Long term pulmonary morbidity after esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula repair

Background: Respiratory morbidity can influence a patient's quality of life after successful EA/TEF (Esophageal Atresia with and without Tracheo-Esophageal Fistula) repair. Multidisciplinary clinics have made it easier to manage comorbidities in patients with complex congenital malformations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of respiratory issues after EA/TEF repair. Secondarily we sought to evaluate the contribution of respiratory symptoms by Broncho-Pulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) and Gastro-Esophageal-Reflux-Disease (GERD) in patients with EA/TEF. Methods: Retrospective review of the medical record of 50 patients, who underwent EA/TEF repair, needing hospital readmission for pulmonary morbidity, and subsequently followed up in a surgical clinic was performed. The data collected included patient demographics, presence and nature of significant respiratory comorbidity, findings on imaging studies and bronchoscopy, and results of pulmonary function tests (PFT). Results: Respiratory issues were identified in 75% of the patients. Congenital malformations and tracheomalacia were found in n=7 (14%) of cases. Prematurity associated BPD and Gastro-Esophageal Reflux were not the major cause of respiratory symptoms. Respiratory morbidity in this population included recurrent pneumonia n=18 (36%), reactive airway disease n=16 (32%), bronchiolitis n=4 (8%), bronchiectasis n=2 (4%), laryngitis n=2 (4%) and empyema n=1 (2%). Conclusions: Pulmonary complications significantly impact the quality of life in terms of respiratory events, after successful EA/TEF repair. While GERD is common in surgically repaired EA/TEF patients, its exact role in precipitating pulmonary morbidity needs further study. Tracheomalacia can be managed conservatively without resorting to aortopexy.

Concomitant Sternal Fractures: Harbinger of Worse Pulmonary Complications and Mortality in Patients With Rib Fractures

Background Sternal and rib fractures are common concomitant injuries. However, the impact of concurrent sternal fractures on clinical outcomes of patients with rib fractures is unclear. We aimed to unveil the pulmonary morbidity and mortality impact of concomitant sternal fractures among patients with rib fractures. Methods We identified adult patients admitted with traumatic rib fractures with vs. without concomitant sternal fractures using the 2012-2014 National Inpatient Sample (NIS). After 2:1 propensity score matching and adjustment for residual imbalances, we compared risk of pulmonary morbidity and mortality between patients with vs. without concomitant sternal fractures. Subgroup analysis in patients with flail chest assessed whether sternal fractures modify the association between undergoing surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF) and pulmonary morbidity or mortality. Results Of 475 710 encounters of adults admitted with rib fractures, 24 594 (5%) had concomitant sternal fractures. After 2:1 propensity score matching, patients with concomitant sternal fractures had 70% higher risk (95% CI: 50-90% higher, P < 0.001) of undergoing tracheostomy, 40% higher risk (30-50% higher, P <.001) of undergoing intubation, and 20% higher risk of respiratory failure (10-30% higher, P <.001) and mortality (10-40% higher, P =.007). Subgroup analysis of 8600 patients with flail chest showed concomitant sternal fractures did not impact the association between undergoing SSRF and any pulmonary morbidity or mortality. Conclusion Concomitant sternal fractures are associated with increased risk for pulmonary morbidity and mortality among patients with rib fractures. However, our findings are limited by a binary definition of sternal fractures, which encompasses heterogeneous injury patterns with likely variable clinical relevance.

Composition and origin of lung fluid proteome in premature infants and relationship to respiratory outcome

Background Infants born at extremely low gestational age are at high risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia and continuing lung disease. There are no early clinical biomarkers for pulmonary outcome and limited therapeutic interventions. Objectives We performed global proteomics of premature infant tracheal aspirate (TA) and plasma to determine the composition and source of lung fluid proteins and to identify potential biomarkers of respiratory outcome. Methods TA samples were collected from intubated infants in the TOLSURF cohort before and after nitric oxide treatment, and plasma was collected from NO CLD infants. Protein abundance was assayed by HPLC/tandem mass spectrometry and Protein Prospector software. mRNA abundance in mid-gestation fetal lung was assessed by RNA sequencing. Pulmonary morbidity was defined as a need for ventilatory support at term and during the first year. Results Abundant TA proteins included albumin, hemoglobin, and actin-related proteins. 96 of 137 detected plasma proteins were present in TA (r = 0.69, p<0.00001). Based on lung RNAseq data, ~88% of detected TA proteins in injured infant lung are derived at least in part from lung epithelium with overrepresentation in categories of cell membrane/secretion and stress/inflammation. Comparing 37 infants at study enrollment (7–14 days) who did or did not develop persistent pulmonary morbidity, candidate biomarkers of both lung (eg., annexin A5) and plasma (eg., vitamin D-binding protein) origin were identified. Notably, levels of free hemoglobin were 2.9-fold (p = 0.03) higher in infants with pulmonary morbidity. In time course studies, hemoglobin decreased markedly in most infants after enrollment coincident with initiation of inhaled nitric oxide treatment. Conclusions We conclude that both lung epithelium and plasma contribute to the lung fluid proteome in premature infants with lung injury. Early postnatal elevation of free hemoglobin and heme, which are both pro-oxidants, may contribute to persistent lung disease by depleting nitric oxide and increasing oxidative/nitrative stress.

Neurological implications of COVID-19: a review of the science and clinical guidance

COVID-19 is a significant global health burden. The pulmonary morbidity and mortality of COVID-19 is well described, however, there is mounting evidence of neurological manifestations of SARS-CoV-2, which may be of prognostic significance. This paper summarises the available evidence in order to provide clinicians with a concise summary of the peripheral and central neurological manifestations of COVID-19, discusses specific issues regarding the management of chronic neurological disease in the context of the pandemic, and provides a summary of the thrombotic implications of the disease for the neurologist.

Prolonged Stabilization During a Mass Casualty Incident at Sea in the Era of Distributed Maritime Operations

In August 2017, the USS Bataan received a mass casualty incident (MCI) of 6 foreign special forces operators after a helicopter crash. All 6 patients were medically evacuated successfully to the USS Bataan, and all patients survived and were successfully returned to their allied country. Four of the patients received whole blood with 2 receiving over 10 units of blood or massive transfusions. One patient required 44 units of blood, and at 1 point in his resuscitation, he received 12 units of whole blood every 30 minutes. Due to administrative factors outside of the ship’s control, these 6 patients had prolonged stabilization during the MCI. This factor differentiates this MCI on the USS Bataan from previous cases. Internal medicine trained physicians with their expertise in inpatient care, postsurgical management, and critical care were instrumental in sustaining these casualties in this prolonged stabilization environment. In the era of distributed maritime operations, where casualty-receiving ships will experience more geographic and resource isolation, there is a potential for the need for prolonged stabilization above the 6 to 12-hour window typical of role II platforms. The known increase in cardiac and pulmonary morbidity and mortality with medical evacuation delay highlights the importance of internal medicine physicians in the role II setting. It is critical that we emphasize the inpatient and critical care principles of these patients in the prolonged field care environment.