Background: Interleukin 6 (IL-6) is a cytokine that plays an essential role in lung damage and mortality. Arterial-to-inspired oxygen (PaO2/FiO2) ratio, also known as the Horowitz index, is a measure of hypoxemia in respiratory failure. N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) might be helpful in managing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients by decreasing the cytokine storm, which will lead to a decrease in disease severity. This study aims to analyze the effect of NAC as adjuvant therapy on IL-6 level and PaO2/FiO2 ratio in COVID-19 patients.Methods: This is a quasi-experimental, non-equivalent control group designed study of confirmed COVID-19 patients moderate to critical in Saiful Anwar Hospital Malang. Seventy-five patients received NAC intravenously 5000mg/72 hours as adjuvant therapy for seven days, and 16 subjects in the control group. IL-6 level and PaO2/FiO2 ratio were measured on day one and day 8 in both groups from blood samples. Wilcoxon, Mann-Whitney U Test, and Pearson correlation were conducted for statistical analysis. Results:The decrease in IL-6 level on days 1 to 8 in the NAC group is significantly lower (94.49±253.51) than in the control group (P=0.002). The increase in PaO2/FiO2 ratio from day 1 to day 8 in the NAC group is significantly improving (126.94±76.05), the same as the control group (P<0.001). There is a weak correlation between IL-6 level and PaO2/FiO2 ratio after administration of NAC (r=0.154, P=0.186). Conclusion:There is a significant decrease in IL-6 level after administration of NAC. NAC has no significant effect on hypoxemia in COVID-19 patients.
Background: Pulmonary sequestration is a very rare congenital abnormality of the lung, which was responsible for 0.15-6.4% of all cases of congenital lung formation disorders. Pulmonary sequestration is often seen as recurrent pneumonia, accompanied by complaints of chest pain, shortness of breath and hemoptysis. Conventional angiography is the gold standard for diagnosing pulmonary sequestration and for demonstrating arterial supply and venous drainage. The optimal therapy for pulmonary sequestration is operative resection to avoid infection and damage to the lung parenchyma. Case Report: We reported a case of 43-years old-male with pulmonary sequestration, previously diagnosed with a lung tumor with massive left pleural effusion and pneumonia. A series of diagnostic tests found no malignant cells. During FNAB with CT scan guiding, we found an image of a fungus ball, thus, he was diagnosed with Aspergillosis. The patient was planned to undergo VATS. There were complications during the operation, thus, a lobectomy with an open thoracotomy was performed, and an arterial anomaly was found from the abdominal aorta. The operation was successful and the patient was able to carry on with his normal activities.Conclusion: Establishing a definite diagnosis of pulmonary sequestration is very difficult, and in this case, it was done through lobectomy with thoracotomy and through a multidisciplinary approach.
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