Care for Critically Ill Patients With COVID-19

Clinical characteristics and intrauterine vertical transmission potential of COVID-19 infection in nine pregnant women Background Previous studies on the pneumonia outbreak caused by the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were based on information from the general population. Limited data are available for pregnant women with COVID-19 pneumonia. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 in pregnancy and the intrauterine vertical transmission potential of COVID-19 infection. Methods Clinical records, laboratory results, and chest CT scans were retrospectively reviewed for nine pregnant women with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia (ie, with maternal throat swab samples that were positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 [SARS-CoV-2]) who were admitted to Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China, from Jan 20 to Jan 31, 2020. Evidence of intrauterine vertical transmission was assessed by testing for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in amniotic fluid, cord blood, and neonatal throat swab samples. Breastmilk samples were also collected and tested from patients after the first lactation. Findings All nine patients had a caesarean section in their third trimester. Seven patients presented with a fever. Other symptoms, including cough (in four of nine patients), myalgia (in three), sore throat (in two), and malaise (in two), were also observed. Fetal distress was monitored in two cases. Five of nine patients had lymphopenia (<1·0 × 10⁹ cells per L). Three patients had increased aminotransferase concentrations. None of the patients developed severe COVID-19 pneumonia or died, as of Feb 4, 2020. Nine livebirths were recorded. No neonatal asphyxia was observed in newborn babies. All nine livebirths had a 1-min Apgar score of 8–9 and a 5-min Apgar score of 9–10. Amniotic fluid, cord blood, neonatal throat swab, and breastmilk samples from six patients were tested for SARS-CoV-2, and all samples tested negative for the virus. Interpretation The clinical characteristics of COVID-19 pneumonia in pregnant women were similar to those reported for non-pregnant adult patients who developed COVID-19 pneumonia. Findings from this small group of cases suggest that there is currently no evidence for intrauterine infection caused by vertical transmission in women who develop COVID-19 pneumonia in late pregnancy. To read more- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673620303603 Source-sciencedirect

x-ray chest of first case of Corona virus pneumonia patient aged 61 years male who died during treatment in WUHAN city of China.

A 75-year old man with a history of hypertension, hemorrhagic cerebral infarction one year before, right-sided hemiparesis, and atrial fibrillation was brought to my hospital because of suspicious COVID-19 infection. He was seen in the ER because of a few days of dyspnea which became progressed and bad clinical condition. 7 days before the current presentation patient fell from its bed, and after that, he started to feel pain in his right part of the chest. He also noticed purple discoloration of his feet and left hand, which was painful and progressed further during the next days. He started to have DYSPNOEA, which also progressed. CBC: showed leukocytosis (26,9) and chest X-ray was described as bilateral pneumonia. On exam, the patient was alert, disoriented in time, immobile on the bed, with an obvious right hemiparesis, afebrile, tachypneic (R: 24/min), and bradycardic (P: 55/min), hypoxic (SpO2: 80%), with normal blood pressure. PHYSICAL EXAMINATION: showed dusky purple discoloration of both feet and fingers of the left hand. The patient's right feet showed some darker areas, which could be hematomas. CHEST EXAMINATION: showed the painful right side & we spotted the fracture of the 7th rib. Auscultation of lungs revealed bilateral inspiratory crackles, predominantly on the right side. The heart rhythm was regularly-regular. The rest of the examination was unremarkable. LAB ANALYSIS: revealed elevated urea (11,1) and creatinine (371), hypoalbuminemia (22), elevated LDH (705), and slightly elevated CK (201). The CRP was elevated (272,5), and coagulation panel was highly abnormal - aPTT 85,1s, PT 15%, INR >6,0, fibrinogen 2,4, and D-dimer 162 (normal <0,5). My (differential) diagnosis list for this patient was: - Fat embolism - Warfarin overdose - Bilateral pneumonia - Sepsis He didn't have any criteria for COVID-19, and also, its clinical presentation and disease course was not consistent with COVID-19 infection. The patient was transferred to ICU for further treatment. What do you say on this? I am mostly inclined to fat embolism in the first place, which was complicated, but I do not have experience with this diagnosis. What is your opinion on this case, what would be your further diagnostics and treatment?

44-year-old male, stigmata of HIV, presented with shortness and respiratory distress. Patient was intimated and sedated. The patient is a known MDR-TB patient, on further investigation found to have completed treatment in 2015. Other history was not obtained. On arrival patient x/ray reviewed (attached - Image 1) and bilateral infiltrates noted as well as ? right lung mass. The patient sent for urgent non-contrast CTB (NAD) and chest. CT findings: ‘Basal infiltrates bilaterally, no cavities, faint effusions with no gross adenopathy. Active TB is very unlikely. Cardiomegaly with PAH. Paraseptal emphysema - mild degree only. Right pericardiac mass (mediastinal).” Patient management is ongoing. What are your valuable suggestions?

COVID-19?? 68 year old male with no significant past medical history or surgical history. Presented with shortness of breath, and chest pain. In the emergency department, the patient has a saturation of 79% on room air and is in Moderat respiratory distress. It requires 10 L of nasal oxygen high flow to obtain 93% oxygen saturation. The patient is also febrile to 101°F. Social history: non-smoker, non-drinker. Surgical history: no surgical history. What do you say about the case?