João Alberto Pinheiro Pereira Almeida

Severe novel influenza A (H1N1) infection in cancer patients

Background: The natural history and consequences of severe H1N1 influenza infection among cancer patients are not yet fully characterized. We describe eight cases of H1N1 infection in cancer patients admitted to the intensive care unit of a referral cancer center. Patients and methods: Clinical data from all patients admitted with acute respiratory failure due to novel viral H1N1 infection were reviewed. Lung tissue was submitted for viral and bacteriological analyses by real-time RT-PCR, and autopsy was conducted on all patients who died. Results: Eight patients were admitted, with ages ranging from 55 to 65 years old. There were five patients with solid organ tumors (62.5%) and three with hematological malignancies (37.5%). Five patients required mechanical ventilation and all died. Four patients had bacterial bronchopneumonia. All deaths occurred due to multiple organ failure. A milder form of lung disease was present in the three cases who survived. Lung tissue analysis was performed in all patients and showed diffuse alveolar damage in most patients. Other lung findings were necrotizing bronchiolitis or extensive hemorrhage. Conclusions: H1N1 viral infection in patients with cancer can cause severe illness, resulting in acute respiratory distress syndrome and death. More data are needed to identify predictors of unfavorable evolution in these patients.

Red blood cell transfusion is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular complications in adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery: a propensity score-matched analysis

Red blood cell (RBC) transfusion is associated with a higher occurrence of clinical complications after cardiac surgery. However, the cause-effect relationship is confounded by other risk factors for worse outcomes as advanced age, valve or combined procedure, high EuroSCORE, redo surgery, longer bypass time and previous anemia. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of RBC transfusion in a propensity score-matched case-control analysis.