Dyspnea;

Can I estimate the central venous pressure (CVP) of my patient with dyspnea at the bedside by using point of care ultrasound (POCUS)?

FA Manian MD, MPH, , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Absolutely! Not only can POCUS be used to estimate the CVP by measuring the jugular venous pressure (JVP), it may also be more reliable than the traditional—often challenging—visual method of looking for internal jugular (IJ) waveforms in the neck.1

To estimate the CVP by POCUS, first position the patient in a comfortable (usually semi-recumbent) position.   Select “vascular” (ie, high frequency) setting on your device (linear array probe for traditional ultrasound devices).  With the probe in the transverse plane (ie,  perpendicular to the IJ) and the orientation marker pointing to the right of the patient, slowly slide the probe cranially until the IJ appears to collapse during end-expiration, a point commonly referred to as the “meniscus” (CLIP 1 below). Measure the vertical distance between the meniscus and the sternal angle and, just as you would using the traditional method, add 5 cm (see limitation below) to calculate the height of the JVP, with values > 8 cm considered elevated (Figure 1 below).1,2,3

You can also look for the point of JVP collapse in the longitudinal axis by rotating the transducer 90° clockwise (CLIP 2 below).  Here, the shape of the IJ resembles a wine bottle with the collapsed portion or the tip of the tapered portion or triangle, representing the meniscus.3

A major limitation of estimating the CVP by visualization of JVP or by POCUS is the assumption that the distance between the right atrium and the sternal angle is constant at 5 cm.  It turns out that this distance may potentially vary among patients depending on their body habitus and position.4    A cool study from 2015, however, more accurately determined this distance by adjusted ultrasound views of the center of the right atrium. 5    Clearly, bedside estimation of CVP by POCUS will continue to be refined in the future. 

Bonus Pearl: Did you know that the traditional non-invasive method of estimating CVP by examining neck veins was first proposed in 1930 by Sir Thomas Lewis, a British cardiologist, who has been called the “father of clinical cardiac electrophysiology” and coined the terms “pacemaker,” “premature contractions,” and “auricular fibrillation”?6,7

 

Clip 1. Transverse visualization of the internal jugular vein (IJV) by using POCUS. The meniscus is the point of IJV collapse during end-expiration. 

 

Figure 1. Measurement of the jugular venous pressure (JVP) by POCUS. Add 5 cm (green arrow) to the distance between the meniscus (internal jugular collapse on the transverse view or tip of the tapering zone on the longitudinal view) and the sternal angle (red arrow).

Clip 2. Longitudinal visualization of the internal jugular vein (IJV) by using POCUS. The meniscus is the tip of the tapering zone or triangle of the IJV. 

 

 

 

Contributed by Woo Moon D.O., Mercy Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri

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References

1. Wang L, Harrison J, Dranow E, Aliyev N, Khor L. Accuracy of ultrasound jugular venous pressure height in predicting central venous congestion. Ann Intern Med 2021; 175:344-51.

2. McGee MD S. Evidence-Based Physical Diagnosis. 5th ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier; 2021.

3. Lipton B. Estimation of central venous pressure by ultrasound of the internal jugular vein. Am J Emerg Med 2000;18(4):432–4.

4. Istrail, L. POCUS and the jugular venous pressure: A deep dive. POCUS Med Ed, November 12. 2021. POCUS and the Jugular Venous Pressure: A Deep Dive (pocusmeded.com)

5. Xing C-Y, Liu Y-L, Zhao M-L, et al. New method for nonivasive quantification of central venous pressure by ultrasound. Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging 2015;8/ https://doi.org/10.116/CIRCIMAGING.114.003085. New Method for Noninvasive Quantification of Central Venous Pressure by Ultrasound (ahajournals.org)

6. Sir Thomas Lewis – the Father of clinical cardiac electrophysiology | SciHi Blog [Internet]. [cited 2023 Feb 2]; Available from: http://scihi.org/thomas-lewis-cardiac-electrophysiology/

7. Lewis T. Remarks on early signs of cardiac failure of the congestive type. Br Med J 1930;1(3618):849–52.

Disclosures: The listed questions and answers are solely the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of Mercy Hospital-St. Louis, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Catalyst, Harvard University, their affiliate academic healthcare centers, or its contributors. Although every effort has been made to provide accurate information, the author is far from being perfect. The reader is urged to verify the content of the material with other sources as deemed appropriate and exercise clinical judgment in the interpretation and application of the information provided herein. No responsibility for an adverse outcome or guarantees for a favorable clinical result is assumed by the author. Thank you!

Can I estimate the central venous pressure (CVP) of my patient with dyspnea at the bedside by using point of care ultrasound (POCUS)?

Is lung ultrasound useful in evaluating patients with dyspnea?

FA Manian MD, MPH, , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Yes! Increasingly, lung ultrasound (particularly point-of-care ultrasound-POCUS) is performed at bedside to help explain the cause of dyspnea.  Here are some tips.

First, obtain images by placing the transducer in the intercostal space (usually 3 regions/hemithorax) with the orientation marker pointing cephalad. 1,2  Now look at the pleural line, the horizontal hyperechoic structure between 2 ribs  (Figure 1). To and fro movement of the pleural line reflects apposition of the visceral and parietal pleura and is a normal finding (“lung sliding”).  Then look for additional horizontal hyperechoic lines visualized deep to the pleural line (“A-lines”) which are reverberation artifacts, reflecting air below the pleura (Clip/Figure 1).2 

You should also look for vertical laser like hyperechoic artifacts that arise from the pleural line and extend to the bottom of the display which may represent  “comet tails” or “B-lines” (Clip/Figure 2).1,3,4 These are reverberation artifacts created by the acoustic impedance difference between widened, fluid filled septa and air-filled alveoli.3,5  Three or more B-lines within a single intercostal space is considered pathological.4

One of the practical uses of lung ultrasound is in the evaluation of dyspnea in a patient with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).6 The presence of lung sliding and bilateral A-lines in the absence of B-lines can help rule out pneumothorax, pneumonia and pulmonary edema and steer you toward other diagnoses (eg, COPD exacerbation) as cause of dyspnea.

You can even take it a step further. Focal unilateral B-lines suggest possible pneumonia while diffuse bilateral B-lines (interstitial syndrome) would be more consistent with pulmonary edema.

As usual, the patient’s history, physical examination and available laboratory data must be taken into consideration when interpreting lung ultrasound findings.2,4

Contributed by Woo Moon, D.O., Department of Medicine, Mercy-St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri

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Figure 1 

 

 

Clip 1

 

 

Figure 2

 

Clip 2

 

References

  1. Lichtenstein DA. Lung ultrasound in the critically ill. Ann Intensive Care 2014;4(1): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24401163/ 
  2. Soni MD MS NJ, Arntfield MD FRCPC R, Kory MD MPA P. Point of Care Ultrasound. 2nd ed. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2019.
  3. Lichtenstein DA, Mezière GA. Relevance of lung ultrasound in the diagnosis of acute respiratory failure: the BLUE protocol. Chest 2008;134(1):117–25. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18403664/ 
  4. Volpicelli G, Elbarbary M, Blaivas M, et al. International evidence-based recommendations for point-of-care lung ultrasound. Intensive Care Med 2012;38(4):577–91. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22392031/ 
  5. Lichtenstein D, Mézière G, Biderman P, Gepner A, Barré O. The comet-tail artifact. An ultrasound sign of alveolar-interstitial syndrome. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 1997;156(5):1640–6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9372688/
  6. Qaseem A, Etxeandia-Ikobaltzeta I, Mustafa RA, et al. Appropriate Use of Point-of-Care Ultrasonography in Patients With Acute Dyspnea in Emergency Department or Inpatient Settings: A Clinical Guideline From the American College of Physicians. Ann Intern Med 2021;174(7):985–93. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/m20-7844 

Disclosures: The listed questions and answers are solely the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of Mercy Hospital-St. Louis, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Catalyst, Harvard University, their affiliate academic healthcare centers, or its contributors. Although every effort has been made to provide accurate information, the author is far from being perfect. The reader is urged to verify the content of the material with other sources as deemed appropriate and exercise clinical judgment in the interpretation and application of the information provided herein. No responsibility for an adverse outcome or guarantees for a favorable clinical result is assumed by the author. Thank you!

Is lung ultrasound useful in evaluating patients with dyspnea?

How might categorizing severity of illness help in the management of my patient with Covid-19?

FA Manian MD, MPH, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Although the criteria for Covid-19 severity of illness categories may overlap at times or vary across guidelines and clinical trials, I have found those published in the National Institute of Health (USA) Covid-19 Treatment Guidelines most useful and uptodate.1  Keep in mind that the primary basis for severity categories in Covid-19 is the degree by which it alters pulmonary anatomy and physiology and respiratory function (see my table below).

The first question to ask when dealing with Covid-19 patients is whether they have any signs or symptoms that can be attributed to the disease (eg, fever, cough, sore throat, malaise, headache, muscle pain, lack of sense of smell). In the absence of any attributable symptoms, your patient falls into “Asymptomatic” or “Presymptomatic” category.  These patients should be monitored for any new signs or symptoms of Covid-19 and should not require additional laboratory testing or treatment.

If symptoms of Covid-19 are present (see above), the next question to ask is whether the patient has any shortness of breath or abnormal chest imaging. If neither is present, the illness can be classified as “Mild” with no specific laboratory tests or treatment indicated in otherwise healthy patients. These patients may be safely managed in ambulatory settings or at home through telemedicine or remote visits. Those with risk factors for severe disease (eg, older age, obesity, cancer, immunocompromised state), 2 however, should be closely monitored as rapid clinical deterioration may occur.

Once lower respiratory tract disease based on clinical assessment or imaging develops, the illness is no longer considered mild. This is a good time to check a spot 02 on room air and if it’s 94% or greater at sea level, the illness qualifies for “Moderate” severity. In addition to close monitoring for signs of progression, treatment for possible bacterial pneumonia or sepsis should be considered when suspected. Corticosteroids are not recommended here and there are insufficient data to recommend either for or against the use of remdesivir in patients with mild/moderate Covid-19.

Once spot 02 on room air drops below 94%, Covid-19 illness is considered “Severe”; other parameters include respiratory rate >30, Pa02/Fi02 < 300 mmHg or lung infiltrates >50%. Here, patients require further evaluation, including pulmonary imaging, ECG, CBC with differential and a metabolic profile, including liver and renal function tests. C-reactive protein (CRP), D-dimer and ferritin are also often obtained for their prognostic value. These patients need close monitoring, preferably in a facility with airborne infection isolation rooms.  In addition to treatment of bacterial pneumonia or sepsis when suspected, consideration should also be given to treatment with corticosteroids. Remdesivir is recommended for patients who require supplemental oxygen but whether it’s effective in those with more severe hypoxemia (eg, those who require oxygen through a high-flow device, noninvasive or invasive mechanical ventilation or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation-ECMO) is unclear. Prone ventilation may be helpful here in patients with refractory hypoxemia as long as it is not used to avoid intubation in those who otherwise require mechanical ventilation.

“Critical” illness category is the severest forms of Covid-19 and includes acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), septic shock, cardiac dysfunction and cytokine storm. In addition to treatment for possible bacterial pneumonia or sepsis when suspected, corticosteroids and supportive treatment for hemodynamic instability and ARDS, including prone ventilation, are often required. The effectiveness of remdesivir in patients with severe hypoxemia (see above) is unclear at this time.

 

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 References

  1. NIH COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines. https://www.covid19treatmentguidelines.nih.gov/. Accessed Aug 27, 2020.
  2. CDC. Covid-19.  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html/. Accessed Aug 27, 2020.  

Disclosures: The listed questions and answers are solely the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Catalyst, Harvard University, its affiliate academic healthcare centers, or its contributors. Although every effort has been made to provide accurate information, the author is far from being perfect. The reader is urged to verify the content of the material with other sources as deemed appropriate and exercise clinical judgment in the interpretation and application of the information provided herein. No responsibility for an adverse outcome or guarantees for a favorable clinical result is assumed by the author. Thank you!

 

How might categorizing severity of illness help in the management of my patient with Covid-19?

How does Covid-19 affect pregnancy?

FA Manian MD, MPH, , , , , , , Leave a comment

We still have a long ways to go before fully understanding the potential effects of Covid-19 on pregnant women and their infants but based on data to date the disease severity seems similar to that of non-pregnant people and vertical transmission seems rare.

 
In one of the larger studies involving 158 obstetric patients with Covid-19 from New York City, ~80% had mild or asymptomatic disease with the rest manifesting moderate or severe disease (1). Cough and fever were common symptoms in both groups. Women with moderate/severe disease were more likely to have comorbidities (eg, asthma) and were also more likely to have dyspnea and chest pain/pressure. Other symptoms included muscle aches, sore throat, congestion, headache, diarrhea, nausea and loss of taste or smell. Two women had pre-term delivery because of clinical status deterioration; there were no reported deaths. The generally favorable course of Covid-19 among pregnant women has been supported by other studies (2,3,4).

 
To date, vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the agent of Covid-19 appears rare (2,3,5,6). In one review, only 1 of 75 newborns tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection were positive; this infant did well clinically but had transient lymphocytopenia and abnormal liver function tests (2). A systematic review found no evidence of intrauterine transmission of SARS-CoV-2 (6).

 
Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 during the first trimester may be unlikely because of expression of ACE2 (a receptor for the virus) in the trophoblasts is very low between 6-14 weeks (7). In a small study examining placenta and fetal membranes in Covid-19 women, 3/11 samples were positive for SARS-CoV-2 but none of the infants tested positive on day 1-5 of life or demonstrated symptoms of Covid-19 (8).

 
Although another source of perinatal infection is exposure to mother’s secretions during vaginal delivery, so far presence of SARS-CoV-2 in vaginal secretions has not been reported (8). Also encouraging is a study of 18 infants born of women testing positive for SARS-CoV-2, all of whom had normal APGAR scores, with the majority (>80%) testing negative (3).

 
So overall, the major threat of Covid-19 to the fetus appears to be the severity of illness in the mother. Pregnant women should be familiar with the early symptoms of Covid-19 and seek medical care as soon as possible.

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References
1. Andrikopoulou M, Madden N, Wen T, et al. Symptoms and critical illness among obstetric patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. OB GYN 2020 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32459701/
2. Zaigham M, Andersson O. Maternal and perinatal outcomes with COVID-19: a systematic review of 108 pregnancies. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2020;00:1-7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32259279/
3. Breslin N, Baptiste C, Gyamfi-Bannerman C, et al. Coronavirus disease 2019 infection among asymptomatic and symptomatic pregnant women: two weeks of confirmed presentations to an affiliated pair of New York City hospitals. Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM 2020;100118. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589933320300483
4. Chen L, Li Q, Zheng D, et al. Clinical characteristics of pregnant women with Covid-19 in Wuhan, China. N Engl J Med 2020, April 17. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMc2009226?af=R&rss=currentIssue
5. Di Mascio D, Khalil A, Saccone G, et al. Outcome of coronavirus spectrum infections (SARS, MERS, COVID-19) during pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J OB GYN 2020. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002937820305585
6. Yang Z, Liu Y. Vertical transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2: A systematic review. Am J Perinatol 2020;10.1055/s-0040-1712161. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32403141/
7. Amouroux A, Attie-Bitach, Martinovic J, et al. Evidence for and against vertical transmission for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). Am J OB GYN 2020. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000293782030524X
8. Penfield CA, Brubaker SG, Lighter J. Detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in placental and fetal membrane samples. Am J OB GYN MFM 2020. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32391518/

Disclosures: The listed questions and answers are solely the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Catalyst, Harvard University, its affiliate academic healthcare centers, or its contributors. Although every effort has been made to provide accurate information, the author is far from being perfect. The reader is urged to verify the content of the material with other sources as deemed appropriate and exercise clinical judgment in the interpretation and application of the information provided herein. No responsibility for an adverse outcome or guarantees for a favorable clinical result is assumed by the author. Thank you!

How does Covid-19 affect pregnancy?

Key clinical pearls on the management of patients suspected of or diagnosed with Covid-19 in the outpatient setting

FA Manian MD, MPH, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Here are some key points to remember when managing patients with Covid-19 symptoms in the outpatient setting.  These points are primarily based on the CDC guidelines and the current literature. They may be particularly useful to primary care providers (PCP) who do not have ready access to Covid-19 test kits or radiographic imaging in the diagnosis of patients suspected of or diagnosed with Covid-19.

  • Isolation precautions. 1,6-7 Minimize chances of exposure by placing a facemask on the patient and placing them in an examination room with the door closed. Use standard and transmission-based precautions including contact and airborne protocols when caring for the patient. Put on an isolation gown and N95 filtering facepiece respirator or higher. Use a facemask if a respirator is not available. Put on face shield or goggles if available. Adhere to strict hand hygiene practices with the use of alcohol-based hand rub with greater than 60% ethanol or 70% isopropanol before and after all patient contact. If there is no access to alcohol-based hand sanitizers, the CDC recommends hand washing with soap and water as the next best practice.

 

  • Risk Factors.2-3 Older patients and patients with severe underlying medical conditions seem to be at higher risk for developing more serious complications from Covid-19 illness. Known risk factors for severe Covid-19 include age over 60 years, hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory disease, and immunosuppression.

 

  • Symptoms.2,4,8,9 Reported illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death. These symptoms may appear after a 2- to 14-day incubation period.
    • Fever at any time 88-99%
    • Cough 59-79%
    • Dyspnea 19-55%
    • Fatigue 23-70%
    • Myalgias 15%-44%
    • Sputum production 23-34%
    • Nausea or vomiting 4%-10%
    • Diarrhea 3%-10%
    • Headache 6%-14%
    • Sore throat 14%
    • Rhinorrhea/nasal congestion (4.8%)
    • Anosmia (undocumented percentage)

 

  • Treatment for mild illness.5 Most patients have mild illness and are able to recover at home. Counsel patients suspected to have Covid-19 to begin a home quarantine staying in one room away from other people as much as possible. Patients should drink lots of fluids to stay hydrated and rest. Over the counter medicines may help with symptoms. There is controversy regarding the safety of NSAIDs in Covid-19 (See related P4P pearl). Generally, symptoms last a few days and  patients get better after a week. There is no official guidance from the CDC or other reliable sources on how often a PCP should check in with a patient confirmed with Covid-19 and in quarantine. Please use good judgement and utilize telehealth capabilities via phone call, video call, etc… if possible.

 

  • Treatment for severe illness.3 Patients should be transferred immediately to the nearest hospital. If there is no transfer service available, a family member with appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) precautions, should drive patient to nearest hospital for critical care services.

 

  • Ending home isolation. 5
    • Without testing: Patients can stop isolation without access to a test result after 3 things have happened. 1) No fever for at least 72 hours. This is 3 full days of no fever and without the use of medication that reduces fever; 2) Respiratory symptoms have improved.; and 3) At least 7 days have passed since symptoms first appeared.
    • With testing. 5 Home isolation may be ended after all of the following 3 criteria have been met: 1) No fever for at least 72 hours. This is 3 full days of no fever and without the use of medication that reduces fever; 2) Respiratory symptoms have improved; and 3) Negative results from at least 2 consecutive nasopharyngeal swab specimens collected more than 24 hours apart.

To all the healthcare providers out there, please be safe and stay healthy!

 

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Contributed by Erica Barnett, Harvard Medical Student, Boston, MA.

 

References:

  1. CDC. Evaluating and Testing Persons for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/hcp/clinical-criteria.html
  2. CDC. Symptoms and Testing. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/index.html
  3. World Health Organization. Operational Considerations for case management for COVID-19 in health facility and community. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/331492/WHO-2019-nCoV-HCF_operations-2020.1-eng.pdf
  4. Partners in Health. Resource Guide 1: Testing, Tracing, community management. https://www.pih.org/sites/default/files/2020-03/PIH_Guide_COVID_Part_I_Testing_Tracing_Community_Managment_3_28.pdf
  5. CDC. Caring for someone at home. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/care-for-someone.html
  6. CDC. Using PPE. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/using-ppe.html
  7. CDC. Hand Washing. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/hand-hygiene.html
  8. Harvard Health Publishing. COVID-19 Basics. https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-basics
  9. Guan W, Ni Z, Hu Y, et al. Clinical characteristics of Coronavirus disease 2019 in China. N Engl J Med 2020, March 6. DOI:10.1056/NEJM022002032 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32109013

 

Disclosures: The listed questions and answers are solely the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Catalyst, Harvard University, its affiliate academic healthcare centers, or its contributors. Although every effort has been made to provide accurate information, the author is far from being perfect. The reader is urged to verify the content of the material with other sources as deemed appropriate and exercise clinical judgment in the interpretation and application of the information provided herein. No responsibility for an adverse outcome or guarantees for a favorable clinical result is assumed by the author. Thank you!

Key clinical pearls on the management of patients suspected of or diagnosed with Covid-19 in the outpatient setting

How long are the symptoms of hospitalized patients with Covid-19 expected to last?

FA Manian MD, MPH, , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Although most patients with Covid-19 may have mild or no symptoms, those who are ill enough to be hospitalized often have fever, cough, or shortness of breath that lasts for 2 weeks or longer. 

Fever: A Chinese study 1 involving 137 successfully discharged hospitalized patients reported that fever (37.3° C or 99.1° F or higher) lasted a median of 12 days (range 8-13 days). It’s important to point out that nearly one-quarter of these patients were also placed on corticosteroids during their hospitalization which might have resulted in the resolution of fever sooner and therefore altered the “natural course” of Covid-19.  In a smaller study from Singapore2 involving generally less ill hospitalized patients, fever didn’t usually last as long (median 4 days, range 0-15 days). 

Cough/shortness of breath: Cough may last nearly 3 weeks (median 19 days) while shortness of breath can go on for about 2 weeks (median 13 days).1

All symptoms: Even among those who are less ill and do not require supplemental oxygen, it may take nearly 2 weeks (median 12 days, range 5-24 days) for all the Covid-19-related symptoms (defined as fever, cough, and shortness of breath, sore throat, diarrhea, and rhinorrhea) to resolve.2 

It goes without saying that recovery from Covid-19 among hospitalized patients may be slow. In a Seattle study3 involving hospitalized patients who were admitted to the ICU, the median duration on the ventilator was 10 days (IQR 7-12 days), and the median length of hospital stay was 17 days (IQR 16-23 days).

Hopefully, as we find effective anti-Covid-19 drugs, the duration of these symptoms and length of hospitalization can be significantly reduced. Stay tuned!

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References

  1. Zhou F, Yu T, Du R, et al. Clinical course and risk factors for mortality of adult inpatients with COCID-19 in Wuhan, China: a retrospective cohort study. Lancet 2020;395:1054-62. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)30566-3/fulltext
  2. Young BE, Ong SWX, Kalimuddin S, et al. Epidemiologic features and clinical course of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Singapore. JAMA 2020; March 3, 2020 (corrected March 20). https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2762688
  3. Bhatraju PK, Ghassemieh BJ, Nichols M, et al. Covid-19 in critically ill patients in the seattle region—Case series. N Engl J Med 2020; March 30. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2004500

 

Disclosures: The listed questions and answers are solely the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Catalyst, Harvard University, its affiliate academic healthcare centers, or its contributors. Although every effort has been made to provide accurate information, the author is far from being perfect. The reader is urged to verify the content of the material with other sources as deemed appropriate and exercise clinical judgment in the interpretation and application of the information provided herein. No responsibility for an adverse outcome or guarantees for a favorable clinical result is assumed by the author. Thank you!

How long are the symptoms of hospitalized patients with Covid-19 expected to last?

My patient with angina symptoms also complains of neck pain with left arm numbness. Could they be related?

FA Manian MD, MPH, , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

Short answer, yes! Anterior chest pain associated with cervical intervertebral disk disease, ossified posterior longitudinal ligament or other spinal disorders is sometimes referred to as “cervical angina” (CA) or “pseudoangina” and is an often overlooked source of non-cardiac chest pain. 1-5

Although its exact prevalence is unknown, 1.4% to 16% of patients undergoing cervical disk surgery may have symptoms of CA. 1 Conversely, 1 study reported 5% of patients with angina pectoris having cervical nerve root pathology.5 Many patients describe their chest pain as “pressure” or crushing in quality mimicking typical cardiac ischemia chest pain, often resulting in extensive cardiac workup.  To add to the confusion, some patients even respond to nitroglycerin! One-half of patients also experience autonomic symptoms such as dyspnea, vertigo, nausea, diaphoresis, pallor, fatigue, and diploplia.1

Certain clues in the patient’s presentation should help us seriously consider the possibility of CA: 1-3

  • History of cervical radiculopathy eg, subjective upper extremity weakness or sensory changes, occipital headache or neck pain
  • Pain induced by cervical range of motion or movement of upper extremity
  • History of cervical injury or recent manual labor (eg, lifting, pulling or pushing)
  • Pain lasting greater than 30 min or less than 5 seconds and not relieved by rest
  • Positive Spurling maneuver ie, reproduction of symptoms by rotating the cervical spine toward the symptomatic side while providing a downward compression through the patient’s head

CA is often attributed to cervical nerve root compression, likely mediated by compression of C4-C8 nerve roots which also supply the sensory and motor innervation of the anterior chest wall.

Bonus Pearl: Did you know that experimental stimulation of spinothalamic tract cells in the upper thoracic and lower cervical segments have been shown to reproduce angina pain? 6

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 References

 

  1. Susman WI, Makovitch SA, Merchant SHI, et al. Cervical angina: an overlooked source of noncardiac chest pain. The Neurohospitalist 2015;5:22-27. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25553225
  2. Jacobs B. Cervical angina. NY State J Med 1990;90:8-11. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2296405
  3. Sheps DS, Creed F, Clouse RE. Chest pain in patients with cardiac and noncardiac disease. Psychosomatic Medicine 66:861-67. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15564350
  4. Wells P. Cervical angina. Am Fam Physician 1997;55:2262-4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9149653
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Disclosures: The listed questions and answers are solely the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Catalyst, Harvard University, its affiliate academic healthcare centers, or its contributors. Although every effort has been made to provide accurate information, the author is far from being perfect. The reader is urged to verify the content of the material with other sources as deemed appropriate and exercise clinical judgment in the interpretation and application of the information provided herein. No responsibility for an adverse outcome or guarantees for a favorable clinical result is assumed by the author. Thank you!

 

My patient with angina symptoms also complains of neck pain with left arm numbness. Could they be related?

Should I use a hemoglobin level of 7 or 8 g/dL as a threshold for blood transfusion in my hospitalized patient?

FA Manian MD, MPH, , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

Unlike its previous 2012 guidelines that recommended overlapping hemoglobin level triggers of 7 g/dL to 8 g/dL for most inpatients, the 2016 guidelines from AABB (formerly known as the American Association of Blood Banks) assigns 2 distinct tiers of hemoglobin transfusion triggers: 7 g/DL for hemodynamically stable adults, including those in intensive care units, and 8 g/dL for patients undergoing cardiac or orthopedic surgery or with preexisting cardiovascular disease1 , often defined as history of coronary artery disease, angina, myocardial infarction, stroke, congestive heart failure, or peripheral vascular disease2,3.  

These recommendations are based on an analysis of over 30 randomized trials, taking into account the potential risks of withholding transfusions, including 30-day mortality, and myocardial infarction. The new 2-tier recommendation specifically excludes those with acute coronary syndrome, severe thrombocytopenia (patients treated for hematological or oncological reasons who are at risk of bleeding), and chronic transfusion-dependent anemia.

The guidelines also emphasize that good clinical practice dictates considering not only the hemoglobin level but the overall clinical context when considering blood transfusion in patients. These factors include alternative therapies to transfusion, rate of decline in hemoglobin level, intravascular volume status, dyspnea, exercise tolerance, light-headedness, chest pain considered of cardiac origin, hypotension, tachycardia unresponsive to fluid challenge, and patient preferences.

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References

  1. Carson JL, Guyatt G, Heddle NW. Clinical practice guidelines from the AABB red blood cell transfusion thresholds and storage. JAMA. Doi:10.1001/jama.2016.9185. Published online October 12, 2016. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27732721
  2. Carson JL, Duff A, Poses RM, et al. Effect of anemia and cardiovascular disease on surgical mortality and morbidity. Lancet 1996;348:1055-60. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8874456
  3. Carson JL, Siever F, Cook DR, et al. Liberal versus restrictive blood transfusion strategy: 3-year survial and cause of death results from the FOCUS randomized controlled trial. Lancet 2015;385:1183-1189. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25499165
Should I use a hemoglobin level of 7 or 8 g/dL as a threshold for blood transfusion in my hospitalized patient?