Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease characterized by dyspnea and a worsening of the lung function. Acute exacerbations of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (AE-IPF) are defined by a clinically significant respiratory deterioration, that typically develops in less than 1 month, accompanied by new radiologic abnormalities on high-resolution computed tomography, including diffused and bilateral ground-glass opacification, along with an absence of other obvious clinical etiologies. Recently, AE-IPF has gained significant importance as a major cause of mortality and morbidity. However, despite the extremely poor prognosis of the condition, no well-validated therapeutic interventions are currently available. Therefore, novel treatment modalities are being investigated and applied in addition to conventional treatments. Among them, several studies have reported that a direct hemoperfusion with a polymyxin B-immobilized fiber column (PMX-DHP), developed for endotoxin removal in septic shock, has an effect on AE-IPF. We describe two cases of PMX-DHP treatment with conflicting results. One patient successfully recovered via a PMX-DHP in severe AE-IPF that required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). PMX-DHP subsequently improved oxygenation (PaO2/FiO2 ratio) and decreased the levels of inflammatory markers (interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, and white blood cells). The patient dramatically recovered without the need for ECMO. PMX-DHP may be considered an alternative therapy in AE-IPF patients requiring mechanical ventilation or ECMO.
Amniotic fluid embolism is rare but is one of the most catastrophic complications in the peripartum period. This syndrome is caused by a maternal anaphylactic reaction to the introduction of fetal material into the pulmonary circulation. When amniotic fluid embolism is suspected, the immediate application of extracorporeal mechanical circulatory support such as veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) or cardiopulmonary bypass should be considered. Without the application of extracorporeal mechanical circulatory support, medical supportive care might not be sufficient to maintain cardiopulmonary stabilization in severe cases of amniotic fluid embolism. In this report, we present the case of a 36-year-old pregnant woman who developed an amniotic fluid embolism immediately after a cesarean section. Her catastrophic event started with the sudden onset of severe hypoxia, followed by circulatory collapse within 8 minutes. The veno-arterial mode of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was initiated immediately. She was successfully resuscitated but with impaired cognitive function. Thus, urgent ECMO should be considered when amniotic fluid embolism syndrome is suspected in patients presenting acute cardiopulmonary collapse.
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Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation as Supportive Therapy After Cardiac Arrest After Amniotic Fluid Embolism: A Case Report Claire Depondt, Darko Arnaudovski, Audrey Voulgaropoulos, Olivier Milleron, Walid Ghodbane, Alexy Tran Dinh, Philippe Montravers, Elie Kantor A&A Practice.2019; 13(2): 74. CrossRef
Urgent Application of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Amniotic Fluid Embolism Moo Suk Park The Korean Journal of Critical Care Medicine.2016; 31(3): 179. CrossRef
BACKGROUND The aim of this study is to describe the clinical course and outcome of patients who were diagnosed with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by scrub typhus and who received ventilator care in the intensive care units (ICU) of two university hospitals. METHODS We performed a retrospective analysis of all adult ventilated patients who were diagnosed with ARDS caused by scrub typhus. RESULTS Eleven (1.7%) of 632 scrub typhus patients were diagnosed with ARDS (median age 72; seven were male). Eight patients had underlying diseases, the most common of which was hypertension (four patients). Eight patients (72.7%) were admitted in November. The most common chief complaints of the patients were fever and rash (63.6%). All patients had skin eschar and rash; seven were treated for shock. On the day of diagnosis with ARDS, the median Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation score was 20 (range 11-28) and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score was 7 (range 4-14). All patients had PaO2/FiO2 < 200 mmHg, high serum aspartate aminotransferase level (> 40 IU/L), and hypoalbuminemia (< 3.3 g/dl). Nine patients were treated with doxycycline on the day of admission. Their median lengths of stay in the ICU and hospital were 10 (range 4-65) and 14 (4-136) days, respectively. The mortality rate during treatment in the hospital was 36.4%. CONCLUSIONS In our study, the risk of ARDS among patients diagnosed with scrub typhus was at least 1.7%, with a hospital mortality rate of 36.4%.
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Rapid Recovery of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Scrub Typhus, With Pulse Methylprednisolone and Therapeutic Plasma Exchange Thilina Rathnasekara, Lanka Wijekoon, Hemal Senanayake, Sisira Siribaddana Cureus.2022;[Epub] CrossRef
Pulmonary actinomycosis is an indolent and slowly progressive infectious disease, accompanied by pleural effusion and empyema in about 50% of cases. The size of the effusion is usually small, though, and it responds to appropriate antibiotics. We report a case of rapidly progressing, severe empyema leading to respiratory failure that was caused by pulmonary actinomycosis. A 57-year-old man presented with pleuritic chest pain for 5 days. The initial plain chest radiograph and CT scan showed pleural effusion. Gross pus was observed during the thoracentesis and laboratory test of pleural effusion revealed empyema. In spite of empirical antibiotics and chest tube drainage, the empyema rapidly progressed and the patient reached respiratory failure. Mechanical ventilation applied and decortication via video-assisted thoracotomy was performed.
Microscopic examination of both the pleural and adjacent lung biopsy specimen revealed actinomycosis.
BACKGROUND To investigate the usage patterns of sedatives, analgesics and neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) in patients requiring mechanical ventilation more than 72 hours in intensive care units (ICUs) of Korea. METHODS A total of 536 patients continuing mechanical ventilation more than 72 hours had been enrolled among the twenty-one ICUs of Korea from May 2003 to July 2003. Data about mechanical ventilation, the use of sedatives, analgesics, and NMBAs were prospectively collected for four weeks. We analyzed the patterns of using these drugs and effects on outcomes. RESULTS More than half of the patients (50.4%) received sedative drug alone. Most commonly used sedatives and analgesics were midazolam and morphine. NMBAs were administered in 41% of the patients. Volume controlled ventilation mode was associated with more frequent use of NMBAs. There were no significant differences in outcome variables among the usage patterns of sedatives, analgesics and NMBAs. CONCLUSIONS Our investigation shows that analgesics were much less frequently used in the intensive care units of Korea compared with the use of sedatives. And the use of NMBAs were quite a common.
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BACKGROUND Do-not-resuscitate (DNR) in the event of a cardiac arrest is the most common and important discussion between a patient's family and physicians among the end-of-life decision-making process. To observe the performance of a DNR order in critically ill patients, we analyzed the incidence of DNR orders, the changes in therapeutic levels after DNR orders, and the cases of violated DNR codes in patients who had died in a Korean medical intensive care unit (ICU) between 1 January 2006 and 30 June 2006. METHODS The charts of patients who had died in the medical ICU were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS One hundred two patients were enrolled. The ICU and hospital lengths of stay of the patients were 12.4 +/- 14.0 and 23.2 +/- 21.1 days, respectively. Hematologic malignancy (24.5%) accounted for the most common premorbid diagnosis before ICU admission. Seventy-five patients (73.5%) had DNR orders. The DNR order was suggested by the physician in 96% of the patients. There was no significant difference in the clinical parameters and the performance of a DNR order.
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