BACKGROUND: Anticoagulation during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) might still lead to severe bleeding complications. Heparin is the most frequently used anticoagulant, but novel drugs could be promising. Argatroban is a new alternative to heparin. To date, no robust studies have confirmed the clear superiority of argatroban (AG) over heparin, although it has some advantages and may be safer. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: An observational study was conducted in all adult veno-venous ECMO patients with COVID-19-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome admitted to the University Hospital Ostrava (n = 63). They were anticoagulated with heparin in the first period and with AG in the second period, targeting the same activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT; 45-60 s). Bleeding complications requiring transfusion and life-threatening bleeding events were evaluated. The primary objective was to compare heparin and AG in terms of bleeding, transfusion requirements and mortality-related bleeding. RESULTS: The total time on ECMO per patient was 16 days with an in-hospital mortality of 55.6%. The red blood cell consumption in the AG group (median 2.7 transfusions/week) was significantly lower than in the heparin group (median 4.2 transfusions/week, p = 0.011). Life-threatening bleeding complications were higher in the heparin group compared to the AG group (35.7% vs. 10.2%, p = 0.035), and mortality-related bleeding complications were also higher in the heparin group (21.4% vs. 2.0%, p = 0.032). DISCUSSION: Argatroban is an interesting alternative to heparin with less bleeding, less need for red blood cell transfusions and improved safety of ECMO with less mortality-related bleeding.

• MeSH
• antikoagulancia * škodlivé účinky   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• arginin * analogy a deriváty   MeSH
• COVID-19 komplikace   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• heparin * škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• krvácení * chemicky indukované   terapie   MeSH
• kyseliny pipekolové * terapeutické užití   aplikace a dávkování   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mimotělní membránová oxygenace * MeSH
• mortalita v nemocnicích MeSH
• SARS-CoV-2 MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• sulfonamidy * MeSH
• syndrom dechové tísně terapie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• pozorovací studie MeSH
• srovnávací studie MeSH

Rationale: Early detection, standardized therapy, adequate infrastructure, and strategies for quality improvement should constitute essential components of every hospital's sepsis plan. Objectives: To investigate the extent to which recommendations from the sepsis guidelines are implemented and the availability of infrastructure for the care of patients with sepsis in acute-care hospitals. Methods: A multidisciplinary cross-sectional questionnaire was used to investigate sepsis care in hospitals. This included the use of sepsis definitions, the implementation of sepsis guideline recommendations, diagnostic and therapeutic infrastructure, antibiotic stewardship, and quality improvement initiatives (QIIs) in hospitals. Measurements and Main Results: A total of 1,023 hospitals in 69 countries were included. Most of them, 835 (81.6%), were in Europe. Sepsis screening was used in 54.2% of emergency departments (EDs), 47.9% of wards, and 61.7% of ICUs. Sepsis management was standardized in 57.3% of EDs, 45.2% of wards, and 70.7% of ICUs. The implementation of comprehensive QIIs was associated with increased screening (EDs, +33.3%; wards, +44.4%; ICUs, +23.8% absolute difference) and increased standardized sepsis management (EDs, +33.6%; wards, +40.0%; ICUs, +17.7% absolute difference) compared with hospitals without QIIs. A total of 9.8% of hospitals had implemented ongoing QIIs, and 4.6% had invested in sepsis programs. Conclusions: The findings indicate that there is considerable room for improvement in a large number of mainly European hospitals, particularly with regard to early identification and standardized management of sepsis, the availability of guidelines, diagnostic and therapeutic infrastructure, and the implementation of QIIs. Further efforts are required to implement a more comprehensive and appropriate quality of care.

• MeSH
• antibiotická politika MeSH
• dodržování směrnic * statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• jednotky intenzivní péče normy   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nemocnice * normy   statistika a číselné údaje   MeSH
• průřezové studie MeSH
• průzkumy a dotazníky MeSH
• sepse * terapie   diagnóza   MeSH
• směrnice pro lékařskou praxi jako téma MeSH
• urgentní služby nemocnice normy   MeSH
• zlepšení kvality * MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Evropa MeSH

Unfractionated heparin has long been considered the standard anticoagulation in ECMO, despite some pitfalls such as heparin resistance, heparin induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), etc Recently, some centres started to increasingly use argatroban for this purpose, typically using activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) for its monitoring. Direct monitoring of the efficacy of argatroban using Anti-IIa is not yet an established method, although it might be more appropriate as it targets the same pathway.An observational study was performed in adult veno-venous ECMO patients hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 infection anticoagulated with argatroban to an aPTT target of 40-60 s and Anti-IIa target of 0.4-0.6 μg/mL. Bleeding and thrombotic complications were monitored.Forty-four VV ECMO patients were included, with an overall hospital mortality of approx. 50%. No life-threatening thrombotic events were recorded. The risk of bleeding complications significantly increased with aPTT above 52.7 s and with Anti-IIa values over 0.78 μg/mL. Using the above cut-offs for both the aPTT and Anti-IIa and their combination, the negative predictive value for bleeding was approximately 90%.It seems that the generally recommended limits for Anti-IIa of 1.5 μg/mL may be high. However, further data are needed to confirm lower limits.Trial Registration:retrospectively registered in ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT06038682.

• MeSH
• antikoagulancia * terapeutické užití   škodlivé účinky   aplikace a dávkování   MeSH
• arginin analogy a deriváty   MeSH
• COVID-19 * krev   terapie   mortalita   komplikace   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• farmakoterapie COVID-19 * MeSH
• krvácení chemicky indukované   MeSH
• kyseliny pipekolové * terapeutické užití   aplikace a dávkování   škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mimotělní membránová oxygenace * metody   MeSH
• monitorování léčiv metody   MeSH
• parciální tromboplastinový čas MeSH
• SARS-CoV-2 MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• sulfonamidy MeSH
• trombóza prevence a kontrola   etiologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• pozorovací studie MeSH

During the COVID-19 pandemic, specific COVID-19-related conditions renewed interest in the full-awake venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation ( fa V-V ECMO) approach, in which ECMO is applied to awake, cooperative, and non-intubated patients. This scoping review aims to provide a descriptive overview of fa V-V ECMO in patients with COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (CARDS). We searched the PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases using the keywords "awake ECMO" or "spontaneous breathing AND ECMO", combined with "COVID-19", "SARS-CoV-2" or "coronavirus", utilizing the Boolean operator "AND". The search included papers published from November 1, 2019, to December 31, 2024. Sixty-four papers were assessed for eligibility at the abstract level, and fourteen articles (seven small-sample cohort studies and seven case reports) comprising 95 patients were included in the final analysis. The most frequent reasons for preferring fa V-V ECMO over mechanical ventilation were barotrauma and patient refusal of intubation and mechanical ventilation. The fa V-V ECMO strategy was successful (ie, patients not intubated, disconnected from ECMO, and discharged from the hospital) in 36.4% of cases (cohort studies only). The incidence of defined severe adverse events (bleeding, thrombosis, cannula malposition, delirium, and progression of barotrauma) was considered low. The mortality rate for CARDS patients treated with fa V-V ECMO (including only patients from cohort studies) reached 33.0%, notably lower than the 48% reported for CARDS patients treated with V-V ECMO in the ELSO registry. Patients who were intubated due to worsening respiratory failure during fa V-V ECMO had significantly higher mortality. Infectious complications, sepsis, and multiorgan failure were the most frequent causes of death. However, significant heterogeneity in the definitions and reporting of management, ECMO-related complications, and outcomes was observed across the papers. Despite the heterogeneity of the data, fa V-V ECMO in CARDS patients can be considered a safe approach associated with a lower mortality rate than that reported in the overall V-V ECMO CARDS population.

• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

BACKGROUND: Dexamethasone 6 mg in patients with severe COVID-19 has been shown to decrease mortality and morbidity. The effects of higher doses of corticosteroid, that would further increase anti-inflammatory effects, are uncertain. The objective of our study was to assess the effect of 20 mg dexamethasone vs. 6 mg dexamethasone intravenously in patients with moderate-to-severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and COVID-19. METHODS: In a multicenter, open-label, randomized trial conducted in nine hospitals in the Czech Republic, we randomized adult patients with ARDS and COVID-19 requiring high-flow oxygen, noninvasive or invasive mechanical ventilation to receive either intravenous high-dose dexamethasone (20 mg/day on days 1-5, 10 mg/day on days 6-10) or standard-dose dexamethasone (6 mg/d, days 1-10). The primary outcome was 28-day ventilator-free days. The five secondary outcomes were 60-day mortality, C-reactive protein dynamics, 14-day WHO (World Health Organization) Clinical Progression Scale score, adverse events and 90-day Barthel index. The long-term outcomes were 180- and 360-day mortality and the Barthel index. The planned sample size was 300, with interim analysis after enrollment of 150 patients. RESULTS: The trial was stopped due to a lack of recruitment, and the follow-up was completed in February 2023. Among 234 randomized patients of 300 planned patients, the primary outcome was available for 224 patients (110 high-dose and 114 standard-dose dexamethasone; median [interquartile range (IQR)] age, 59.0 [48.5-66.0] years; 130 [58.0%] were receiving noninvasive or invasive mechanical ventilation at baseline). The mean number of 28-day ventilator-free days was 8.9 (± 11.5) days for high-dose dexamethasone and 8.0 (± 10.7) days for standard-dose dexamethasone, with an absolute difference of + 0.81 days (95% CI - 2.12-3.73 days). None of the prespecified secondary outcomes, including adverse events, differed between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Despite not reaching its prespecified enrollment, there was no signal to either benefit or harm high-dose dexamethasone over standard-dose dexamethasone in patients with COVID-19 and moderate-to-severe ARDS. Trial registration Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04663555. Registered 10 December 2020, https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04663555?term=NCT04663555&rank=1 and EudraCT: 2020-005887-70.

• MeSH
• COVID-19 * mortalita   komplikace   MeSH
• dexamethason * aplikace a dávkování   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• farmakoterapie COVID-19 * MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• SARS-CoV-2 MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• syndrom dechové tísně * farmakoterapie   mortalita   MeSH
• umělé dýchání * MeSH
• výsledek terapie MeSH
• vztah mezi dávkou a účinkem léčiva MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• multicentrická studie MeSH
• randomizované kontrolované studie MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH

BACKGROUND: The dominant feature of COVID-19-associated ARDS is gas exchange impairment. Extravascular lung water index is a surrogate for lung edema and reflects the level of alveolocapillary disruption. The primary aim was the prediction of extravascular lung water index by the alveolar-arterial oxygen difference. The secondary aims were in determining the relationship between the extravascular lung water index and other oxygenation parameters, the [Formula: see text], end-tidal oxygen concentration, pulmonary oxygen gradient ([Formula: see text] minus end-tidal oxygen concentration), and [Formula: see text]. METHODS: This observational prospective single-center study was performed at the Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, The University Hospital in Ostrava, The Czech Republic, during the COVID-19 pandemic, from March 20, 2020, until May 24, 2021. RESULTS: The relationship between the extravascular lung water index and alveolar-arterial oxygen difference showed only a mild-to-moderate correlation (r = 0.33, P < .001). Other extravascular lung water index correlations were as follows: [Formula: see text] (r = 0.33, P < .001), end-tidal oxygen concentration (r = 0.26, P = .0032), [Formula: see text] minus end-tidal oxygen concentration (r = 0.15, P = .0624), and [Formula: see text] (r = -0.15, P = .01). CONCLUSIONS: The alveolar-arterial oxygen difference does not reliably correlate with the extravascular lung water index and the degree of lung edema in COVID-19-associated ARDS.

• MeSH
• COVID-19 * komplikace   patofyziologie   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• extravaskulární plicní voda * metabolismus   MeSH
• kyslík * metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• plicní alveoly * metabolismus   patofyziologie   MeSH
• plicní edém etiologie   patofyziologie   MeSH
• prospektivní studie MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• syndrom dechové tísně * patofyziologie   etiologie   MeSH
• výměna plynů v plicích MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• pozorovací studie MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH

PURPOSE: Convalescent plasma (CP) collected from people who recovered from COVID-19 became a rapidly available treatment modality in numerous countries, including the Czech Republic. The aims of our study were to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of CP in the treatment of COVID-19. METHODS: This retrospective observational study involved six Czech hospitals. This study enrolled patients with and without CP treatment who were hospitalized between April 2020 and April 2021. Propensity score matching and logistic regression analysis were performed to evaluate the influence of CP administration and its timing on the in-hospital survival of COVID-19 patients. RESULTS: A total of 1,498 patients were enrolled in the study; 406 (27%) were administered CP, and 1,092 (73%) were not treated with CP. The propensity score-matched control group consisted of 1,218 subjects. The survival of patients treated with CP was 79%, while that of patients in the matched control group was 62% (P<0.001). Moreover, the chance of survival was significantly greater when CP was administered within three days after the onset of COVID-19 symptoms than when CP was administered after four or more days (87% vs. 76%, P <0.001). In addition, adverse effects related to CP administration were recorded in only 2% of patients and were considered mild in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that the administration of CP was safe and possibly associated with positive effects that were more pronounced if CP was administered within the first three days after the onset of COVID-19 symptoms.

• MeSH
• COVID-19 * terapie   mortalita   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• pasivní imunizace * metody   MeSH
• protilátky virové krev   MeSH
• retrospektivní studie MeSH
• SARS-CoV-2 * imunologie   MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• sérologická léčba covidu-19 * MeSH
• výsledek terapie MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• pozorovací studie MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH

PURPOSE: Anticoagulation therapy aims to improve the outcome of critically ill patients with severe COVID-19-associated pneumonia. Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) is commonly used to maintain the target therapeutic range of continuous infusion of unfractionated heparin (UFH). The UFH infusion efficacy can be evaluated by determining the time in therapeutic range (TTR) using a modified Rosendaal method. The present study's primary aim was to evaluate TTR based on the aPTT in critically ill patients with severe forms of COVID-19 pneumonia and its influence on survival. The secondary aim was to evaluate the time spent above (TATR) and below the therapeutic range (TBTR). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of critically ill patients with COVID-19-associated pneumonia. All patients received a continuous infusion of UFH from the 2nd to 8th day since admission to the ICU. TTR, TATR, and TBTR were calculated using the modified Rosendaal method, and survival days were analyzed by regression (censored after 60 days). RESULTS: Of 103 patients, the median TTR was 49% (IQR 38-63%), TATR 11% (IQR 5-20%), and TBTR 33% (IQR 22-51%). The regression analysis indicated a positive impact of higher TTR and TATR on the number of survival days [β=0.598 (p=0.0367) and β=1.032 (p=0.0208), respectively] and a negative impact of higher TBTR [β=-0.681 (p=0.0033)] on the number of survival days. CONCLUSION: Higher TTR and TATR were associated with better survival of critically ill patients with a severe course of COVID-19-associated pneumonia. Higher TBTR was associated with worse survival in these patients.

• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

U refrakterní srdeční zástavy je možné zvážit využití pokročilých resuscitačních metod, mezi které patří mimotělní kardiopulmonální resuscitace (ECPR). Ta zajišťuje dostatečnou podporu oběhu, a tedy i orgánovou perfuzi. ECPR poskytuje čas k diagnostice a léčbě reverzibilních příčin srdeční zástavy a je využívána u nemocničních (IHCA) i mimonemocničních (OHCA) srdečních zástav. Úspěšnost metody vyžaduje přísná kritéria pro výběr kandidátů. Současné studie ukazují, že ECPR může zlepšit přežití u pacientů s OHCA přibližně na 30 % ve srovnání s konvenční KPR, jejíž úspěšnost se pohybuje kolem 10 %. Prognóza pacientů je výrazně ovlivněna věkem, délkou ischémie nebo například typem srdeční zástavy. V následujícím textu představujeme přehled indikací, praktických aspektů a faktorů, které jsou podkladem k rozhodování o případném zahájení ECMO podpory. Obecně lze konstatovat, že ECPR může být efektivní u pacientů do 70 let věku se spatřenou, před- pokládanou kardiální příčinou kolapsu, efektivní konvenční KPR zahájenou svědky na místě a intervalem kolaps-ECMO do 60 minut.

It is possible to consider advanced resuscitation methods in the case of refractory cardiac arrest, extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) is one of them. It enables adequate circulatory support and organ perfusion. ECPR provides time for diagnostics and treatment of reversible causes of cardiac arrest and it is used both in intra-hospital (IHCA) and out-of-hospital (OHCA) cardiac arrests. Strict rules for indication are necessary for its effectiveness. Current studies indicate improvement in survival rates up to 30 % compared to 10 % in standard CPR. Age, duration of ischaemia and type of cardiac arrest are among factors influencing patients ́ prognosis. This paper presents the overview of indications, practical aspects and factors which have impact on decicion to start ECPR support. In general, ECPR can be sucessful in patients under 70 years of age, with witnessed cardiac arrest, effective standard CPR provided by bystanders and with the time interval collapse- extracorporeal membrane oxygenation no more than 60 minutes.

• Klíčová slova
• lékařská terminologie,
• MeSH
• lingvistika MeSH
• terminologie jako téma * MeSH
• vtip a humor jako téma * MeSH