Multicenter Experience with the Surfacer Inside-Out Access Catheter System in Patients with Thoracic Venous Obstruction : Results from the SAVE Registry

Purpose: To report the device performance and safety for the Surfacer Inside-Out access catheter system in patients with thoracic central venous obstruction (TCVO) requiring central venous access (CVA). Materials and Methods: Five sites prospectively enrolled 30 patients requiring a tunneled dialysis catheter between February 2017 and September 2018 in the SAVE (Surfacer System to Facilitate Access in Venous Obstructions) registry. Patient demographics, medical history, and type of TCVO were documented at enrollment. Device performance and adverse events were collected during the procedure and upon hospital discharge. Twenty-nine of the 30 patients enrolled required CVA for hemodialysis. Retrospective classification of TCVOs according to SIR reporting standards showed 9 patients (30%) had Type 4 obstructions, 8 (26.7%) had Type 3, 5 (16.7%) had Type 2, and 8 (26.7%) had Type 1 obstruction. Results: Central venous catheters (CVCs) were successfully placed in 29 of 30 patients (96.7%). The procedure was discontinued in 1 patient due to vascular anatomical tortuosity. All 29 patients with successful CVC placement achieved adequate catheter patency and tip positioning. There were no device-related adverse events, catheter malposition, or intra- or postprocedural complications. Mean time from device insertion to removal for the 29 patients who successfully completed the procedure was 24 \ub1 14.9 (range, 6\u201370) minutes. Mean fluoroscopy time was 6.8 \ub1 4.5 (range, 2.2\u201325.5) minutes. Conclusions: The Surfacer Inside-Out procedure provided an alternative option to restore right-sided CVA in patients with TCVO

Diagnosis and outcome of acute respiratory failure in immunocompromised patients after bronchoscopy

OBJECTIVE: We wished to explore the use, diagnostic capability and outcomes of bronchoscopy added to noninvasive testing in immunocompromised patients. In this setting, an inability to identify the cause of acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure is associated with worse outcome. Every effort should be made to obtain a diagnosis, either with noninvasive testing alone or combined with bronchoscopy. However, our understanding of the risks and benefits of bronchoscopy remains uncertain. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a pre-planned secondary analysis of Efraim, a prospective, multinational, observational study of 1611 immunocompromised patients with acute respiratory failure admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). We compared patients with noninvasive testing only to those who had also received bronchoscopy by bivariate analysis and after propensity score matching. RESULTS: Bronchoscopy was performed in 618 (39%) patients who were more likely to have haematological malignancy and a higher severity of illness score. Bronchoscopy alone achieved a diagnosis in 165 patients (27% adjusted diagnostic yield). Bronchoscopy resulted in a management change in 236 patients (38% therapeutic yield). Bronchoscopy was associated with worsening of respiratory status in 69 (11%) patients. Bronchoscopy was associated with higher ICU (40% versus 28%; p<0.0001) and hospital mortality (49% versus 41%; p=0.003). The overall rate of undiagnosed causes was 13%. After propensity score matching, bronchoscopy remained associated with increased risk of hospital mortality (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.08-1.81). CONCLUSIONS: Bronchoscopy was associated with improved diagnosis and changes in management, but also increased hospital mortality. Balancing risk and benefit in individualised cases should be investigated further

Diagnosis and outcome of acute respiratory failure in immunocompromised patients after bronchoscopy

Objective: We wished to explore the use, diagnostic capability and outcomes of bronchoscopy added to noninvasive testing in immunocompromised patients. In this setting, an inability to identify the cause of acute hypoxaemic respiratory failure is associated with worse outcome. Every effort should be made to obtain a diagnosis, either with noninvasive testing alone or combined with bronchoscopy. However, our understanding of the risks and benefits of bronchoscopy remains uncertain.Patients and methods: This was a pre-planned secondary analysis of Efraim, a prospective, multinational, observational study of 1611 immunocompromised patients with acute respiratory failure admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). We compared patients with noninvasive testing only to those who had also received bronchoscopy by bivariate analysis and after propensity score matching.Results: Bronchoscopy was performed in 618 (39%) patients who were more likely to have haematological malignancy and a higher severity of illness score. Bronchoscopy alone achieved a diagnosis in 165 patients (27% adjusted diagnostic yield). Bronchoscopy resulted in a management change in 236 patients (38% therapeutic yield). Bronchoscopy was associated with worsening of respiratory status in 69 (11%) patients. Bronchoscopy was associated with higher ICU (40% versus 28%; p&lt; 0.0001) and hospital mortality (49% versus 41%; p=0.003). The overall rate of undiagnosed causes was 13%. After propensity score matching, bronchoscopy remained associated with increased risk of hospital mortality (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.08-1.81).Conclusions: Bronchoscopy was associated with improved diagnosis and changes in management, but also increased hospital mortality. Balancing risk and benefit in individualised cases should be investigated further

Respiratory Mechanics and Outcomes in Immunocompromised Patients With ARDS: A Secondary Analysis of the EFRAIM Study

Background: In view of the high mortality rate of immunocompromised patients with ARDS, it is important to identify targets for improvement. Research Question: This study investigated factors associated with mortality in this specific ARDS population, including factors related to respiratory mechanics (plateau pressure [Pplat,rs], compliance [Crs], and driving pressure [ΔPrs]). Study Design and Methods: This study consisted of a predefined secondary analysis of the EFRAIM data. Overall, 789 of 1,611 patients met the Berlin criteria for ARDS, and Pplat,rs, ΔPrs, and Crs were available for 494 patients. A hierarchical model was used to assess factors at ARDS onset independently associated with hospital mortality. Results: Hospital mortality was 56.3%. After adjustment, variables independently associated with hospital mortality included ARDS of undetermined etiology (OR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.01-2.72), need for vasopressors (OR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.27-2.88), and need for renal replacement therapy (OR, 2.02; 95% CI, 1.37-2.97). ARDS severity according to the Berlin definition, neutropenia on admission, and the type of underlying disease were not significantly associated with mortality. Before adjustment, higher Pplat,rs, higher ΔPrs, and lower Crs were associated with higher mortality. Addition of each of these individual variables to the final hierarchical model revealed a significant association with mortality: ΔPrs (OR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.05-1.12), Pplat,rs (OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.04-1.11), and Crs (OR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.95-0.98). Tidal volume was not associated with mortality. Interpretation: In immunocompromised patients with ARDS, respiratory mechanics provide additional prognostic information to predictors of hospital mortality. Studies designed to define lung-protective ventilation guided by these physiological variables may be warranted in this specific population