Echocardiography findings in COVID-19 patients admitted to intensive care units: a multi-national observational study (the ECHO-COVID study)

Purpose: Severely ill patients affected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) develop circulatory failure. We aimed to report patterns of left and right ventricular dysfunction in the first echocardiography following admission to intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: Retrospective, descriptive study that collected echocardiographic and clinical information from severely ill COVID-19 patients admitted to 14 ICUs in 8 countries. Patients admitted to ICU who received at least one echocardiography between 1st February 2020 and 30th June 2021 were included. Clinical and echocardiographic data were uploaded using a secured web-based electronic database (REDCap). Results: Six hundred and seventy-seven patients were included and the first echo was performed 2 [1, 4] days after ICU admission. The median age was 65 [56, 73] years, and 71% were male. Left ventricle (LV) and/or right ventricle (RV) systolic dysfunction were found in 234 (34.5%) patients. 149 (22%) patients had LV systolic dysfunction (with or without RV dysfunction) without LV dilatation and no elevation in filling pressure. 152 (22.5%) had RV systolic dysfunction. In 517 patients with information on both paradoxical septal motion and quantitative RV size, 90 (17.4%) had acute cor pulmonale (ACP). ACP was associated with mechanical ventilation (OR > 4), pulmonary embolism (OR > 5) and increased PaCO2. Exploratory analyses showed that patients with ACP and older age were more likely to die in hospital (including ICU). Conclusion: Almost one-third of this cohort of critically ill COVID-19 patients exhibited abnormal LV and/or RV systolic function in their first echocardiography assessment. While LV systolic dysfunction appears similar to septic cardiomyopathy, RV systolic dysfunction was related to pressure overload due to positive pressure ventilation, hypercapnia and pulmonary embolism. ACP and age seemed to be associated with mortality in this cohort

Prioridades de investigación en términos de fluidoterapia perioperatoria y monitorización hemodinámica: encuesta de consenso Delphi del Subcomité de Fluidoterapia y Monitorización hemodinámica de la Sección de Hemostasia, Medicina Transfusional y Fluidoterapia (SHTF) de la Sociedad Española de Anestesiología y Reanimación (SEDAR)

Background Research in fluid therapy and perioperative hemodynamic monitoring is difficult and expensive. The objectives of this study were to summarize these topics and to prioritize these topics in order of research importance. Methods Electronic structured Delphi questionnaire over three rounds among 30 experts in fluid therapy and hemodynamic monitoring identified through the Fluid Therapy and Hemodynamic Monitoring Subcommittee of the Hemostasis, Transfusion Medicine and Fluid Therapy Section of the Spanish Society of Anesthesiology and Critical Care. Results 77 topics were identified and ranked in order of prioritization. Topics were categorized into themes of crystalloids, colloids, hemodynamic monitoring and others. 31 topics were ranked as essential research priority. To determine whether intraoperative hemodynamic optimization algorithms based on the invasive or noninvasive Hypotension Prediction Index versus other management strategies could decrease the incidence of postoperative complications. As well as whether the use of renal stress biomarkers together with a goal-directed fluid therapy protocol could reduce hospital stay and the incidence of acute kidney injury in adult patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery, reached the highest consensus. Conclusions The Fluid Therapy and Hemodynamic Monitoring Subcommittee of the Hemostasis, Transfusion Medicine and Fluid Therapy Section of the Spanish Society of Anesthesiology and Critical Care will use these results to carry out the research.Antecedentes La investigación sobre fluidoterapia y monitorización hemodinámica perioperatorias es difícil y costosa. Los objetivos del presente estudio fueron resumir y priorizar estas cuestiones, en orden de importancia investigadora. Métodos Cuestionario estructurado electrónico Delphi a lo largo de tres rondas entre 30 expertos en fluidoterapia y monitorización hemodinámica identificados a través del Subcomité de Fluidoterapia y Monitorización hemodinámica de la Sección de Hemostasis, Medicina Transfusional y Fluidoterapia de la Sociedad española de Anestesiología y Reanimación. Resultados Se identificaron 77 cuestiones, que se clasificaron en orden de priorización. Las cuestiones se categorizaron en temas de cristaloides, coloides, monitorización hemodinámica y otros. Se categorizaron 31 cuestiones como de prioridad investigadora esencial, para determinar si los algoritmos de optimización hemodinámica intraoperatorios basados en el Índice de predicción de hipotensión invasivo o no invasivo frente a otras estrategias de manejo podrían reducir la incidencia de complicaciones postoperatorias, así como si el uso de biomarcadores del estrés renal junto con un protocolo de fluidoterapia dirigido por objetivos podría reducir la estancia hospitalaria y la incidencia de insuficiencia renal aguda en pacientes adultos sometidos a cirugía no cardiaca, lográndose el más alto consenso. Conclusiones El Subcomité de Fluidoterapia y Monitorización hemodinámica de la Sección de Hemostasis, Medicina Transfusional y Fluidoterapia de la Sociedad española de Anestesiología y Reanimación utilizará estos resultados para la realización de investigació