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Survival of Critically Ill Oncologic Patients Requiring Invasive Ventilatory Support: A Prospective Comparative Cohort Study With Nononcologic Patients

2019 , Rene López , Suraj Rajesh Samtani , Jose Miguel Montes , PEREZ ARAOS, RODRIGO ALEJANDRO , Maria Jose Martin , Alvaro Salazar , Jeronimo Graf

PURPOSE Cancer is in the process of changing to become a chronic disease; therefore, an increasing number of oncologic patients (OPs) are being admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) for supportive care of disease or therapy-related complications. We compare the short- and long-term outcomes of critically ill mechanically ventilated OPs with those of their nononcologic counterparts. PATIENTS AND METHODS We performed a prospective study of patients admitted to our ICU between October 2017 and February 2019. Demographic, physiologic, laboratory, clinical, and treatment data were obtained. The primary outcome was survival at 28 days and at the end of the follow-up period. Secondary outcomes were survival according to acute severity scoring (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status, and Charlson comorbidity index. RESULTS A total of 1,490 patients were admitted during the study period; 358 patients (24%) were OPs, and 100 of these OPs were supported with mechanical ventilation. Seventy-three percent of OPs had an ECOG performances status of 0 or 1, and 90% had solid tumors. Reason for admission to the ICU was postoperative admission in 44 patients and neutropenic infection in 10 patients. The follow-up period was 148 days (range, 42 to 363 days). Survival at 28 days was similar between OPs and nononcologic patients and associated with the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score. However, long-term survival was lower in OPs compared with nononcologic patients (52% v 76%, respectively; P < .001) and associated with poor ECOG performance status. CONCLUSION Short-term survival of critically ill, mechanically ventilated OPs is similar to that of their nononcologic counterparts and is determined by the severity of the critical illness.

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Hantavirus in humans: a review of clinical aspects and management

2023 , Pablo A Vial , Marcela Ferrés , VIAL COX, MARIA CECILIA , Jonas Klingström , Clas Ahlm , LOPEZ HERNANDEZ, RENE RAMON , Nicole Le Corre , Gregory J Mertz

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Switching Stable Kidney Transplant Recipients to a Generic Tacrolimus Is Feasible and Safe, but It Must Be Monitored

2017 , Fernando González , Elizabeth Arriagada , René López , René Carrasco , NATALIA BERNARDITA GALLARDO CHAPARRO , Eduardo Lorca

Background. Tacrolimus is the primary immunosuppressive drug used in kidney transplant patients. Replacing brand name products with generics is a controversial issue that we studied after a Chilean Ministry of Health mandate to implement such a switch.Methods. Forty-one stable Prograf (Astellas) receiving kidney transplant patients were switched to a generic tacrolimus (Sandoz) in a 1 : 1 dose ratio and were followed up for up to 8 months. All other drugs were maintained as per normal practice.Results. Neither tacrolimus doses nor their trough blood levels changed significantly after the switch, but serum creatinine did:1.62±0.90versus1.75±0.92 mg/dL (p<0.001). At the same time, five graft biopsies were performed, and two of them showed cellular acute rejection. There were nine infectious episodes treated satisfactorily with proper therapies. No patient or graft was lost during the follow-up time period.Conclusion. Switching from brand name tacrolimus to a generic tacrolimus (Sandoz) is feasible and appears to be safe, but it must be monitored carefully by treating physicians.

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Increased respiratory dead space could associate with coagulation activation and poor outcomes in COVID-19 ARDS

2022 , GRAF SANTOS, JERÓNIMO , Rodrigo Pérez , René López

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The ventilatory inefficiency measured as VE/VCO2 slope is increased in patients who fail to spontaneous breathing trial

2018 , LOPEZ HERNANDEZ, RENE RAMON , PEREZ ARAOS, RODRIGO ALEJANDRO , CAVIEDES SOTO, IVAN RICARDO , GRAF SANTOS, JERÓNIMO

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Assessing Pulmonary Epithelial Damage in Hantavirus Cardiopulmonary Syndrome: Challenging the Predominant Role of Vascular Endothelium through sRAGE as a Potential Biomarker

2023 , Gabriela Meza-Fuentes , LOPEZ HERNANDEZ, RENE RAMON , RETAMAL LUCERO, MAURICIO ANTONIO , CORTES SALINAS, LINA JIMENA , VIAL COX, MARIA CECILIA , DELGADO BECERRA, OROZIMBA IRIS , VIAL CLARO, PABLO AGUSTIN

Hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) is a severe respiratory illness primarily associated with microvascular endothelial changes, particularly in the lungs. However, the role of the pulmonary epithelium in HCPS pathogenesis remains unclear. This study explores the potential of soluble Receptors for Advanced Glycation End-products (sRAGE) as a biomarker for assessing pulmonary epithelial damage in severe HCPS, challenging the prevailing view that endothelial dysfunction is the sole driver of this syndrome. We conducted a cross-sectional study on critically ill HCPS patients, categorizing them into mild HCPS, severe HCPS, and negative control groups. Plasma sRAGE levels were measured, revealing significant differences between the severe HCPS group and controls. Our findings suggest that sRAGE holds promise as an indicator of pulmonary epithelial injury in HCPS and may aid in tracking disease progression and guiding therapeutic strategies. This study brings clarity on the importance of investigating the pulmonary epithelium’s role in HCPS pathogenesis, offering potential avenues for enhanced diagnostic precision and support in this critical public health concern.

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Critical care management of hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome. A narrative review

2024 , Rodrigo Ulloa-Morrison , Nicolas Pavez , Esteban Parra , LOPEZ HERNANDEZ, RENE RAMON , Roberto Mondaca , Paula Fernandez , David Kraunik , Claudia Sanhueza , Sebastian Bravo , Matias Germán Cornu , Eduardo Kattan

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Minute ventilation to carbon dioxide production ratio is a simple and non-invasive index of ventilatory inefficiency in mechanically ventilated patients: proof of concept

2017 , René López , CAVIEDES SOTO, IVAN RICARDO , Jerónimo Graf

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Hemodynamic and Pulmonary Permeability Characterization of Hantavirus Cardiopulmonary Syndrome by Transpulmonary Thermodilution

2019 , LOPEZ HERNANDEZ, RENE RAMON , Rodrigo Pérez-Araos , Álvaro Salazar , Ana L. Ulloa , VIAL COX, MARIA CECILIA , VIAL CLARO, PABLO AGUSTIN , GRAF SANTOS, JERÓNIMO

Hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) is characterized by capillary leak, pulmonary edema (PE), and shock, which leads to death in up to 40% of patients. Treatment is supportive, including mechanical ventilation (MV) and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Hemodynamic monitoring is critical to titrate therapy and to decide ECMO support. Transpulmonary thermodilution (TPTD) provides hemodynamic and PE data that have not been systematically used to understand HCPS pathophysiology. We identified 11 HCPS patients monitored with TPTD: eight on MV, three required ECMO. We analyzed 133 measurements to describe the hemodynamic pattern and its association with PE. The main findings were reduced stroke volume, global ejection fraction (GEF), and preload parameters associated with increased extravascular lung water and pulmonary vascular permeability compatible with hypovolemia, myocardial dysfunction, and increased permeability PE. Lung water correlated positively with heart rate (HR, r = 0.20) and negatively with mean arterial pressure (r = −0.27) and GEF (r = −0.36), suggesting that PE is linked to hemodynamic impairment. Pulmonary vascular permeability correlated positively with HR (r = 0.31) and negatively with cardiac index (r = −0.49), end-diastolic volume (r = −0.48), and GEF (r = −0.40), suggesting that capillary leak contributes to hypovolemia and systolic dysfunction. In conclusion, TPTD data suggest that in HCPS patients, increased permeability leads to PE, hypovolemia, and circulatory impairment.

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Platelet Count in Patients with Mild Disease at Admission is Associated with Progression to Severe Hantavirus Cardiopulmonary Syndrome

2019 , LOPEZ HERNANDEZ, RENE RAMON , Mario Calvo , VIAL COX, MARIA CECILIA , Marcela Ferrés , GRAF SANTOS, JERÓNIMO , Gregory Mertz , Analía Cuiza , Begonia Agüero , Dante Aguilera , Diego Araya , Ignacia Pailamilla , Flavia Paratori , Víctor Torres-Torres , VIAL CLARO, PABLO AGUSTIN , DELGADO BECERRA, OROZIMBA IRIS

Background: Hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) has a mortality up to 35–40% and its treatment is mainly supportive. A variable to predict progression from mild to severe disease is unavailable. This study was performed in patients with documented infection by Andes orthohantavirus, and the aim was to find a simple variable to predict progression to moderate/severe HCPS in patients with mild disease at admission. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 175 patients between 2001 and 2018. Patients were categorized into mild, moderate, and severe disease according to organ failure and advanced support need at hospital admission (e.g., mechanical ventilation, vasopressors). Progression to moderate/severe disease was defined accordingly. Clinical and laboratory variables associated with progression were explored. Results: Forty patients with mild disease were identified; 14 of them progressed to moderate/severe disease. Only platelet count was different between those who progressed versus those that did not (37 (34–58) vs. 83 (64–177) K/mm3, p < 0.001). A ROC curve analysis showed an AUC = 0.889 (0.78–1.0) p < 0.001, with a platelet count greater than 115K /mm3 ruling out progression to moderate/severe disease. Conclusions: In patients with mild disease at presentation, platelet count could help to define priority of evacuation to tertiary care centers.