How to Evaluate the Pulmonary Valve and Right Ventricular Outflow Tract in Prone Position during Invasive Mechanical Ventilation

Review Data

Q: Is the topic relevant to the journal area of interest? Is it contemporary and interesting for

researchers?

A: Good

Abstract & Keywords

Q: Are all required components included in the abstract? Are the keywords appropriately chosen?

A: Good

Goal

Q: Is the goal explicitly stated in the Introduction? Is its formulation clear and unambiguous?

Comments: Not applicable.

Structure

Q: Is the paper's structure coherent? Is it in coherence with the goal of the paper?

A: Good

Comments: The heading “Discussion” has been added in the appropriate section of the text part of the manuscript.

Tools and Methods

Q: Are methods the author uses adequate and well used?

A: Good

Discussion & Conclusion

Q: Is it related to the results presented before? Do you consider them as coherent?

A: Good

Comments: The Discussion section, with the help of relevant literature, aptly describes the novel use of transthoracic echocardiograms (TTE) using subcostal view in the prone position (PP), providing the possibility of evaluating the function of the pulmonary valve and estimating pulmonary pressure. It further states that TTE has emerged as an alternative for monitoring patients in the PP during invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), with adequate images achieved.

Literature

Q: Does the author utilize relevant literature?

A: Good

Author's knowledge

Q: What is the level of the author’s knowledge? Does the author utilize all recent contributions relevant to the topic?

A: Good

Length

Q: Is the length of the paper adequate to the significance of the topic? Do you suggest shortening the paper without losing its value?

A: Good

Figures & Tables

Q: Does the author use them suitably? Are legend and notations clear?

A: Very good

Writing style

Q: Is it clear and understandable?

A: Good

Comments:

·       The word “outflow” is misspelled in the text section of the manuscript.

·       In the 3^rd sentence of the 3^rd paragraph of the Description, “brief” should be replaced with “briefly” before “described”.

·       Articles are missing in several places throughout the text section of the manuscript.

Further comments on the paper

Comments: This case report highlights the advantage of transthoracic echocardiograms (TTE) in evaluating pulmonary valve and right ventricular outflow tract in the prone position (PP) during invasive mechanical ventilation in the COVID-19 pandemic. It also focuses on the significance of performing TTE in the PP in order to estimate the pulmonary pressure by a different approach and to obtain the relation between both pulmonary and systemic flow by calculating Qp/Qs. The medical record and the condition of the patient in whom TTE is performed have not been elaborated in this study.

Q: Would you recommend this manuscript for further publication?

A: Yes - Suitable to be published

If you have any questions and clarifications you can write to the journal.

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Science Repository Team