Manejo y seguimiento radiológico del paciente post-COVID-19

Most of the patients who overcome the SARS-CoV-2 infection do not present complications and do not require a specific follow-up, but a significant proportion (especially those with moderate / severe clinical forms of the disease) require clinicalradiological follow-up. Although there are hardly any references or clinical guidelines regarding the long-term follow-up of post-COVID-19 patients, radiological exams are being performed and monographic surveillance consultations are being set up in most of the hospitals to meet their needs. The purpose of this work is to share our experience in the management of the post-COVID-19 patient in two institutions thathave had a high incidence of COVID-19 and to propose general follow-uprecommendations from a clinical and radiological perspective.     

Riesgo de recurrencia tras retirada de la anticoagulación en pacientes con enfermedad tromboembólica venosa no provocada: validación externa del nomograma de Viena y del modelo predictivo DASH

IntroductionScales for predicting venous thromboembolism (VTE) recurrence are useful for deciding the duration of the anticoagulant treatment. Although there are several scales, the most appropriate for our setting has not been identified. For this reason, we aimed to validate the DASH prediction score and the Vienna nomogram at 12 months.MethodsThis was a retrospective study of unselected consecutive VTE patients seen between 2006 and 2014. We compared the ability of the DASH score and the Vienna nomogram to predict recurrences of VTE. The validation was performed by stratifying patients as low-risk or high-risk, according to each scale (discrimination) and comparing the observed recurrence with the expected rate (calibration).ResultsOf 353 patients evaluated, 195 were analyzed, with an average age of 53.5 ± 19 years. There were 21 recurrences in 1 year (10.8%, 95% CI: 6.8%-16%). According to the DASH score, 42% were classified as low risk, and the rate of VTE recurrence in this group was 4.9% (95% CI: 1.3%-12%) vs. the high-risk group that was 15% (95% CI: 9%-23%) (p <.05). According to the Vienna nomogram, 30% were classified as low risk, and the rate of VTE recurrence in the low risk group vs. the high risk group was 4.2% (95% CI:0.5%-14%) vs. 16.2% (95% CI: 9.9%-24.4%) (p <.05).ConclusionsOur study validates the DASH score and the Vienna nomogram in our population. The DASH prediction score may be the most advisable, both because of its simplicity and its ability to identify more low-risk patients than the Vienna nomogram (42% vs. 30%).     

Comparison of inhaled nitric oxide with aerosolized prostacyclin or analogues for the postoperative management of pulmonary hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Background: This study aims to compare the effectiveness of inhaled prostacyclin or its analoguesversus nitric oxide (NO) in treating pulmonary hypertension (PH) after cardiac or pulmonary surgery remains unclear.

Methods: PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase databases were searched for literature published prior to December 2019 using the following keywords: inhaled, nitric oxide, prostacyclin, iloprost, treprostinil, epoprostenol, Tyvaso, flolan, and pulmonary hypertension. Randomized controlled trials and multiple-armed prospective studies that evaluated inhaled NO versus prostacyclin (or analogues) in patients for perioperative and/or postoperative PH after either cardiac or pulmonary surgery were included. Retrospective studies, reviews, letters, comments, editorials, and case reports were excluded.

Results: Seven studies with a total of 195 patients were included. No difference in the improvement of mean pulmonary arterial pressure (pooled difference in mean change= ?0.10, 95% CI: ?3.98 to 3.78, p?=?.959) or pulmonary vascular resistance (pooled standardized difference in mean change= ?0.27, 95% CI: ?0.60 to 0.05, p?=?.099) were found between the two treatments. Similarly, no difference was found in other outcomes between the two treatments or subgroup analysis.

Conclusions: Inhaled prostacyclin (or analogues) was comparable to inhaled NO in treating PH after cardiac or pulmonary surgery.

• Key messages

• This study compared the efficacy of inhaled prostacyclin or its analogues versus inhaled NO to treat PH after surgery. The two types of agent exhibited similar efficacy in managing MPAP, PVR, heart rate, and cardiac output was observed.

• Inhaled prostacyclin may serve as an alternative treatment option for PH after cardiac or pulmonary surgery.

     

Pulmonary Carcinosarcoma: A Surveillance,Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Analysis

IntroductionPulmonary carcinosarcoma (PC) is a rare malignant neoplasm composed of epithelial and mesenchymal components. It accounts for < 1% of thoracic cancers and is not fully understood. This study examined Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data to describe demographic and clinical characteristics of patients with PC and assessed survival outcomes by treatment modality and stage.Patients and MethodsSEER data were reviewed to identify patients diagnosed with primary PC (1973-2012). Overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) were analyzed by univariate/multivariable Cox proportional hazards models and Kaplan-Meier methods.ResultsA total of 411 patients were included. Median age was 67 (range, 24-96) years. Disease stage at the time of initial diagnosis was known for 74.7% of the identified patients (307/411). Of these patients, 23.1% had localized disease. Survival was significantly better for patients with localized disease (OS: 31 vs. 6 months, P < .001; DSS: 54 vs. 8 months, P < .001). Additionally, patients who received surgery alone had significantly improved OS (20 months; P < .001) and DSS (32 months; P < .001) compared to patients who received combined surgery and radiotherapy (OS: 7 months; DSS: 8 months) or radiotherapy alone (OS: 4 months; DSS: 4 months).ConclusionTreatment with surgery alone resulted in superior survival outcomes compared to other treatment modality combinations, regardless of patient age and disease stage. Within the limitations of this study, providers may wish to consider these findings when devising patient treatment plans.     

Emodin attenuates acute lung injury in Cecal-ligation and puncture rats

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a major cause of sepsis-induced acute respiratory failure. Emodin has been considered to play a protective role for acute lung edema in cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis model. In this study we aimed to investigate whether emodin could improve CLP-induced lung sepsis via regulating aquaporin (AQP) and tight junction (TJ), inflammatory factors, and pulmonary apoptosis. The results showed that sepsis-induced pulmonary pathological changes were significantly improved after emodin treatment. Emodin was found to upregulate AQP and TJ expression in the CLP model. Meanwhile, inflammatory cytokine release and pulmonary apoptosis was remarkably reduced after emodin treatment in lung sepsis. Our data demonstrated that emodin could suppresse inflammation, restore pulmonary epithelial barrier and reduce mortality in CLP-induced ALI, suggesting the potential therapeutic application of emodin in sepsis.     

经肺动脉与支气管动脉血管造影的CTA观察原发肺癌的血供

目的用支气管动脉(BA)和肺动脉(PA)造影CTA观察肺癌血供情况。方法前瞻性观察6例支气管肺癌患者,分别行体循环动脉和肺动脉数字减影血管造影(DSA)后,留置BA导管与PA导管行CTBA与CTPA,观察BA与PA对肺癌的血供。结果CTPA上,无体动脉与左心强化的图像上肿瘤未见强化,有体动脉或左心强化的图像上见肿瘤边缘强化,CT强化值为10.0~45.6 Hu。CTBA上肿瘤部分明显强化,CT强化值为150.3~320.7 Hu,可见杂乱无章的肿瘤血管影,3例见纵隔淋巴结强化。结论本组病例观察表明原发性肺癌由BA为主的多发体循环动脉供血,未发现PA参与供血。     

异常灌注评分法评价肺血栓栓塞症患者治疗效果的价值

目的 分析异常灌注评分法对肺血栓栓塞症（PTE）疗效的评估价值。方法 选择明确诊断为急性PTE的患者46例，在治疗前及治疗后14d行肺灌注显像，2位核医学科医师分别对肺灌注显像图进行定性分析，随后采用异常灌注评分法和Parker创建的肺段评分法进行肺灌注显像结果判读，比较两者在判读结果方面的一致性及其相关性，并比较2种方法所示的治疗后灌注改善率。结果 2位医师对左肺灌注结果判读的一致性为100％（Kappa值为1．0），对右肺灌注结果判读的一致性为91．3％（Kappa值为0．69）。治疗前后2种灌注评分结果均有较高度的一致性（Kappa值分别为0．657和0．665，P均〈0．001）。在治疗前和治疗后通过2种评分方法所计算的联合评分均呈显著正相关（r值分别为0．770和0．771，P均〈0．001）。肺灌注改善率在2种评分方法之间无显著差异（P=0．128）。结论 异常灌注评分法判读简单，是评价PTE治疗效果的较好方法。