Browsing by Author "Aguilera, Javiera"
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Publication Cardiac function in critically ill patients with severe COVID: A prospective cross-sectional study in mechanically ventilated patients(2022) Valenzuela, Emilio Daniel; Mercado, Pablo; Pairumani, Ronald; Medel, Juan Nicolás; Petruska, Edward; Ugalde, Diego; Morales, Felipe; Eisen, Daniela; Araya, Carla; Montoya, Jorge; González, Alejandra; Rovegno, Maximiliano; Ramirez, Javier; Aguilera, Javiera; Hernández, Glenn; Bruhn, Alejandro; Slama, Michel; Bakker, JanPurpose: To evaluate cardiac function in mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19. Materials and methods: Prospective, cross-sectional multicenter study in four university-affiliated hospitals in Chile. All consecutive patients with COVID-19 ARDS requiring mechanical ventilation admitted between April and July 2020 were included. We performed systematic transthoracic echocardiography assessing right and left ventricular function within 24 h of intubation. Results: 140 patients aged 57 ± 11, 29% female were included. Cardiac output was 5.1 L/min [IQR 4.5-6.2] and 86% of the patients required norepinephrine. ICU mortality was 29% (40 patients). Fifty-four patients (39%) exhibited right ventricle dilation out of whom 20 patients (14%) exhibited acute cor pulmonale (ACP). Eight out of the twenty patients with ACP exhibited pulmonary embolism (40%). Thirteen patients (9%) exhibited left ventricular systolic dysfunction (ejection fraction <45%). In the multivariate analysis acute cor pulmonale and PaO2/FiO2 ratio were independent predictors of ICU mortality. Conclusions: Right ventricular dilation is highly prevalent in mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19 ARDS. Acute cor pulmonale was associated with reduced pulmonary function and, in only 40% of patients, with co-existing pulmonary embolism. Acute cor pulmonale is an independent risk factor for ICU mortality.Publication Combined Approach with Ultrasound and Pressure-Volume Loops to Manage Mechanical Ventilation in Acute Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure(2026) Aguilera, Javiera; Adrião, Diana; Mercado, Pablo; Slama, Michel; De Vita, Nello; Vaschetto, Rosanna; Pozzi, Marco; Bouhemad, Belaïd; Mongodi, Silvia; Mojoli, FrancescoAcute hypoxemic respiratory failure (AHRF), particularly acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), is characterized by marked heterogeneity in lung morphology and mechanics, requiring individualized mechanical ventilation strategies that balance adequate gas exchange with the prevention of ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). Lung ultrasound (LUS) has become a cornerstone of critical care imaging, allowing differential diagnosis, quantitative assessment of lung aeration, phenotyping of ARDS morphology, and monitoring of disease evolution and complications. However, imaging alone does not provide direct guidance for optimizing ventilator settings. Some modern ventilators enable the rapid bedside acquisition of tidal pressure-volume (PV) loops, allowing tidal hysteresis to be measured and thereby providing complementary physiological information by identifying cyclic opening and closing of lung units and signs of overdistension. Emerging evidence supports the use of tidal hysteresis thresholds to identify insufficient positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) associated with tidal recruitment/derecruitment and to guide individualized PEEP titration during decremental PEEP trials. This review discusses the rationale and practical implementation of an integrated approach combining critical care ultrasound and PV loops throughout the management of mechanically ventilated patients with AHRF. We describe how ultrasound can support diagnosis, phenotyping, monitoring of lung aeration, and detection of ventilation-related complications, while PV loops provide a practical physiological framework for optimizing ventilator settings. This approach may provide a comprehensive, non-invasive, and repeatable bedside assessment of lung morphology, aeration, and respiratory mechanics, potentially facilitating personalized mechanical ventilation strategies aimed at reducing the risk of VILI and optimizing patient management.