 cohort from Wuhan to be reported in any detail [2] and Aspergillus spp. were isolated from 2/52 (3.8%) of a subsequent cohort of critically unwell patients from this region [7]. More recently, retrospective case series from Belgium [8], France [9], The Netherlands [10] and Germany [11] have reported evidence of CAPA in an alarming 20–35% of mechanically ventilated patients.
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