General Medical Floors Research Articles

7213 Severe IGF-2 Mediated Hypoglycemia In A Patient With Adrenocortical Carcinoma: A Case Report

Abstract Disclosure: M. Camelo Pereira: None. P. Itersky: None. S. Sternlieb: None. N. Manuel: None. J. Dendy: None. Background: Hypoglycemia has been rarely described as a complication of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC). Tumor cells produce insulin-like growth factor II, causing a paraneoplastic syndrome with severe refractory hypoglycemia. We report the unusual case of a patient with known ACC presented with seizures and severe IGF-2 mediated hypoglycemia. Clinical case: A 21-year-old man presented to a regional hospital due to new onset seizures in September 2023. He had been diagnosed with ACC in July 2022, when he presented to the hospital with frank Cushing’s syndrome. CT scan of his chest and abdomen at that time revealed a large left suprarenal mass and multiple lung and liver masses; a biopsy from the liver lesion confirmed the diagnosis of ACC and he was started on treatment with mitotane, levoketoconazole and hydrocortisone. Oncology attempted treatment with 3 cycles of cisplatin and etoposide, with no significant response; subsequently, treatment with Keytruda initially decreased tumor size, but ultimately his CT scan showed progression of disease and mitotane was stopped in August 2023. When brought to the hospital in September 2023 due to seizures and altered mental status, the patient’s blood glucose (BG) was 25 mg/dL (70-110 mg/dL) on point of care testing, so he was started on IV 10% dextrose with improvement in BG and mental status. He underwent endotracheal intubation and was taken to the intensive care unit, showed improvement and was eventually transferred to the general medical floor, where the dextrose infusion was discontinued. However, the following day, he had another hypoglycemic episode complicated with a seizure and had to be reintubated, returning to intensive care. The patient was subsequently transferred to a large tertiary hospital. Evaluation showed undetectable point-of-care BG (< 5 mg/dL) as well as hypokalemia. Fasting labs showed undetectable BHB, undetectable insulin, C-peptide of 0.32 ng/mL (0.78 - 5.19 ng/mL), and negative insulin antibodies. IGF-2/IGF-1 ratio was elevated at 15.6, suggesting IGF-2 mediated hypoglycemia. He was started on IV glucose 20% and glucagon infusions. Mitotane was restarted aiming to decrease tumor burden and consequently IGF-2 levels. Given his hypokalemia, his levoketoconazole dose had to be increased; he was also treated with stress dose steroids. His BG levels improved, and he had partial neurologic recovery, however ultimately curative treatment was not possible given the extent of his disease, so he was transitioned to comfort-focused care. Conclusion: This case illustrates the importance of appropriate workup of IGF-2 mediated hypoglycemia, allowing for the best possible therapeutic approach. In our case, reducing tumor burden was not feasible since the patient had widely metastatic disease, leading to a poor outcome. Presentation: 6/3/2024

Proactive Psychiatry: Innovating the Delivery of Consultation-Liaison Services in a Pediatric Hospital

BackgroundThe benefits of a proactive consultation-liaison (C-L) psychiatry service have been well-documented in the adult population, including decreased length of stay, increased satisfaction among physicians, and enhanced collaborative care. However, there is no available research on the effectiveness of this model in pediatric hospitals. ObjectiveThis study compared patients ages 5-18 years on a general medical floor receiving a proactive psychiatry consult to concurrent controls receiving no consult and to historical controls receiving traditional reactive consults. MethodNew admissions to two pediatric general medical hospital teams were reviewed on weekday mornings to identify those with active psychiatric concerns. Adjusted negative binomial regression was used to compare the primary outcome of hospital length of stay between the proactive (n=65), concurrent control (n=63), and reactive historical control (n=45) groups. Patient satisfaction, hospitalist satisfaction, and recommendation concordance (degree to which psychiatry recommendations were implemented by the primary team) were also compared between groups as secondary outcome measures. ResultsAfter adjusting for age, sex, race, insurance type, reason for consult, and medical diagnosis, concurrent control patients had 14% (p = 0.295) longer mean length of stay than proactive consults and historical controls had twice (p < 0.001) the mean length of stay of those with proactive consults. Response rate for patient satisfaction scores was low, but responses were modestly more favorable among patients who received proactive C-L services. Based on nine paired pediatric hospitalist pre- and post- surveys, follow-up surveys were statistically significantly more favorable after a proactive psychiatry consult service was introduced. Concordance of recommendations was observed to be higher for proactive consults than concurrent controls for diagnoses and non-medication (other) recommendations. ConclusionThe positive impact of a proactive C-L psychiatry consultation model was observed in a pediatric hospital and was associated with a lower length of stay than concurrent controls and historical reactive consults, higher hospitalist satisfaction among paired responses, and greater concordance of diagnosis and other non-medication recommendations.

Patterns of vancomycin use in high-risk febrile neutropenia.

e23224 Background: Febrile neutropenia (FN) is a common complication in patients with hematologic malignancy. ASCO guidelines on the management of FN endorse empiric anti-Pseudomonas coverage while reserving the use of agents targeting gram-positive organisms and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) for select criteria-defined patients such as those with severe mucositis, hemodynamic instability, radiographic pneumonia, or history of MRSA colonization among others. We sought to examine our institutional management of FN, hypothesizing that local use of empiric vancomycin for high-risk FN will deviate from ASCO guidelines reflected in institutional policy. Methods: Case data from 1/1/2016 – 6/1/2023 was collected retrospectively, comprising patients admitted to the general medical floor with known leukemia, lymphoma, or multiple myeloma meeting ASCO criteria for FN. Patients admitted to intensive care at time of FN or for less than 48-hours were excluded. For each patient, use of vancomycin at time of FN diagnosis (t0) and 48-hours later (t48) was evaluated for congruence with society guidelines. Results: 91 patients were reviewed with a median age of 68 years old (IQR 59-74, 15). Median length of stay (LOS) was 20 days (IQR 7-29, 22) with FN occurring on day seven of hospitalization on average. Most patients receiving vancomycin were admitted to the hematology specialty unit at time of diagnosis (63%). Acute leukemia was the most common malignancy represented (62.8%), while high grade lymphoma comprised 23.1%. 98.9% of patients were on active chemotherapy at time of FN. 81 patients (89%) received vancomycin as empiric treatment for FN with 76 (93.8%) receiving vancomycin at t0. Of this latter cohort, 29.7% of patients received vancomycin at t0 without indication. At t48, vancomycin was discontinued in 28.4% of patients, 44.4% received vancomycin with true indication, and 27.2% were continued on vancomycin without indication. The median duration of therapy for patients receiving vancomycin incongruently at t48 was 4 days. Of those meeting criteria for vancomycin use at t48, severe mucositis and soft tissue infection were each cited in 22.2% of cases, followed by pneumonia, persistent fever, and hemodynamic instability. Notably, the presence of any grade mucositis was significantly associated with the continued use of empiric vancomycin at t48 (p = .025). Admission to hematology specialty unit did not significantly affect adherence to FN management guidelines. Conclusions: These data suggest that the use of vancomycin for FN at our institution deviates from society guidelines including on specialized hematology wards. This study was underpowered to assess adverse outcomes seen with vancomycin use such as renal injury, prolonged LOS and greater cost of care. Given the high complexity of this patient population, detailed provider education is indicated to promote safe, evidence-based care and broader antimicrobial stewardship.

Obesity and Penetrating Trauma: Outcomes from a Level 1 Trauma Center in New York City.

Obesity is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in trauma scenarios; however, there has been conflicting evidence on outcomes of obesity and penetrating injuries, specifically gunshot wounds and stab wounds. We hypothesized that obesity may be protective due to a "cushioning effect" attributed to increased adiposity. This was a retrospective cohort study of patients presenting to a Level 1 Trauma Center with a penetrating trauma (gunshot/stab) injury during 2008-2021. Patients with a BMI ≥ 30 were compared to those with a BMI < 30. The primary outcome was Injury Severity Score (ISS). Secondary outcomes included intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay, days on ventilation, length of hospital stay, service of admission (trauma surgery, general surgery, discharged home, general medical floor), the body region of injury(s), Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS), OR requirement, type of surgery, and discharge status. Statistical analysis was performed using χ2-test or Fisher's exact tests for categorical data, and Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney U-test for continuous variables with p < 0.05 as statistically significant. Subgroup analysis was performed based on the mechanism of injury. There were 721 patients that met inclusion criteria, of which 540 were classified in the non-obese group and 181 (25.1%) in the obese group. The primary outcome, mean ISS score, in obese patients (9.0, SD = 13.0) and non-obese patients (9.4, SD = 13.8) was similar between groups respectively. Secondary outcomes, which included rates of severe abdominal injury (AIS ≥ 3), rates of intra-abdominal organ injury, and rates of gastro-intestinal resection, were also similar between non-obese and obese patients. This study did not demonstrate the existence of a "cushioning effect" in the setting of penetrating traumatic injury. Patients with increased BMI had similar a ISS score and patterns of injury as their non-obese counterparts.

FRI209 Psychiatric Illness Masking Autoimmune Polyglandular Syndrome In A Middle-aged Woman

Abstract Disclosure: L. Esper: None. A. Ibrahim: None. S. Sen: None. Introduction: Autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 2 (APS-2) or Schmidt's syndrome, is a rare disorder characterized by the coexistence of autoimmune adrenal and thyroid disease and/or type 1 diabetes mellitus. Clinical case: A 51-year-old woman with past medical history of depression and bipolar disorder presented to the hospital with weakness and dizziness. The patient reported increased dizziness and weakness over several months that progressed and limited her level of daily activities. She had been experiencing decreased energy, poor appetite and occasional nausea but denied vomiting or abdominal pain. She also denied any changes in her weight. She suffered from constipation but that was her baseline for many years. She was diagnosed with bipolar disorder with depression in her 20s and required multiple admissions for severe depression. She had been following up with her psychiatrist and assumed to have worsening depression. Her mood stabilizers and antidepressant medications were adjusted over several months without improvement. In the Emergency Department, her blood pressure was 98/58. Her heart rate was 57. Labs revealed Na: 115, K: 5.3 and Cr:0.87. The patient was admitted to the general medical floor for treatment of symptomatic hyponatremia. Hyponatremia was initially thought to be due to depression and decreased oral intake. She was started on fluid with slight improvement in sodium levels without significant improvement in symptoms. Further work up for the etiology of her hyponatremia and weakness elicited 2 endocrinopathies. She had a morning cortisol of 4. Cosyntropin stimulation test did not elicit a proper response. At baseline, cortisol was 4.2 and then 4.5 and 4.3 at 30 and 60 minutes, respectively. She was also found to have hypothyroidism (TSH 10, FT4: 0.4). Patient was started on hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone initially and subsequently thyroid hormone replacement was added with resolution of symptoms and hyponatremia. She reported being postmenopausal since age 41. Given that the patient had at least two endocrinopathies, 21 hydroxylase antibody testing was ordered and found to be positive. Addison's disease diagnosis is often delayed. A cross-sectional study in 2013 showed that less than 50% of patients with adrenal insufficiency were correctly diagnosed within the first half year after symptoms appeared. It however took more than 5 years until the condition was diagnosed for 20% patients. (1) The delay was primarily attributed to concomitant presence of psychiatric and gastroenterological conditions. Conclusion: Poly endocrinopathies often present with vague symptoms that need to be worked up to prevent the life-threatening effects of APS2 including adrenal crisis. We present an uncommon case of middle-aged woman with Tri-glandular syndrome with delayed diagnosis due to underlying psychiatric disease. (1) Meyer et al. Horm Metab 2013; 45:92-95 Presentation: Friday, June 16, 2023

Predictive model of acute kidney injury after spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage: A multicenter retrospective study.

Acute kidney injury is a common comorbidity in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage. Although there are predictive models to determine risk of AKI in patients in critical care or post-surgical scenarios or in general medical floors, there are no models that specifically determine the risk of AKI in patients with ICH. Clinical features and laboratory tests were selected by previous studies and LASSO (least absolute shrinkage and selection operator) regression. We used multivariable logistic regression with a bidirectional stepwise method to construct ICH-AKIM (intracerebral hemorrhage-associated acute kidney injury model). The accuracy of ICH-AKIM was measured by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. The outcome was AKI development during hospitalization, defined as KDIGO (Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes) Guidelines. From four independent medical centers, a total of 9649 patients with ICH were available. Overall, five clinical features (sex, systolic blood pressure, diabetes, Glasgow coma scale, mannitol infusion) and four laboratory tests at admission (serum creatinine, albumin, uric acid, neutrophils-to-lymphocyte ratio) were predictive factors and were included in the ICH-AKIM construction. The AUC of ICH-AKIM in the derivation, internal validation, and three external validation cohorts were 0.815, 0.816, 0.776, 0.780, and 0.821, respectively. Compared to the univariate forecast and pre-existing AKI models, ICH-AKIM led to significant improvements in discrimination and reclassification for predicting the incidence of AKI in all cohorts. An online interface of ICH-AKIM is freely available for use. ICH-AKIM exhibited good discriminative capabilities for the prediction of AKI after ICH and outperforms existing predictive models.

The Association of Hearing Loss with Hospitalization.

Individuals with hearing loss (HL) are at higher risk for hospitalizations, and may be for readmissions, compared with their hearing peers. The objective of this prospective study was to confirm retrospective studies suggesting that HL increases hospital readmissions, and, if confirmed, possible causes for it. A prospective cohort study of English-speaking patients >55 years old admitted to general medical and surgical floors at 2 large hospital systems in southeastern Michigan over a 2-year period was conducted. All patients underwent bedside audiometric testing. HL presence and severity were categorized using World Health Organization pure tone assessment parameters. Readmission rates, Charlson comorbidity index, socio-demographic and medical variables were obtained from Epic EMR databases. There were 1247 hospitalized patients enrolled. Of these, 76.8% had documented HL of which 50.5% (630) was mild HL and 26.3% (328) moderate or worse HL. Patients with any HL were older and more likely to be non-Hispanic, white, male, and had less education, lower health literacy, more comorbidities, and more difficulty communicating with their doctor. Readmission rates at 30 and 90-days were similar between HL and hearing groups, after adjusting for HL severity, Charlston index, and numerous potential confounders. Patients with HL do not seem to have higher rates of hospital readmissions. We did find high frequency of HL in hospitalized patients along with significant communication difficulties that patients had with their clinicians. These findings have implications for measures to improve patient-physician communication, potentially improving long-term health outcomes.

Effect of acuity level and patient characteristics on bowel preparation quality: a retrospective cohort study of inpatient colonoscopies

Background and aimsColonoscopy is the primary method to detect mucosal abnormalities in the colon, rectum, and terminal ileum. Inadequate bowel preparation is a common problem and can impede successful visualization during colonoscopy. Although studies identified hospitalization as a predictor of inadequate bowel preparation, acuity of care vary greatly within this patient population. The current study aims to examine the effect of patient characteristics and care level predictors on inadequate bowel preparation quality within the inpatient setting.MethodsThis retrospective study was conducted in a single urban level 1 trauma medical center and included adult patients undergoing diagnostic colonoscopy while admitted in the hospital from January 1, 2015 to June 30, 2020. We examined the level of inpatient care between the General Medical Floor (GMF), Intensive Care Units (ICU) and Telemetry Unit (TU) and assessed this association with bowel preparation quality, adjusting for known and unknown predictors.ResultsOf 538 patients undergoing colonoscopy, 47.4% were admitted into TU, 43.7% into GMF and 8.9% into ICU. For the entire sample, 72.7% of patients achieved good or excellent preparation and quality of bowel preparation differed by care level (P = 0.01). Patients from the critical care units were less likely to achieve adequate bowel preparation when compared to GMF (Odds Ratio [OR] 0.36; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 0.17,0.77), after adjusting for patient characteristics, medications, physical status, and preparation regimen. No significant difference in Bowel Preparation Quality (BPQ) was identified between patients from GMF and TU (OR 0.96; 95%CI 0.61, 1.52). Furthermore, adequate BPQ was associated with withdrawal time and cecal intubation, but not higher adenoma detection rates.ConclusionsResults suggest the ICU setting is an independent predictor for inadequate bowel preparation and patients with prior opioid and laxative use may be more likely to have inadequate bowel preparation in the hospital. Future interventions should prioritize preprocedural clinician meetings for critical care unit patients, including a more detailed readiness assessment and thorough medication history.

Medical and economic burden of delirium on hospitalization outcomes of acute respiratory failure: A retrospective national cohort

Although delirium in patients with acute respiratory failure (ARF) may evolve in any hospital setting, previous studies on the impact of delirium on ARF were restricted to those in the intensive care unit (ICU). The data about the impact of delirium on ARF hospitalizations outside of the ICU is limited. Therefore, we conducted the first national study to examine the effect-magnitude of delirium on ARF in all hospital settings, that is, in the ICU as well as on the general medical floor. We searched the 2016 and 2017 National Inpatient Sample databases for ARF hospitalizations and created "Delirium" and "No delirium" groups. The outcomes of interest were mortality, endotracheal intubation, length of stay (LOS), and hospitalization costs. We also aimed to explore any potential demographic, racial, or healthcare disparities that may be associated with the diagnosis of delirium among ARF patients. Multivariable logistic regression was used to control for demographics and comorbidities. Delirium was present in 12.7% of the sample. Racial disparities among African Americans were also significant. Delirious patients had more comorbidities, higher mortality, and intubation rates (17.5% and 9.2% vs 10.6% and 6.1% in the "No delirium" group [P < .001], respectively). Delirious patients had a longer LOS and higher hospitalization costs (5.9 days and $15,395 USD vs 3.7 days and $9393 USD in "No delirium" [P < .001], respectively). Delirium was associated with worse mortality (adjusted odds ratio 1.49, confidence interval [CI] = 1.41, 1.57), higher intubation rates (adjusted odds ratio 1.46, CI = 1.36, 1.56), prolonged LOS (adjusted mean ratio 1.40, CI = 1.37, 1.42), and increased hospitalization costs (adjusted mean ratio 1.49, CI = 1.46, 1.52). A racial disparity in the diagnosis of delirium among African Americans hospitalized with ARF was noted in our sample. Patients in small, non-teaching hospitals were diagnosed with delirium less frequently compared to large, urban, teaching centers. Delirium predicts worse mortality and morbidity for ARF patients, regardless of bed placement and severity of the respiratory failure.

Abstract 14471: Cardiac Sarcoidosis Presenting With Hiccups - A Case Report

Introduction: Sarcoidosis is a multi-system disorder of unknown etiology that is commonly associated with hilar lymphadenopathy and granulomas. Cardiac involvement is less common, however, sarcoidosis is a known cause of restrictive cardiomyopathy. It typically presents as new-onset arrhythmias or heart failure, although cases of sudden cardiac death have been reported. Case presentation: We present a case of a 56-year-old male with a known history of pulmonary sarcoidosis, not on any active treatment, who presented to the emergency department with one week of continuous hiccups every few seconds associated with non-exertional dyspnea. Initial CT scan of the chest showed multiple stellate-like ground-glass opacities and progression of bronchiectasis. Troponins were negative. On the initial EKG, he was found to be in atrial flutter and was admitted to the general medical floor. He was given baclofen and the hiccups resolved over the next 24 hours. Cardiology was consulted for suspected cardiac sarcoidosis and they recommended transferring the patient to the tertiary care center for further evaluation. Upon arrival, the patient underwent catheter ablation for atrial flutter and he returned to the sinus rhythm after the procedure. The initial nuclear scan with gallium was not suggestive of cardiac sarcoidosis, however, subsequent cardiac MRI showed cardiac involvement. Due to the high risk of arrhythmias, the patient was scheduled for implantable cardioverter defibrillator placement before discharge. Treatment with steroids was deferred until after the PET scan could be completed. The patient was discharged in stable condition and interrogation of the device found it to be well functioning and with no significant arrhythmias noted. Conclusions: Presentation of cardiac sarcoidosis can be variable and should be considered in any patient with a known history of sarcoidosis who presents with atypical symptoms at or above the level of the diaphragm, such as hiccups or with new-onset arrhythmias.

Effect of Increased Interprofessional Familiarity on Team Performance, Communication, and Psychological Safety on Inpatient Medical Teams

In large academic centers, medical residents work on multiple clinical floors with transient interactions with nursing colleagues. Although teamwork is critical in delivering high-quality medical care, little research has evaluated the effect of interprofessional familiarity on inpatient team performance. To determine the effectiveness of increased familiarity between medical residents and nurses on team performance, psychological safety, and communication. A 12-month randomized clinical trial in an inpatient general medical service at a large academic medical center was completed from June 25, 2019, to June 24, 2020. Participants included 33 postgraduate year (PGY)-1 residents in an internal medicine residency program and 91 general medicine nurses. Fifteen PGY-1 residents were randomized to complete all 16 weeks of their general medicine inpatient time on 1 medical nursing floor (intervention group with 43 nurses). Eighteen PGY-1 residents completed 16 weeks on 4 different general medical floors as per usual care (control group with 48 nurses). The primary outcome was an assessment of team performance in physician-nurse simulation scenarios completed at 6 and 12 months. Interprofessional communication was assessed via a time-motion study of both work rounds and individual resident clinical work. Psychological safety and teamwork culture were assessed via surveys of both residents and nurses at multiple time points. Of the intervention and control PGY-1 residents, 8 of 15 (54%) and 8 of 18 (44%) were women, respectively. Of the nurses in the intervention and control groups with information available, 37 of 40 (93%) and 34 of 38 (90%) were women, respectively, and more than 70% had less than 10 years of clinical experience. There was no difference in overall team performance during the first simulation. At the 12-month simulation, the intervention teams received a higher mean overall score in leadership and management (mean [SD], 2.47 [0.53] vs 2.17 [0.39]; P = .045, Cohen d = 0.65) and on individually rated items were more likely to work as 1 unit (100% vs 62%; P = .003), negotiate with the patient (61% vs 10%; P = .001), support other team members (61% vs 24%; P = .02), and communicate as a team (56% vs 19%; P = .02). The intervention teams were more successful in achieving the correct simulation case outcome of negotiating a specific insulin dose with the patient (67% vs 14%; P = .001). Time-motion analysis noted intervention teams were more likely to have a nurse present on work rounds (47% vs 28%; P = .03). At 6 months, nurses in the intervention group were more likely to report their relationship with PGY-1 residents to be excellent to outstanding (74% vs 40%; P = .003), feel that the input of all clinical practitioners was valued (95% vs 53%; P < .001), and say that feedback between practitioners was delivered in a way to promote positive interactions (90% vs 60%; P = .003). These differences diminished at the 12-month survey. In this randomized clinical trial, increased familiarity between nurses and residents promoted more rapid improvement of nursing perception of team relationships and, over time, led to higher team performance on complex cognitive tasks in medical simulations. Medical centers should consider team familiarity as a potential metric to improve physician-nursing teamwork and patient care. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05213117.

CATHETER-DIRECTED THROMBECTOMY OF A SADDLE PULMONARY EMBOLUS

CATHETER-DIRECTED THROMBECTOMY OF A SADDLE PULMONARY EMBOLUS

New-onset hallucinations with amiodarone: a case report

BackgroundAmiodarone is a commonly used antiarrhythmic for the treatment of atrial fibrillation with a unique pharmacokinetic profile. While general side effects can be frequently associated with amiodarone, psychiatric adverse reactions to this medication are uncommon. The relationship between amiodarone and hallucinations independent of delirium has been rarely reported in the literature.Case presentationWe report the case of a 63-year-old female with a history of estrogen and progesterone receptor positive invasive ductal carcinoma with osseous metastases to the ribs and skull, major depressive disorder, and unspecified anxiety. She was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma 12 years prior and underwent a lumpectomy with axillary lymph node dissection and radiation, currently maintained on anastrozole and trastuzumab for the past 11 years. Her symptoms of major depressive disorder and anxiety have remained in remission on a regimen of bupropion extended release, duloxetine, and trazodone without recent dose changes. This patient presented to the emergency department with dyspnea and was admitted to the general medical floor with new-onset atrial fibrillation. She was subsequently started on amiodarone for rhythm control. Shortly after its initiation, the patient developed new onset auditory and visual hallucinations with an unremarkable extensive medical evaluation. Auditory hallucinations consisted of music and unintelligible conversations, while visual hallucinations were of a family member crying on the floor and a man carrying a gun. The differential diagnoses included depression with psychotic features, delirium, and amiodarone-induced hallucinations. Given the lack of current depressive symptoms, absence of altered cognition, and the temporal relationship between the initiation of amiodarone and the onset of hallucinations, amiodarone was suspected to be probable etiology of her hallucinations. For this reason, amiodarone was replaced with dronedarone. Visual and auditory hallucinations ceased within less than 3 days after the discontinuation of amiodarone.ConclusionsPsychiatric adverse events from amiodarone are uncommon, and associated isolated hallucinations have only been rarely reported in the literature. While the risk of visual and auditory hallucinations appears to be low with amiodarone initiation, clinicians should be aware of this potential side effect.

Small Towns, Big Cities: Rural and Urban Disparities Among Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19 in the Central Savannah River Area.

BackgroundThere is a lack of data surrounding the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among rural and urban communities. This study aims to determine whether there are differences in epidemiologic characteristics and clinical outcomes among individuals with COVID-19 among these communities.MethodsThis was a retrospective analysis of 155 patients admitted to a single-center tertiary academic hospital located in Augusta, Georgia, with a large proportion of hospitalized patients transferred from or residing in rural and urban counties. Hospitalized adult patients were included in the study if they were admitted to AUMC between March 13, 2020, and June 25, 2020, and had a positive polymerase chain reaction test for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 regardless of the presence or absence of symptomatology. Demographics, admission data, and 30-day outcomes were examined overall and by geographical variation.ResultsUrban patients were more likely to be admitted to the general medical floor (P = .01), while rural patients were more likely to require an escalation in the level of care within 24 hours of admission (P = .02). In contrast, of the patients who were discharged or expired at day 30, there were no statistically significant differences in either total hospital length of stay or intensive care unit length of stay between the populations.ConclusionsThere may be many social determinants of health that limit a rural patient’s ability to seek prompt medical care and contribute to decompensation within the first 24 hours of admission. This study provides insight into the differences in clinical course among patients admitted from different community settings and when accounting for comorbid conditions.

Display and perception of risk: Analysis of decision support system display and its impact on perceived clinical risk of sepsis-induced health deterioration.

Despite acknowledging the value of clinical decision support systems (CDSS) in identifying risk for sepsis-induced health deterioration in-hospitalized patients, the relationship between display features, decision maker characteristics, and recognition of risk by the clinical decision maker remains an understudied, yet promising, area. The objective of this study is to explore the relationship between CDSS display design and perceived clinical risk of in-hospital mortality associated with sepsis. The study utilized data collected through in-person experimental sessions with 91 physicians from the general medical and surgical floors who were recruited across 12 teaching hospitals within the United States. Results of descriptive and statistical analyses provided evidence supporting the impact of display configuration and clinical case severity on perceived risk associated with in-hospital mortality. Specifically, findings showed that a high level of information (represented by the Predisposition, Infection, Response and Organ dysfunction (PIRO) score) and Figure display (as opposed to Text or baseline) increased awareness to recognizing the risk for in-hospital mortality of hospitalized sepsis patients. A CDSS display that synthesizes the optimal features associated with information level and design elements has the potential to enhance the quantification and communication of clinical risk in complex health conditions beyond sepsis.

Association Between Rapid Response Algorithms and Clinical Outcomes of Hospitalized Children.

To evaluate whether the implementation of clinical pathways, known as pediatric rapid response algorithms, within an existing rapid response system was associated with an improvement in clinical outcomes of hospitalized children. We retrospectively identified patients admitted to the PICU as unplanned transfers from the general medical and surgical floors at a single, freestanding children's hospital between July 1, 2017, and January 31, 2020. We examined the impact of the algorithms on the rate of critical deterioration events. We used multivariable Poisson regression and an interrupted time series analysis to measure 2 possible types of change: an immediate implementation effect and an outcome trajectory over time. We identified 892 patients (median age: 4 [interquartile range: 1-12] years): 615 in the preimplementation group, and 277 in the postimplementation group. Algorithm implementation was not associated with an immediate change in the rate of critical deterioration events but was associated with a downward rate trajectory over time and a postimplementation trajectory that was significantly less than the preimplementation trajectory (trajectory difference of -0.28 events per 1000 non-ICU patient days per month; 95% confidence interval -0.40 to -0.16; P < .001). Algorithm implementation was associated with a decrease in the rate of critical deterioration events. Because of the study's observational nature, this association may have been driven by unmeasured confounding factors and the chosen implementation point. Nevertheless, the results are a promising start for future research into how clinical pathways within a rapid response system can improve care of hospitalized patients.

Covid-19 with neuropathic pain symptom: A case-report

A woman in her sixties with a normal medical history was admitted to a general medical floor with Neuropathic pain symptoms such as a burning sensation throughout her body (head, back, spine, throat, and tongue with dry mouth, chest, abdomen, kidneys, thighs, toes), inability to eat, urinary incontinence, difficulty wearing clothing, and difficulty leaning on the back. There was a difficulty and delay in diagnosing the patient's condition, which was confirmed to have severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) with no respiratory symptoms. The patient's pain did not respond to the covid-19's first-line medications, but it did respond to neuropathic medication with Pregabalin and Alprazolam. Our study shows that Pregabalin could be helpful in relieving the patient’s pain and very effective for treating neuropathic pain with a safe profile, unlike Alprazolam, which interferes with the same stages of sleep, which made her sleep condition worse.

Covid-19 with neuropathic pain symptom: A case-report

A woman in her sixties with a normal medical history was admitted to a general medical floor with Neuropathic pain symptoms such as a burning sensation throughout her body (head, back, spine, throat, and tongue with dry mouth, chest, abdomen, kidneys, thighs, toes), inability to eat, urinary incontinence, difficulty wearing clothing, and difficulty leaning on the back. There was a difficulty and delay in diagnosing the patient's condition, which was confirmed to have severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) with no respiratory symptoms. The patient's pain did not respond to the covid-19's first-line medications, but it did respond to neuropathic medication with Pregabalin and Alprazolam. Our study shows that Pregabalin could be helpful in relieving the patient’s pain and very effective for treating neuropathic pain with a safe profile, unlike Alprazolam, which interferes with the same stages of sleep, which made her sleep condition worse.

A 15-Year Review of Iatrogenic Burn Injuries in an Academic Public Hospital.

Hospital-acquired burn injuries can result in increased length of hospitalization, costs of stay, and potential for additional procedures. The aim of this study is to describe iatrogenic burn injuries over a 15-year period at an academic public hospital system. Data was collected from January 2004 to June 2019. Data included time of injury, hospital location, mechanism, level of harm caused, and anatomic location of the injury. Demographic information included patient age, gender, body mass index, payer status, primary admission diagnosis and length of stay. 122 patients were identified through an internal hospital database that tracked reported injuries. Incidence was highest between 2005-2012 (12.3 ± 4.1 per year) as compared to 2013-2019 (2.9 ± 2.1 per year). A majority (77%) resulted in harm caused to the patient. Most (41%) of the injuries occurred on the general medical floors, followed by the operating room (33.6%). The most common etiology was scald (23%), followed by electrocautery (14.8%). Five of the injuries resulted in burn consults, although none of these patients required surgery. Iatrogenic burns appear to be decreasing. While a majority were reported to have caused patient harm, none were serious enough to warrant surgery. Most injuries occurred on the medical floors with a scald mechanism. This review presents an opportunity to emphasize in-hospital burn prevention, as well as an opportunity for the burn team to affect change in concert with hospital administration.

Prevalence and predictors of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among solid organ transplant recipients with confirmed infection.

It remains uncertain whether immunocompromised patients including solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients will have a robust antibody response to SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. We enrolled all adult SOT recipients at our center with confirmed SARS‐CoV‐2 infection who underwent antibody testing with a single commercially available anti‐nucleocapsid antibody test at least 7 days after diagnosis in a retrospective cohort. Seventy SOT recipients were studied (56% kidney, 19% lung, 14% liver ± kidney, and 11% heart ± kidney recipients). Thirty‐six (51%) had positive anti‐nucleocapsid antibody testing, and 34 (49%) were negative. Recipients of a kidney allograft were less likely to have positive antibody testing compared to those who did not receive a kidney (p = .04). In the final multivariable model, the years from transplant to diagnosis (OR 1.26, p = .002) and baseline immunosuppression with more than two agents (OR 0.26, p = .03) were significantly associated with the antibody test result, controlling for kidney transplantation. In conclusion, among SOT recipients with confirmed infection, only 51% of patients had detectable anti‐nucleocapsid antibodies, and transplant‐related variables including the level and nature of immunosuppression were important predictors. These findings raise the concern that SOT recipients with COVID‐19 may be less likely to form SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies.