Background: Right ventricular failure is an underrecognized consequence of COVID-19 pneumonia. Those with severe disease are treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) but with poor outcomes. Concomitant right ventricular assist device (RVAD) may be beneficial. Methods: A retrospective analysis of intensive care unit patients admitted with COVID-19 ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome) was performed. Non-intubated patients, those with acute kidney injury, and age > 75 were excluded. Patients who underwent RVAD/ECMO support were compared with those managed via invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) alone. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included 30-day mortality, acute kidney injury, length of ICU stay, and duration of mechanical ventilation. Results: A total of 145 patients were admitted to the ICU with COVID-19. Thirty-nine patients met inclusion criteria. Of these, 21 received IMV, and 18 received RVAD/ECMO. In-hospital (52.4 vs 11.1%, p=0.008) and 30-day mortality (42.9 vs 5.6%, p=0.011) were significantly lower in patients treated with RVAD/ECMO. Acute kidney injury occurred in 15 (71.4%) patients in the IMV group and zero RVAD/ECMO patients (p<0.001). ICU (11.5 vs 21 days, p=0.067) and hospital (14 vs 25.5 days, p=0.054) length of stay were not significantly different. There were no RVAD/ECMO device complications. The duration of mechanical ventilation was not significantly different (10 vs 5 days, p=0.44). Conclusions: RVAD support at the time of ECMO initiation resulted in the no secondary end-organ damage and higher in-hospital and 30-day survival versus IMV in specially selected patients with severe COVID-19 ARDS. Management of severe COVID-19 ARDS should prioritize right ventricular support.
Management of secondary central nervous system involvement (SCNSL) in relapsed or refractory aggressive B-cell lymphomas remains an area of unmet medical need. We report a single center retrospective analysis of seven adult patients with SCNSL who underwent CAR-T therapy for their refractory disease and describe safety of whole brain radiation as a bridging therapy. Six patients (85.7%) achieved a complete response at D+28, while 1 patient had progressive disease. The median progression free survival was 83 days (28 - 219) and a median overall survival was 129 days (32 - 219). Three patients died due to disease progression. Of the 5 patients who received WBRT as bridging therapy, 3 had no ICANS, while 2 had grade 1 and 3, respectively. No grade 4 ICANS was reported in this subset of patients. We conclude that SCNSL should not preclude someone for CAR-T as a treatment option due to concerns of ICANS and bridging with WBRT is not associated with increased ICANS.
BackgroundWeight misperception is the discordance between an individual’s actual weight status and the perception of his/her weight. It is a common problem in the youth population as enumerated by many international studies. However data from Pakistan in this area is deficient.MethodsA multi-center cross-sectional survey was carried out in undergraduate university students of Karachi between the ages of 15–24. Participants were questioned regarding their perception of being thin, normal or fat and it was compared with their Body Mass Index (BMI). Measurements of height and weight were taken for this purpose and BMI was categorized using Asian cut offs. Weight misperception was identified when the self-perceived weight (average, fat, thin) did not match the calculated BMI distribution. Chi square tests and logistic regression tests were applied to show associations of misperception and types of misperception (overestimation, underestimation) with independent variables like age, gender, type of university and faculties. P-value of <0.05 was taken as statistically significant.Results42.4% of the total participants i.e. 43.3% males and 41% females misperceived their weight. Amongst those who misperceived 38.2% had overestimated and 61.8% had underestimated their weight. Greatest misperception of was observed in the overweight category (91%), specifically amongst overweight males (95%). Females of the underweight category overestimated their weight and males of the overweight category underestimated their weight. Amongst the total participants, females overestimated 8 times more than males (OR 8.054, 95% CI 5.34-12.13). Misperception increased with the age of the participants (OR 1.114, 95% CI 1.041-1.191). Odds of misperception were greater in students of private sector universities as compared to public (OR 1.861, 95% CI: 1.29-2.67). Odds of misperception were less in students of medical sciences (OR 0.693, 95% CI 0.491-0.977), engineering (OR 0.586, 95% CI 0.364-0.941) and business administration (OR 0.439, 95% CI 0.290-0.662) as compared to general faculty universities.ConclusionThere was marked discrepancy between the calculated BMI and the self-perceived weight in the youth of Karachi. Better awareness campaigns need to be implemented to reverse these trends.
Background Although classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) is highly curable, 20%–30% of patients will not be cured with conventional treatments. The programmed death‐1 (PD‐1) inhibitors (PD‐1i) nivolumab and pembrolizumab have been Food and Drug Administration‐approved for relapsed/refractory (R/R) cHL. There is limited data on the real‐world experience with PD‐1i in cHL and it is unknown whether fewer selected patients treated with PD‐1i derive benefits similar to those observed in published trials. Materials and Methods We performed a multicenter, retrospective analysis of R/R cHL patients treated with PD‐1i in the nontrial setting. The primary objective was to describe progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in this population. Secondary objectives were to characterize response rates, toxicities, discontinuation patterns, and post‐PD‐1i therapies. Results The study included 53 patients from nine U.S. centers. Overall response rate (ORR), complete response (CR), and partial response (PR) to PD‐1i were 68%, 45%, and 23%, respectively. Twelve‐month OS and PFS were 89% and 75%, respectively; median PFS was 29 months. Ninety‐six percent of patients with CR continue to respond at a median follow‐up of 20 months. Toxicities were similar to those previously described. Seventy percent of patients treated with systemic therapy after PD‐1i demonstrated objective responses. Conclusion To our knowledge, this analysis is the first describing real‐world experience with PD‐1i in cHL patients in the U.S. Here, we demonstrate similar response rates compared to prior studies. The toxicity profile of PD‐1i was similar to that seen in previous studies; we further describe toxicity patterns in those with prior autoimmune disease or allogeneic transplant. Post‐PD‐1i systemic therapies appear active. These results support the effectiveness and tolerability of PD‐1i therapy in R/R cHL in a real‐world setting. Implications for Practice Two PD‐1 inhibitors have recently been approved for patients with relapsed/refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma based on results from nonrandomized clinical trials. However, to date, there have been no studies evaluating the effectiveness and toxicity profile of these drugs in the real‐world setting in the U.S. The present study demonstrates that patients treated in a real‐world context experience similar rates of overall effectiveness compared with published clinical trials. Patients who discontinue PD‐1 inhibitors may experience clinical responses to subsequent treatment with systemic chemotherapy or targeted therapy. This study provides clinicians with further insight into the effectiveness and tolerability of PD‐1 inhibitors and suggests that when patients progress while on these drugs, conventional systemic chemotherapy may be an effective treatment option.
BackgroundThyroidectomy is a common surgical procedure, after which drains are placed routinely. This study aims to assess the benefits of placing postoperative drains, its complications and affects on postoperative stay, in thyroid lobectomy.MethodologyRandomized Clinical Trial of 60 goitre patients undergoing lobectomy was conducted at Civil Hospital Karachi, during July’11-December’11. Patients were randomly assigned into drain and non drain groups. Patient demographics, labs and complications were noted. Ultrasound of neck was performed on both groups. For drain group, the amount of fluid present in the surgical bed and redivac drain was added to calculate fluid collection while in non drain group it was calculated by ultrasound of neck on first and second post-op days. Data was entered and analyzed on SPSS v16 using Independent T tests.ResultThe mean total drain output for 2 days in non-drain group was significantly lower 10.67 (±9.072) ml while in drain group was 30.97 (±42.812) ml (p = 0.014). The mean postoperative stay of drain group (79.2 ±15.63 hours) was significantly higher, as compared to mean postoperative stay of non drain group (50.4 ±7.32 hours). Mean Visual Analogue Score (VAS) for pain day 1 (6.2 ±0.997) and day 2 (4.17 ±0.95) in drain group were significantly higher compared to day 1 (2.6 ±1.163) and day 2 (1.3 ±0.877 ) of non drain group. From drain group, 2 patients complained of stridor, dyspnea on Day 1 which subsided by Day 2 and 1 case of voice change, with no such complains in non drain group. No patients from both groups developed seroma, wound infection or hematoma.ConclusionIn uncomplicated surgeries especially for lobectomy, use of drain can be omitted.
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