Critical care explorations
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Acute respiratory distress syndrome is characterized by an overly exuberant inflammatory state in the lung. Specialized proresolving mediators are endogenous agonists for the resolution of lung inflammation and injury in health, yet their association with acute respiratory distress syndrome severity and outcomes remains to be defined. In the current study, we investigate associations between plasma levels of specialized proresolving mediators and acute respiratory distress syndrome severity and mortality. ⋯ Lower specialized proresolving mediator levels in acute respiratory distress syndrome patients may disrupt timely resolution of lung inflammation and/or injury and contribute to clinical severity and mortality.
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There is now substantial evidence to support venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation efficacy and safety for patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome. However, recent guidelines recommend against the initiation of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in patients with mechanical ventilation for coronavirus disease 2019 severe acute respiratory distress syndrome for greater than 7-10 days. ⋯ As coronavirus disease 2019 is a new and incompletely understood entity, we believe that late extracorporeal membrane oxygenation may be considered in selected patients as a bridge to recovery. Further prospective studies are, however, needed.
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We aimed to determine if elevations in serum neuron-specific enolase are associated with brain injury and outcomes in adults who require venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. ⋯ In adult patients under venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, day-3 serum neuron-specific enolase concentrations are independently associated with short-term mortality and poor functional outcomes. These findings deserve validation in a multicenter setting.
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Examine well-being, measured as burnout and professional fulfillment, across critical care healthcare professionals, ICUs, and hospitals within a health system; examine the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. ⋯ Burnout was common across roles, yet differed across ICUs and hospitals. Professional fulfillment varied by provider role. We identified potentially modifiable factors related to clinician well-being that can inform organizational strategies at the ICU and hospital level. Longitudinal studies, designed to assess the long-term impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on the well-being of the critical care workforce, are urgently needed.
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To examine whether increasing time between admission and intubation was associated with mortality in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 who underwent mechanical ventilation. ⋯ Among patients with coronavirus disease 2019 who were intubated and mechanically ventilated, intubation earlier in the course of hospital admission may be associated with improved survival.