Association between blood pressure and the risk of biopsy-induced endobronchial hemorrhage during bronchoscopy

Background Hemorrhage is one of the most common complications of bronchoscopy. Although several hemorrhage risk factors have been proposed, it remains unclear whether blood pressure affects the onset of biopsy-induced endobronchial hemorrhage. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 643 consecutive adults with lung cancer over an approximately 4-year period (from January 2014 to February 2018) at a large tertiary care hospital. Patients were divided into the hemorrhage group and the non-hemorrhage group based on endobronchial biopsy (EBB) findings. The association between systolic pressure (SP), diastolic pressure (DP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), pulse pressure (PP), PP to DP ratio (PP/DP) and the risk of EBB-induced hemorrhage was evaluated using multivariate regression analysis and smooth curve fitting adjusted for potential confounding factors. Results The EBB-induced bleeding incidence was 37.8% (243/643) in our cohort. An independent association was found between PP/PD and the EBB-induced hemorrhage risk (per 1 SD, adjusted odds ratio, 0.788; 95% confidence interval, 0.653-0.951). The multivariate regression analysis performed using quartiles of PP/DP revealed that lower level of PP/DP ratio was related to a higher risk of EBB-induced hemorrhage (P for trend <0.05) after adjustment for potential confounders. However, no association was observed between SP, DP, MAP, PP and EBB-induced hemorrhage. Conclusions Low PP/DP was the independent risk factor for biopsy-induced endobronchial hemorrhage during bronchoscopy in patients with lung cancer.

Comparative Analysis of Obstetric Hemorrhage Risk Prediction Tools

Objective Hemorrhage risk prediction tools were developed in response to rising rates of obstetric hemorrhage (OBH). The California Maternal Quality Care Collaborative (CMQCC) risk prediction tool classifies patients as low, medium, and high risk for OBH based on individual risk factors. At our institution, Magee-Womens Hospital (MWH), a unique OBH risk prediction tool was derived from the CMQCC tool that differs through its use of weighted risk factors and distinctive laboratory value cutoffs. Our objective is to compare this enhanced institution-specific tool to the CMQCC tool. Study Design This study was a retrospective cohort analysis of delivery admissions from a single health care network. Admission OBH risk scores were assigned to each patient using both the MWH and CMQCC scores. Cohen's kappa estimated agreement. Scoring systems and maternal outcomes were compared using chi-square test. Composite morbidity included transfusion, hysterectomy, uterine artery embolization, and intensive care unit admission. Results A total of 21,843 delivery admissions were included. A moderate association was observed between scoring systems (kappa 0.41, p < 0.001). The CMQCC tool categorized 16,184 (74%) patients as low risk, 4,664 (21%) as medium risk, and 995 (5%) as high risk. The MWH tool categorized 13,137 (60%) patients as low risk, 8,113 (37%) as medium risk, and 593 (3%) as high risk. The MWH score recategorized CMQCC low-risk patients to a higher stratum 26% of the time. CMQCC high-risk patients were recategorized to a lower stratum 82% of the time. Both the MWH and CMQCC tools were able to differentiate OBH-related morbidity across risk strata. The MWH tool independently predicted risk of composite morbidity within each stratum of the CMQCC score. Conclusion Both the MWH and CMQCC tools independently distinguish risk of composite morbidity. Adding weighted values to individual risk factors further discriminates risk of morbidity. This suggests it may be reasonable to adapt the CMQCC tool to reflect institutional populations and resources. Key Points

Comparison of survivors and nonsurvivors of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage: risk factors for in-hospital death

Background: The objective of this study was to identify the predictors of in-hospital mortality among patients with diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH).Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 89 patients hospitalized for DAH at our institution. 49 patients who died during hospitalization and 40 patients who survived were compared. We reviewed their clinical course, radiologic and pathologic findings, along with medical management. We then performed univariate and multivariate analyses to identify the risk factors associated with in-hospital mortality.Results: We identified 12 factors to be associated with mortality when comparing survivor versus non-survivor cohorts: smoking (67 versus 42%, p=0.02), malignancy (17 versus 49%, p=0.002), interstitial lung disease (0 versus 14%, p=0.01), liver failure (2 versus 28%, p=0.001), autoimmune diseases (40 versus 8%, p=0.0006), thrombocytopenia (7 versus 71%, p<0.0001), ICU admission (57 versus 85%, p=0.004), mean ICU stay (p=0.4), steroid use (90 versus 63%, p=0.003), plasma exchange (15 versus 0 %, p=0.005), mechanical ventilation (37 versus 75%, p=0.0007) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (22 versus 77%, p<0.0001). On multivariate analysis, thrombocytopenia (p<0.0001) and ARDS (p=0.0013) were associated with higher odds of mortality in DAH while steroid use (p=0.0004) was associated with a lower risk of in-hospital mortality in patients with DAH.Conclusions: In DAH, thrombocytopenia and ARDS were predictors of in-hospital mortality whereas the use of steroid was associated with a more favorable prognosis.

Acute Ischemic Stroke With Mild Symptoms–To Thrombolyse or Not to Thrombolyse?

Management of stroke with minor symptoms may represent a therapeutical dilemma as the hemorrhage risk of acute thrombolytic therapy may eventually outweigh the stroke severity. However, around 30% of patients presenting with minor stroke symptoms are ultimately left with disability. The objective of this review is to evaluate the current literature and evidence regarding the management of minor stroke, with a particular emphasis on the role of IV thrombolysis. Definition of minor stroke, pre-hospital recognition of minor stroke and stroke of unknown onset are discussed together with neuroimaging aspects and existing evidence for IV thrombolysis in minor strokes. Though current guidelines advise against the use of thrombolysis in those without clearly disabling symptoms due to a paucity of evidence, advanced imaging techniques may be able to identify those likely to benefit. Further research on this topic is ongoing.

De novo hemorrhagic sporadic cavernous malformation appearance after COVID-19 respiratory infection: illustrative case

BACKGROUND Little is known about whether coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) influences cavernous malformation (CM) formation or hemorrhage risk. OBSERVATIONS The authors present the case of a 31-year-old patient who developed a hemorrhagic, de novo CM in the setting of a developmental venous anomaly within 3 months of COVID-19 respiratory disease. The authors speculate that COVID-19 disease stimulated formation of the CM through TLR4 inflammatory pathways and subsequently led to the hemorrhagic presentation because of hypercoagulability related to the disease. LESSONS This case raises the possibility that COVID-19 may be a risk factor for de novo development of CMs in predisposed patients.