COVID-19

Platypnoea-orthodeoxia syndrome in COVID-19 patient leads to discovery of a transient cardiac condition

21 maart 2023

Abstract Platypnoea-orthodeoxia syndrome (POS) is a descriptive diagnosis of dyspnoea and arterial desaturation when changing from supine to upright position. It has many possible underlying conditions. We report a case of POS due to a right-to-left shunt which became apparent during a hospital admission with COVID-19 pneumonitis. Surprisingly, this shunt…

Forecast with eyes wide open – a perspective on the upcoming winter

22 september 2022

Since the onset of the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, many patients have become infected. In addition, many have been admitted to intensive care due to the severity of the disease, exacerbated comorbidities or new diseases occurring concomitantly with COVID-19. Whether the upcoming winter will be challenging is currently…

The role of the Dutch National Intensive Care Evaluation registry during the COVID-19 pandemic

01 september 2022

Abstract In this paper we describe how the data infrastructure of an existing national quality registry was adapted to meet public health, research and capacity needs for information on COVID-19 hospitalisations in the Netherlands. Introduction From the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a need for knowledge about the…

Frequent CRRT circuit failure in COVID-19: observations of a novel anticoagulation approach

01 mei 2022

Abstract Background: Continuous renal replacement therapy in the treatment of patients with active COVID-19 is frequently complicated by thrombosis in the extracorporeal circuit resulting in reduced filter lifespan, necessitating a revisited anticoagulation strategy. Methods: The standard regional citrate anticoagulation dose of 2.2 mmol/l was increased to a starting dose of…

How medical students in a COVID-19 command centre improve communication and decrease physician workload

04 januari 2022

Abstract Last year the global community was confronted with COVID-19, a rapidly spreading pandemic disease. Hospitals had to cope with an increasing number of infectious patients, at times overwhelming their capacity. To prevent further transmission of the coronavirus, several protective measures had to be taken, such as the setup of…

Yet another COVID-19 special

04 januari 2022

Almost a year ago, the Netherlands Journal of Critical Care published a special  COVID-19 edition. In the editorial of that issue I wrote ‘Hopefully, the measures imposed on society and the beneficial effect of the vaccination campaign will soon slow down the pandemic so that we all, including the  NJCC,…

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) in the paediatric intensive care unit

01 januari 2022

Abstract Currently the world is facing a pandemic caused by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Although most children and adolescents are asymptomatic or only have mild symptoms during the acute stage of infection, a severe post-infectious syndrome may occur several weeks after a SARS-CoV-2 infection, known…

The other side of coagulation complications in COVID-19: a case report of two major bleeding events

01 januari 2022

Abstract Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still an ongoing pandemic and has already resulted in millions of deaths worldwide. Since it is frequently associated with thrombotic complications, most hospitalised patients receive some form of anticoagulant therapy. Lately, bleeding events in patients with COVID-19 have also been increasingly reported. It is…

Impaired pulmonary function, muscle strength and quality of life in critically ill COVID-19 survivors

01 januari 2022

Dear editor, The immediate damaging impact of the new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the respiratory system is substantial; furthermore the long-term consequences remain unclear. Limited studies describe the functional outcome of critically ill COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU),[1-3] as…

Screening for venous thromboembolism in COVID-19 patients on the intensive care unit

01 januari 2022

Abstract Thromboembolic complications are frequently encountered in patients with severe COVID-19 disease in the intensive care unit (ICU). We assessed the prevalence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in critically ill COVID-19 patients treated with dexamethasone and intensified thrombosis prophylaxis. To detect VTE, venous duplex ultrasonography was performed on day one and…