A clinical case of successful application of a new treatment method for severe COVID-19

COVID-19, formerly coronavirus infection 2019-nCoV, is a potentially severe acute respiratory infection caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus (2019-nCoV). It is a dangerous disease that can occur both in the form of a mild acute respiratory viral infection and in a severe form with the development of bilateral polysegmental viral pneumonia, specific complications of which may include acute respiratory distress syndrome, resulting in the respiratory failure with a high risk of death. Due to the absence of etiotropic therapy for the coronavirus infection, pathogentic treatment becomes of primary importance. We present a clinical case of a severe form of COVID-19 in a 33-year-old man to whom we administered a new method of pathogenetic treatment of this disease based on immunosuppresiive therapy followed by therapeutic plasma exchange and infusion of non-specific human immunoglobulin

Применение методики экстракорпоральной мембранной оксигенации у пациента с респираторным дистресссиндромом на фоне миастении

Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune neuromuscular disease characterized by pathologically rapid fatigue of striated muscles [1]. The main symptom of myasthenia gravis is the presence of pathological muscle weakness with involvement of the ocular, bulbar and skeletal muscles in the pathological process. The provoking factors for the development of myasthenia gravis can be infectious diseases, surgery, drugs [2, 3]. The main danger is represented by myasthenic and cholinergic crises, which are characterized by a severe course and high mortality; therefore, the problems of treating myasthenia gravis are still of high medical and social significance. The prevalence of myasthenia gravis is 17.5–20.3 per 100 thousand population, and the number of patients is increasing by 5–10% annually [4, 5]. In recent years, there has been a steady increase in morbidity with an increase in age over 50 years [6, 7]. Myasthenia gravis is a serious disease with a high mortality rate of up to 30–40% [3]. There are difficulties in the early differential diagnosis of muscle weakness in patients with respiratory failure between myasthenia gravis, myasthenic syndrome and critical illness polyneuropathy. These difficulties and insufficient awareness of patients and doctors of various specialties about myasthenia gravis can lead to the choice of the wrong treatment tactics and the development of myasthenic crisis, which is manifested by respiratory failure, requiring respiratory support. The progression of respiratory failure against the background of myasthenic crisis may require the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).It is necessary to expand the differential diagnosis of muscle weakness in a patient during the period of resolution of respiratory failure, allowing to move away from compulsory respiratory support, termination of ECMO. При отсутствии своевременной диагностики нервно-мышечного заболевания длительность процедуры мембранной оксигенации может быть увеличена, тем самым повышая риски побочных осложнений (геморрагические, септические, тромботические). В клиническом наблюдении мы демонстрируем редкое сочетание тяжелой пневмонии, миастении, острого респираторного дистресс-синдрома и проводимой процедуры экстракорпоральной мембранной оксигенации.

Определение валидности шкалы дыхательных нарушений у пациентов с острым поражением нервной системы

The aim of study: to investigate validity of respiratory insufficiency scale (RIS) in patients with acute lesions of nervous system.Material and methods. The prospective observational study included neurocritical care patients (n=179), admitted to the resuscitation and intensive care unit with independent breathing and RIS score 1 and higher. Patients were assessed according to RIS every 12 hours during the the period of RICU stay until the beginning of artificial lung ventilation or transfer to a specialized department. The RIS score did not influence the physician's decision upon intubation. The treatment was performed in accordance with national and international recommendations.Depending on the tracheal intubation and ALV, patients were divided into 3 groups. Group I (n=65): 0% tracheal intubation and ALV; Group II (n =54): 42,6% cases of intubation and ALV; Group III (n=60): 100% patients requiring intubation and ALV.The statistical analysis was performed using Shapiro—Wilk test, Mann-Whitney test, Kruskal—Wallis test, Chi-squared test. The ROC analysis was carried out to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the RIS scale.Results. Patients with RIS score 1 — 2 did not require intubation and ALV. Patients with RIS 5 or more required urgent intubation and ALV. In patients with RIS score 3—4 the need for intubation and ALV was unpredictable. If RIS score 4 was sustainig during several hours, or if increased from 3 to 4, a patient required intubation and initiation of ALV.Conclusion. RIS helps objectify indications for intubation and ALV in patients with acute neural lesions.Цель исследования. Исследовать валидность шкалы дыхательных нарушений (ШДН) у пациентов с острым повреждением нервной системы.Материал и методы. В проспективное обсервационное исследование включили нейрореанимационных пациентов (n=179), поступавших в отделение реанимации и интенсивной терапии (ОРИТ) c сохраненным самостоятельным дыханием с оценкой по ШДН, равной 1 и более балла. Пациентов оценивали по ШДН каждые 12 ч до момента интубации трахеи или до перевода из ОРИТ в профильное отделение. Оценка пациента по ШДН не влияла на принятие решения лечащим врачом об интубации трахеи. Ведение пациентов осуществляли в соответствии с национальными и международными рекомендациями. Пациентов разделили на 3 группы в зависимости от степени необходимости произвести интубацию трахеи и искусственную вентиляцию легких (ИВЛ). В группе I (n=65) — 0% интубации трахеи и ИВЛ; в группе II (n=54) — 42,6% интубации трахеи и ИВЛ; в группе III (n=60) — 100% интубации трахеи и ИВЛ. Статистический анализ проводили с применением методик Шапиро–Уилка, тестов Манна–Уитни, Крускала–Уоллиса, критерия согласия Пирсона Хи-квадрат (χ2). ROC-анализ был проведен для определения чувствительности и специфичности ШДН-шкалы.Результаты. При оценке по ШДН, равной 1–2 балла, пациенты не нуждаются в интубации трахеи и ИВЛ, при сумме 5 и более баллов необходима незамедлительная интубация трахеи и ИВЛ, при сумме 3– 4 балла необходимость в ИВЛ непредсказуема. При сохраняющейся в течение нескольких часов оценке по ШДН, равной 4 баллам, или при ее увеличении с 3 баллов до 4 необходимы интубация трахеи и начало ИВЛ.Заключение. У пациентов с острым поражением нервной системы применение оценки дыхательных нарушений по ШДН позволяет объективизировать показания для интубации трахеи и начала ИВЛ

23rd IAEA Fusion Energy Conference: summary of sessions EX/C and ICC

An overview is given of recent experimental results in the areas of innovative confinement concepts, operational scenarios and confinement experiments as presented at the 2010 IAEA Fusion Energy Conference. Important new findings are presented from fusion devices worldwide, with a strong focus towards the scientific and technical issues associated with ITER and W7-X devices, presently under construction