ObjectiveTo investigate CT image features of ground glass opacity (GGO)-like 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV, SARS-CoV-2) pneumonia (COVID-19) and early-stage lung carcinoma for control and therapy of this acute severe respiratory disease.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 71 GGO-like COVID-19 patients who received therapy in Tongji Hospital of Huazhong University of Science and Technology between January 17th and February 13th, 2020. These 71 GGO-like COVID-19 patients were as a COVID-19 group. And 80 GGO-like early-stage lung carcinoma patients who underwent resection were as a lung carcinoma group. Clinical features such as sex, age, symptoms including fever, cough, fatigue, myalgia and dyspnea, detailed exposure history, confirmatory test (SARS-CoV-2 quantitative RT-PCR) and pathologic diagnosis were analyzed.ResultsSignificantly different symptoms and exposure history between the two groups were detected (P<0.001). More lesions (61 patients at percentage of 85.92%, P<0.001), relative peripheral locations (69 patients at percentage of 97.18%, P<0.001) and larger opacities (65 patients at percentage of 91.55%, P<0.001) were found in chest radiographs of GGO-like COVID-19 compared with GGO-like early-stage lung carcinoma. Similar features appeared in early-stage of COVID-19 and lung carcinoma, while pneumonia developed into more extensive and basal predominant lung consolidation. Coexistence of GGO-like COVID-19 and early-stage lung carcinoma might occur.ConclusionConsidering these similar and unique features of GGO-like COVID-19 and early-stage lung carcinoma, it is necessary to understand short time re-examination of chest radiographs and other diagnostic methods of these two diseases. We believe that the findings reported here are important for diagnosis and control of COVID-19 in China.
ObjectiveTo summarize the clinical experience in the prevention and treatment of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV, SARS-CoV-2) disease (COVID-19) in the department of thoracic surgery of large grade A tertiary hospitals in Wuhan, and to provide feasible clinical practice strategies.MethodsThe clinical data of 41 COVID-19 patients in the department of thoracic surgery of 7 large grade A tertiary hospitals in Wuhan from December 15, 2019 to February 15, 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 20 surgical patients (10 males and 10 females at an average age of 54.35±10.80 years) and 21 medical personnel (7 males and 14 females at an average age of 30.38±6.23 years).ResultsThe main clinical manifestations of COVID-19 patients were fever (70.73%) and cough (53.66%). Normal or reduced peripheral white blood cells and reduced lymphocyte counts were found in the COVID-19 patients, and some patients may have increased C-reactive protein. COVID-19 patients showed limited ground-glass opacities in early chest CT, which was evident in the edge band of lung. The disease could further develop into multiple pulmonary infiltrations, and pulmonary consolidation was found in severe cases. At the time of confirmed diagnosis, most of the medical personnel were ground-glass shadows and unilateral lesions, and even no obvious abnormalities were found in the lungs. The diagnosed COVID-19 patients were transferred to the isolation ward immediately and treated according to the "Diagnosis and Treatment Program of Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia", which was released by the National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China. At the end of follow-up on February 20, 2020, seven surgical patients (35.00%) were discharged and seven (35.00%) were dead, 13 (61.90%) medical personnel were discharged and no death was found.ConclusionsOf all COVID-19 patients in the department of thoracic surgery of hospitals in Wuhan, the proportion of severe degree and mortality in surgical patients are significantly higher than that of the general population, and medical personnel are prone to nosocomial infections. Early oxygen therapy and respiratory support may improve prognosis. During the epidemic period of COVID-19, elective or limited surgery is suggested to be postponed and the indications for emergency operation should be strictly controlled. Emergency operation is suggested to be treated in accordance with tertiary prevention. On the consideration of specialty in the department of thoracic surgery, all people of the ward should be carefully investigated for infection once one case is confirmed with COVID-19. Early detection, isolation, diagnosis, and treatment are the best preventive measures to improve the prognosis of COVID-19.
The research background, way of thinking, research contents and methods of a united research project - "The Clinical Research on the Treatment of SARS with Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine" were reviewed. The latest research achievements on the treatment of SARS with integrated traditional and western medicine and the difficult points in the research were discussed. Furthermore, some tentative ideas were put forward to further the research. The conclusion was drawn that the principles of evidence-based medicine and the research scheme of multi-centered, prospective and randomized controlled trials, as well as the standard statistical and analyzing methods are the best way to assess the effectiveness and safety of treating SARS with integrated traditional and western medicine.
The Rapid Advice Guidelines (RAGs), prepared in the form of evidence-based guidelines for responding to public health emergencies in a short period, are characterized by their capability to significantly reduce the time for the development of guidelines to the maximum extent while ensuring quality. Therefore, the RAGs are primarily used to guide and respond to public health emergencies. This article will introduce the definition, characteristics, current situation, applicable situation, development methods, advantages and limitations of the RAGs. Our study proposes several suggestions for RAGs developers and researchers to improve development of RAGs in China.
Objective To provide evidence for the establishment and improvement of public health system in China by comparing national public health emergency system of some representative countries.Methods The principle and method of evidence-based science were applied to search and evaluate data from the official websites of China, United States, United Kingdom, Australia and Singapore. The performance of each country’s public health emergency response system in SARS prevention and control, as well as their organization structure and mechanism were compared. The existing problems and corresponding countermeasures were then put forward. Results Public health system showed the best performance was in US, UK and Australia. The responding mechanism of Singapore was highly admired by WHO. The organization structure of China was similar to that of developed countries, but its performance was far lagged behind because of insufficient financial support, poor management and inefficient operational mechanism. Conclusions The public health emergency response system in China needs to be reformed by giving priority to mechanism reinforcement. Different models should be taken into account regarding different regional situations in China.
Objective To summarize primary clinical data from Xiao Tang Shan Hospital (XTSH) Information System, to provide evidence for clinical data of emerging diseases. Method The primary data were extracted from XTSH information system, which related to demographic and background information, case history, prescriptions, laboratory tests, physical examination, vital sign, surgery, diagnostics and expenditures. The software for data verification was developed by Delphi language program. The information of SARS management was developed by Oracle Developer. Results XTSH information system for SARS management collected 1.09 million pieces of information covering 680 SARS cases. The database was functionally divided into inquiry window, conditional case list window and case details spread window, which provided information of SARS management and shaped a platform for further investigation. Quality control of clinical data was done by the software of SARS Information Real Control.Conclusions XTSH information system collected complete data of SARS management, which made healthcare, research and policy-making on SARS accessible, and made it possible to share resources and train the professionals.
Objective To explore and establish a more precise and reasonable classification method which is suitable for clinical treatment and scientific research of SARS patients. Methods ① Establishing a computerized classification method: Analyzing the relationship between variable items on the front page of medical records and severity of disease; Identifying the variable items related to patient’s condition by stepwise identification analysis; Creating a function equation and computerized classification system. ② Comparing and analyzing the difference between computerized and clinical classifications regarding to the general condition of patients, clinical manifestations, laboratorial test results, prognosis, period of hospitalization and medical expenditure, etc. Results ① Clinical classification: general cases 642 (94.41%), critical cases 38 (5.59%); Computerized classification: type A 436 (64.12%), type C 237 (34.85%), type D 7 (1.03%), no type B. ② There were statistical significance among groups between two classifications regarding the items of general condition (age, cure rate, mortality and average length of hospitalization), total protein , Alb, BUN and medical expenditure. ③ Comparative analysis of the two classifications: 99.77% of type A cases (general type) by computerized classification were general cases by clinical classification; 97.36% of critical cases by clinical classification were type Camp;D by computerized classification. Conclusions The results are conformity between two classifications and the differences are analogical among thegroups. The statistical difference is significant between general and critical cases with the number of critical cases by computerized classification 6.42 times more than that by clinical classification; Compared with clinical classification, computerized classification has advantages that there is significant difference between the groups while no difference within the groups. With more critical cases and more objective and logic results, the compauterized classification is suitable for study and application in the fields of health service quality management, health economy management and pharmaceutical economics, etc.
Objectives About 12.9-50% patients of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), require brief mechanical ventilation (MV) to save life. All the reported principles and guidelines for therapy SARS were based on experiences from clinical treatments and facts of inadequacy. Neither prospective randomized controlled trials (RCT) nor other high quality evidences were in dealing with SARS. Our objective is to seek safe and rational non-drugs interventions for patients with severe SARS by retrospectively reviewing clinical studies about MV all over the world, which include clinical guidelines, systematic reviews (SR), Meta-analysis, economic researches and adverse events. Methods To search MEDLINE and Cochrane Library with computer. According to the standards of inclucion or exclusion, the quality of the article which as assessed, and relevant data which were extracted double checked. The Meta-analysis was conducted if the studies had no heterogeneity. Results 14 papers were eligible. Due to the significant heterogeneity between these studies, further Meta-analysis could not be conducted, and the authors’ conclusions were described only. Conclusions The outcome of PPV is better than that of VPV. Patients who underwent PPV had a significantly lower mortality than that of VPV. Of course, the volutrauma should be watched. With low tidal volume and proper PEEP, or decreased FiO2, even permissive hypercapnia, the mortality and length of stay were cut down. Non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIMV) was effective in treating haemodynamical stable patients, minimizing complications and reducing medical staff infection. Patients with serious dyspnea with PaO2/FiO2lt;200, no profit of NIMV, or couldn’t tolerance hypoxaemia were unlikely to benefit from this technique and needed ventilation with endotracheal intubation. Prone position could improve PaO2/FiO2, NO maybe increased pulmonary perfusion, improved V/Q, and raised oxygenation. Furthermore, Inhaled NO sequentially (SQA) was better than Inhaled NO continuouly (CTA). Some studies implied that practice of protocol-directed weaning from mechanical ventilation implemented by nurses excelled that of traditional physician-directed weaning.
This study reports the surgical treatment of a female patient at age of 64 years with novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) latent infection complicated with esophageal foreign body perforation with no significant changes in the lung CT. The patient was confirmed as SARS-CoV-2 infection on the 4th day after surgery and then was transferred into the Department of Infectious Disease in our hospital for treatment. This case has guiding value for the operation of thoracic surgery during the outbreak of novel coronavirus pneumonia.