RESPIRATORY PARAMETERS OF COVID-19 PATIENTS AFTER THE PRONE POSITION

<p>Hypoxemia is a condition when there is a lack of oxygen levels in the blood, especially from the arteries. In the early stages of COVID-19, several mechanisms such as intrapulmonary shunting, loss of pulmonary perfusion regulation, intravascular micro thrombus, and impaired diffusion capacity can contribute to the development of arterial hypoxemia, although there is no increase in respiratory work. The prone position is one of the most widely used therapies for patients with hypoxemia because the dorsal area has a large number of alveolar units that are not compressed by the weight of the abdominal cavity and mediastinum, thus creating a more efficient area for gas exchange. This study aimed to determine the effect of the prone position on changes in respiratory parameters of COVID-19 patients. This study used the descriptive correlation method on 27 respondents with purposive sampling. Each respondent was given a prone position for three hours and being observed before, during the three-hour, and after one hour of the prone position administration”. The results of the descriptive analysis of this study showed that the majority of respondents were middle adulthood (63%) with 70% of the respondents being male, 59% having a history of hypertension, and 85% experiencing coagulation disorders. The change in the mean respiratory rate during one hour of supination after three hours of prone position in males was greater than that in females although the mean decrease in oxygen saturation was the same. This shows that the prone position for three hours accompanied by oxygen therapy made an improvement in respiratory status in COVID-19 patients, although it needs further investigation with more respondents and different research methods.</p>

Development of severe intrapulmonary shunting in a patient with carcinoid heart disease after closure of a persistent foramen ovale: a case report

Background Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) can affect the cardiopulmonary system causing carcinoid heart disease and valve destruction. Persistent foramen ovale (PFO) occlusion is indicated in patients with carcinoid heart disease and shunt-related left-heart valve involvement. Case Summary We report the case of a 54-year-old female patient with metastatic NET originating from the small bowel. The patient was on medication with octreotide and telotristat. One year after diagnosis, cardiac involvement of carcinoid developed with regurgitation of right-sided and, due to PFO, left-sided heart valves. Closure of PFO was performed (Occlutech 16/18 mm). One year later she presented with recurrent severe dyspnoea. The PFO-occluder was in situ without residual shunt. Valvular heart disease, including left-sided disease, and metastatic spread of NET were stable. Blood gas analysis revealed arterial hypoxemia (pO2 = 44 mmHg/5.87 kPa), which was related to extensive intrapulmonary shunting (31% shunt fraction) confirmed using contrast-enhanced echocardiography. The patient was prescribed long-term oxygen supplementation as symptomatic therapy and anti-tumoral therapy was intensified with selective internal radiotherapy of the liver metastases in order to improve biochemical control of the carcinoid syndrome. Discussion An echocardiographic assessment of the presence of a PFO is recommended in patients with NET as PFO closure minimizes the risk of left-sided carcinoid valve disease. Deterioration of symptomatic status in metastasized NET might also be due to a hepatopulmonary-like physiology with intrapulmonary shunting and arterial desaturation thought to be caused by vasoactive substances secreted by the tumor. This is a rare case describing the development of this syndrome after PFO closure.

Hepatopulmonary Syndrome. Review

Liver cirrhosis is often accompanied by complications from the pulmonary system. These include hydrothorax, portopulmonary hypertension and hepatopulmonary syndrome. Hepatic hydrothorax affects about 6-10% of patients with end-stage disease, which results in the passage of ascetic fluid into the pleural space through diaphragm defects. The common cause of the hepatopulmonary syndrome and portopulmonary hypertension is portal hypertension and portosystemic shunting, indicating that vasoactive and angiogenetic factors originating from the liver normally control the pulmonary circulation. Portopulmonary hypertension is like pulmonary arterial hypertension, which develops against the background of portal hypertension as a result of chronic liver disease or without other causes of increased pressure in the pulmonary vessels. The prevalence of portopulmonary hypertension ranges from 2% to 8.5% among patients with portal hypertension and is associated with a poor prognosis. Hepatopulmonary syndrome is characterized by intrapulmonary dilatation of microvessels, which causes intrapulmonary shunting and leads to impaired gas exchange in liver diseases, and is associated with a decrease in the quality and duration of life in patients with cirrhosis. Nitric oxide overproduction and angiogenesis seem to be the hallmarks of a complicated pathogenetic mechanism, leading to intrapulmonary shunting and ventilation-perfusion mismatch. A classification of hepatopulmonary syndrome according to the severity of hypoxemia has been suggested. Hepatopulmonary syndrome includes a triad: hepatic dysfunction and / or portal hypertension, dilatation of intrapulmonary vessels, and increased alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient. The prevalence of hepatopulmonary syndrome varies depending on the study groups from 5% to 30%. The most common symptom of the complication is shortness of breath, but in most cases, hepatopulmonary syndrome is asymptomatic. A decrease in oxygen saturation less than 96% corresponds to a decrease in PaO2<70 mm Hg and testifies to the possible development of hepatopulmonary syndrome. In the case of a positive screening, the patient should undergo arterial blood gas analysis, which helps to determine PaO2 and alveolar to arterial oxygen gradient. Conclusion. Contrast-enhanced echocardiography with agitated saline is the gold standard in the diagnosis of intrapulmonary dilatation. The only effective treatment for hepatopulmonary syndrome is liver transplantation. Complete recovery of hepatopulmonary syndrome after liver transplantation is observed within a year in most patients with cirrhosis and hepatopulmonary syndrome

Whole-genome sequencing suggests a role of MIF in the pathophysiology of TEMPI syndrome

TEMPI syndrome (telangiectasias, elevated erythropoietin level and erythrocytosis, monoclonal gammopathy, perinephric fluid collections, and intrapulmonary shunting) is a newly defined multisystemic disease with its pathophysiology largely unknown. Here, we report the whole-genome sequencing (WGS) analysis on the tumor-normal paired cells from a patient with TEMPI syndrome. WGS revealed somatic nonsynonymous single-nucleotide variants, including SLC7A8, NRP2, and AQP7. Complex structural variants of chromosome 2 were found, particularly within regions where some putative oncogenes reside. Of potential clinical relevance, duplication of 22q11.23 was identified, and the expression of the located gene macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) was significantly upregulated in 3 patients with TEMPI syndrome. Importantly, the level of serum MIF in one patient with TEMPI syndrome was significantly decreased in accordance with the downtrend of plasma cells, M-protein, hemoglobin, and erythropoietin and the improvement of telangiectasias, perinephric fluid collections, and intrapulmonary shunting after treatment with plasma cell–directed therapy. In conclusion, our study provides insights into the genomic landscape and suggests a role of MIF in the pathophysiology of TEMPI syndrome.

Young stroke due to pulmonary arteriovenous malformation

Young patients presenting with cryptogenic stroke should be investigated for cardiac and extra-cardiac sources of emboli. We present a patient who was investigated for a cardiac source of emboli, following multiple ischaemic strokes and migraine with aura over a period of 17 years. The events were initially thought to be related to a patent foramen ovale (PFO) on bubble contrast echocardiography, however, due to an unusual flow pattern to the left heart, she underwent a CT angiogram to exclude intrapulmonary shunting. This confirmed the presence of a moderate sized congenital pulmonary arteriovenous fistula in the left lung. Transcatheter occlusion of the vascular malformation has resolution of her symptoms. Bubble contrast echocardiography is routinely used to diagnose a PFO in these cases, but extreme caution is required during the procedure to differentiate the pattern of flow seen in patients with a pulmonary arteriovenous malformation.

The TEMPI syndrome

The TEMPI syndrome is a rare and acquired disorder characterized by 5 salient features, which compose its name: (1) telangiectasias; (2) elevated erythropoietin and erythrocytosis; (3) monoclonal gammopathy; (4) perinephric fluid collections; and (5) intrapulmonary shunting. Complete resolution of symptoms following treatment with plasma cell-directed therapy supports the hypothesis that the monoclonal antibody is causal and pathogenic. Understanding the basis of the TEMPI syndrome will depend on the identification of additional patients and a coordinated international effort.