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OBJECTIVES:. To establish the epidemiological characteristics, ventilator management, and outcomes in patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF), with or without acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), in the era of lung-protective mechanical ventilation (MV). DESIGN:. A 6-month prospective, epidemiological, observational study. SETTING:. A network of 22 multidisciplinary ICUs in Spain. PATIENTS:. Consecutive mechanically ventilated patients with AHRF (defined as Pao2/Fio2 ≤ 300 mm Hg on positive end-expiratory pressure [PEEP] ≥ 5 cm H2O and Fio2 ≥ 0.3) and followed-up until hospital discharge. INTERVENTIONS:. None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:. Primary outcomes were prevalence of AHRF and ICU mortality. Secondary outcomes included prevalence of ARDS, ventilatory management, and use of adjunctive therapies. During the study period, 9,803 patients were admitted: 4,456 (45.5%) received MV, 1,271 (13%) met AHRF criteria (1,241 were included into the study: 333 [26.8%] met Berlin ARDS criteria and 908 [73.2%] did not). At baseline, tidal volume was 6.9 ± 1.1 mL/kg predicted body weight, PEEP 8.4 ± 3.1 cm H2O, Fio2 0.63 ± 0.22, and plateau pressure 21.5 ± 5.4 cm H2O. ARDS patients received higher Fio2 and PEEP than non-ARDS (0.75 ± 0.22 vs 0.59 ± 0.20 cm H2O and 10.3 ± 3.4 vs 7.7 ± 2.6 cm H2O, respectively [p < 0.0001]). Adjunctive therapies were rarely used in non-ARDS patients. Patients without ARDS had higher ventilator-free days than ARDS (12.2 ± 11.6 vs 9.3 ± 9.7 d; p < 0.001). All-cause ICU mortality was similar in AHRF with or without ARDS (34.8% [95% CI, 29.7–40.2] vs 35.5% [95% CI, 32.3–38.7]; p = 0.837). CONCLUSIONS:. AHRF without ARDS is a very common syndrome in the ICU with a high mortality that requires specific studies into its epidemiology and ventilatory management. We found that the prevalence of ARDS was much lower than reported in recent observational studies.

Coil prolapse or migration is a rare but potentially serious complication that may occur during aneurysm embolization, with no standard management currently described. Here we describe our experience with the Embolus Retriever with Interlinked Cages (ERIC) device® (Microvention, Aliso Viejo, CA, USA) for the retrieval of prolapsed or migrated coils in a case series and Flow-Model analysis. First, a retrospective review was performed using our institution database for patients in which coil prolapse or migration occurred during aneurysm embolization, and data was collected and analyzed. Second, an in vitro Flow-Model analysis was performed comparing the ERIC device® with other stent retrievers for coil retrieval. In 2 cases, the ERIC device® successfully retrieved the displaced coil from intracranial circulation in 1 pass, after failure with other devices. In the Flow-Model, again the ERIC device® achieved success for retrieving a detached coil, whereas 2 other different stent retrievers failed to capture the coil after 2 attempts. The ERIC device® appears to be a safe and effective tool for retrieving a prolapsed or migrated coil from the intracranial circulation.

Abstract Background The acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is one of the main causes of mortality in adults admitted to intensive care units. Previous studies have demonstrated the existence of genetic variants involved in the susceptibility and outcomes of this syndrome. We aimed to identify novel genes implicated in sepsis-induced ARDS susceptibility. Methods We first performed a prioritization of candidate genes by integrating our own genomic data from a transcriptomic study in an animal model of ARDS and from the only published genome-wide association study of ARDS study in humans. Then, we selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from prioritized genes to conduct a case-control discovery association study in patients with sepsis-induced ARDS (n = 225) and population-based controls (n = 899). Finally, we validated our findings in an independent sample of 661 sepsis-induced ARDS cases and 234 at-risk controls. Results Three candidate genes were prioritized: dynein cytoplasmic-2 heavy chain-1, fms-related tyrosine kinase 1 (FLT1), and integrin alpha-1. Of those, a SNP from FLT1 gene (rs9513106) was associated with ARDS in the discovery study, with an odds ratio (OR) for the C allele of 0.76, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.58–0.98 (p = 0.037). This result was replicated in an independent study (OR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.62–0.98, p = 0.039), showing consistent direction of effects in a meta-analysis (OR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.65–0.92, p = 0.003). Conclusions We identified FLT1 as a novel ARDS susceptibility gene and demonstrated that integration of genomic data can be a valid procedure to identify novel susceptibility genes. These results contribute to previous firm associations and functional evidences implicating FLT1 gene in other complex traits that are mechanistically linked, through the key role of endothelium, to the pathophysiology of ARDS.

Hypotension is the main finding in patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) with the diagnosis of septic shock and it is related to worse outcomes. In these patients, several underlying causes of hypotension may co-exist, including vasoplegia, hypovolemia, drug-mediated venodilation, or myocardial dysfunction. Nowadays, echocardiography has been positioned as an essential tool in any ICU set to assess fluid status, ventricular ejection fraction, or any other myocardial complications. The high sympathetic tone in severely ill patients, in addition to high doses of adrenergic drugs often needed, may provoke a hypercontractile cardiac state. In the basis of our experience, we present a case of a patient with refractory septic shock and severe hemodynamic collapse, refractory to vasopressors with concomitant respiratory deterioration due to dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO). Transesophageal echocardiography (TOE) was used to assess hemodynamic status and to guide treatment. A critical response to intravenous β-blockers was seen, with a dramatic decrease in vasopressor dosage and respiratory support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]