Unstable Vital Signs Research Articles

Association of Chest Anteroposterior Radiography with Computed Tomography in Patients with Blunt Chest Trauma.

In cases of chest trauma, computed tomography (CT) can be used alongside chest anteroposterior (AP) radiography and physical examination during initial evaluation. Performing a CT scan may be difficult if a patient has unstable vital signs. In contrast, radiography may not always reliably diagnose nonmarked pneumothorax or extensive subcutaneous emphysema. This study aimed to determine the agreement between chest radiography and CT findings in patients with blunt chest trauma. The study also aimed to determine the occurrence of occult pneumothorax and clarify the proportion of subcutaneous emphysema and pneumothorax detected through radiography and CT, respectively. We included patients (n = 1284) with chest trauma who were admitted to the emergency room of a tertiary hospital between January 2015 and June 2022. We excluded patients aged <18 years, those with stab injury, those without radiography and CT findings, and patients who required iatrogenic intervention, such as chest tube insertion, before imaging. We recorded age, sex, trauma mechanism, and Abbreviated Injury Scale score for each patient. From radiography and CT scans, we recorded the presence of rib fracture, subcutaneous emphysema, lung contusion, pneumothorax, and pneumomediastinum. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated to assess the reliability of radiography as a predictor of CT-based diagnosis. Radiography exhibited a specificity of nearly 100% for all items. In most cases, findings that could not be confirmed by CT were not evident on radiographs. The incidence of occult pneumothorax was 87.3%. When subcutaneous emphysema was observed on radiography, CT findings indicated pneumothorax in 96.7% of cases. In situations where the patient's vital signs are unstable and performing a CT scan is not feasible, the presence of subcutaneous emphysema on radiography may indicate the need for chest decompression, even if pneumothorax is not observed.

Complications of Therapeutic Plasma Exchange in pediatric patients: An experience at a tertiary care hospital.

To find the incidence of various complications of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) in ICU admitted children and to determine their association with age, gender, blood group and diagnosis of the patients. In this observational study, data of 24 patients who underwent 125 sessions of TPE was collected from the Pediatric Intensive care unit (PICU) and Hematology department of The Children's Hospital, Lahore from December 2020 to November 2021. Age, gender, blood group, indications and complications observed during and after the TPE procedure were documented on a pre-designed proforma. The data was analyzed by using SPSS version 23. Quantitative variables were presented in the form of mean and standard deviation. Qualitative variables like gender, blood groups, indications and complications of plasmapheresis were presented as frequency and percentage. Chi square test was applied for comparison of variables. Among the 24 patients, 45.8% were of age group five to ten years with mean age of 7.58 years± 2.04 years and male to female ratio of 0.84:1. Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and Neuromyelitis Optica spectrum disorder (NMO-SD) were the most prevalent among the patients who underwent TPE. Most common complication was hypotension (44.9%), others were febrile reactions (11.6%), unstable vital signs (14.5%) and allergic reactions (24.6%). Blood group, clinical condition and diagnosis of the patient showed significant association with the incidence of TPE related complications. The majority of problems caused by TPE are considered to be minor. Sudden fall in blood pressure, pruritus, urticarial rash and fever are the common adverse consequences among pediatric patients. Blood group and diagnosis of the patient can determine the development of such complications during plasmapheresis procedure.

Island Hopping Transfer for Major Trauma Treatment and 5G Smart Ambulance

&lt;p&gt;成大醫院急診部在2019年提出「特殊傷病患跳島策略」，縮短運送時間，透過連結院前救護和院後治療的方式，讓患者在短時間內得到初步評估和穩定生命跡象，並且安全轉送至醫學中心接受適切治療。自2020年起，已有55位生命徵象不穩定的重大傷病患透過此轉診模式由偏鄉地區轉診至成大，其中有43位存活離開急診並接受後續療。2022年成大急診部與遠傳電信合作，推出2.0版本的跳島策略，透過5G科技導入智慧救護，包括視訊通訊、遠程監控、智慧救護車和智慧穿戴等，提高到院前的醫療品質和效率。期待已此模式當成一個＂pilot study＂；讓5G通訊技術在未來的緊急醫療中扮演更重要的角色，造福更多的病人。&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In 2019, the National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) Hospital Department of Emergency Medicine proposed an &amp;ldquo;island hopping&amp;rdquo; strategy for patients with special injuries to shorten patient transportation time. Specifically, through the coordination of prehospital care and posthospital treatment, patients can be assessed and stabilized t an early stage within a short time and transferred safely to a medical center for appropriate treatment. Since 2020, 55 critically injured patients with unstable vital signs have been referred to NCKU Hospital from remote areas through this transfer model, with 43 of them discharged from the emergency department alive and receiving follow-up treatment. In 2022, NCKU Hospital Department of Emergency Medicine collaborated with FarEastone Telecom in formulating Version 2.0 of the island hopping strategy, which incorporates smart emergency care through the use of 5G technology to facilitate the implementation of video communication, remote monitoring, smart ambulances, and smart wearable devices. The smart emergency care model improves the quality and efficiency of prehospital care. This model shall constitute a pilot study for incorporating 5G communication technology as a key instrument for emergency medicine to benefit more patients.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;

Mass Hospital Evacuation During COVID-19 Pandemic: Experience of Hospital Cluster Infection in Taiwan

Introduction:A mass hospital evacuation occurred in Taiwan in 2021 due to the clustered COVID-19 infection in Hospitals. To maintain essential services with limited manpower, 74 patients are triaged and evacuated to 12 hospitals in 6 cities in 16 hrs for further treatment.Method:All patients were evaluated by physicians for discharge. The patients who still needed hospitalization were classified into three groups according to the risk of infection1. The high-risk group of patients were cared for by infected staff directly; the moderate-risk group were patients admitted to the same ward but didn’t receive care from infected staff. The low-risk group were patients avoiding infection outbreak. Only the low-risk group patients were transferred, excluding patients with unstable vital signs, hospice, and prison. Command Center of HICS of TGH set up a transfer execution team to handle this task.Results:There were 74 patients transferred, including 56 from internal medicine and 18 from the surgery ward. Most of the transfers are concentrated within 16 hours. These patients were transferred to 12 emergency hospitals in 6 cities. The average transport time was 1.5 hours and the longest was about 3 hours due to the distance and traffic.The 17 private ambulances and 11 Fire Department ambulances were dispatched and transferred 60 patients. In addition, there were 14 patients evacuated by small buses. No mortality or COVID-19 infection had been reported within 3 days after this mass evacuation, only one patient had been intubated after one hour of arrival to hospital due to condition deterioration.Conclusion:A hospital evacuation is a complicated process, especially during a pandemic. All infection control measures create difficulties in the patient transfer process. Well-prepared evacuation plans, regular drills, well-trained personnel, an organized command system, and regional cooperation are the keys to mass evacuation in a disaster.

血胸を伴う出血性ショックを来した左胃動脈瘤破裂の1例(A ruptured aneurysm of left gastric artery that progressed to right hemothorax: a case report)

症例は50歳代女性，心窩部痛と呼吸苦で発症し，近医にて胸水を指摘されて前医を受診した。前医では，単純CT検査で血性胸腹水，食道壁肥厚，膵周囲の脂肪織濃度の上昇を認め，2日間加療したが改善を認めないため精査目的に当院へ紹介された。来院時，四肢末梢に湿潤を認め，脈拍110/分，血圧80/50mmHg（ドパミン9μg/kg/min）であった。造影CT検査で右血性胸水と食道裂孔ヘルニア，胸部中部以下の食道から胃噴門部小弯側にかけての血腫を認めたが，食道や肺野など胸部には出血源を認めなかった。腹腔内には血性腹水とともに，胸部中部食道周囲から胃小彎側に連続する血腫を認め，内部に直径1.5cmの左胃動脈瘤を認めた。左胃動脈瘤破裂による出血が，食道裂孔を介して縦隔へ進展し，胸腔内に穿破して血胸に至ったものと推測した。血胸に対して単回の胸腔穿刺，左胃動脈瘤破裂に対して血管造影による塞栓術を施行した。翌日から経口摂取を開始し，血胸が再燃することもなく経過は良好で，第22病日に自宅退院した。腹部内臓動脈瘤破裂による出血が食道裂孔を介して胸腔内に穿破し，血胸を契機に診断された稀な症例を経験したので報告する。 A 59–year–old woman visited her local hospital with dyspnea and epigastric pain. A chest X–ray showed a right pleural effusion. The patient consulted a second hospital where she was treated for two days, but due to her unstable vital signs, she was transferred to our hospital. A contrast–enhanced CT scan revealed a right hemothorax and esophageal hiatal hernia. While there was no source of bleeding in the thoracic cavity, there was an intra–abdominal hemorrhage from a ruptured aneurysm of the left gastric artery. The suspected cause of the hemothorax was bleeding from a ruptured aneurysm that entered the thoracic cavity through the esophageal hiatus. We performed a transcatheter arterial embolization for the ruptured aneurysm. After treatment, the patient recovered without significant incidents and was discharged on the 22nd day of hospitalization. We speculated that the hemorrhage from the rupture of the gastric aneurysm extended through the esophageal hiatus into the mediastinum and perforated into the thoracic cavity, resulting in a hemothorax. Since such conditions are rare, we will report this case with a review of the literature. 腹部内臓動脈瘤は破裂すれば出血性ショックにより致死的状況に至ることもある重篤な疾患である。本邦の腹部内臓動脈瘤破裂として報告されている症例の多くは腹腔内出血による出血性ショックを呈している 1, 2。しかし，今回我々は左胃動脈瘤破裂による出血が食道裂孔ヘルニアを介して縦隔，胸腔内へ進展し，出血性ショックを来した症例を経験したので，文献的考察を加えて報告する。 本論文は，個人情報保護法に基づいて匿名化がなされており，本人から論文報告に関する同意を得ている。また，本論文は倫理委員会の承諾を要する事項として該当しない。 症 例：50歳代の女性 主 訴：心窩部痛 現病歴：搬送6日前に突然の心窩部痛，呼吸困難感が出現し，食事摂取ができなくなった。搬送2日前に近医を受診したところ，胸水を指摘され前医を紹介された。前医受診時より血圧が低下しており，単純CT検査で血性胸腹水，食道壁肥厚，膵周囲の脂肪織濃度の上昇を認め急性膵炎などが疑われた。2日間の入院加療後も改善に乏しく，循環動態の維持にカテコラミン投与を要する状態となったため，当院救命救急センターへ搬送された。 既往歴：特記事項なし 生活歴：ビール１本/日，喫煙なし 来院時現症：意識清明。軽度の呼吸困難感の訴えを認めるが呼吸促拍はなく，呼吸数22/分，酸素飽和度97%（3L/min），顔面蒼白，四肢末梢に冷感湿潤を認め，脈拍110/分，血圧80/50mmHg（ドパミン 9µg/kg/min）。左背部痛の訴えがあるものの圧痛は認めなかった。 血液検査：RBC 213×104 /μL，Hb 6.7g/dL（前医受診時 Hb 9.8g/dL）と著明な貧血を認めた。血小板数や凝固検査には異常を認めなかった。 画像検査：胸腹部造影CT検査；胸部CTでは右血胸，滑脱型食道裂孔ヘルニアを認め，周囲に縦隔血腫，左少量胸水を認めた。腹部CTでは直径1.5cmの左胃動脈瘤を認め（Fig. 1a），周囲の血腫は胸部中部食道周囲から胃小弯側へ連続していた（Fig. 1b）。左肝動脈は左胃動脈から分岐しており，肝左葉外側区に微小動脈瘤を認めた。食道や肺野には出血源を認めなかった。 An enhanced CT scan of the abdomen revealed a pseudoaneurysm of the left gastric artery. Computed tomography (CT) of the chest showed a right massive hemothorax，a slipped esophageal hiatal hernia, and a mediastinal fluid collection (black arrow). 搬入後経過：乳酸リンゲル液の急速輸液を行うとともに輸血を開始した。搬入後より呼吸困難感が増悪し，仰臥位の維持が困難となったため，右血胸に対し慎重に胸腔穿刺を施行したところ，約830mLの血性排液を認めた。穿刺後，呼吸困難感の改善を認め，輸血投与後よりバイタルサインの安定を得た。左胃動脈瘤からの出血が食道裂孔ヘルニアを介して血胸に進展したものと推測し，動脈瘤に対して緊急interventional radiology（IVR）による止血術を行う方針とした。 腹部血管造影：腹腔動脈からの造影では，直径1.5cmの左胃動脈瘤を認め（Fig. 2a），瘤よりも近位より分岐する左胃動脈分枝，瘤末梢から分岐する左肝動脈を金属コイルでisolationし，瘤内をNBCA（n–butyl–2–cyanoacrylate）により塞栓した（Fig. 2b）。 Celiac artery angiography showed a pseudoaneurysm of the left gastric artery and left hepatic artery. Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) was done successfully. Arterial flow for the aneurysm was shut out. 入院後経過：後日判明したmyeloperoxidase–anti–neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies（MPO–ANCA）や，proteinase–3–anti–neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies （PR3–ANCA）などの血管炎マーカーはいずれも陰性であり，微小動脈瘤形成の所見から，臨床的に節性動脈中膜壊死（segmental arterial mediolysis: SAM）と診断した。濃厚赤血球4単位の輸血投与と緊急IVR後は循環動態の安定が得られた。呼吸器症状も改善し第2病日から経口摂取を開始した。胸水の再貯留は認めず，その後も血胸が再燃することはなかった。IVR後大きな合併症なく経過は良好で，第22病日に独歩で退院した。その後発症から1年までの時点では，新たな動脈瘤の形成もなく経過している。 腹部内臓動脈瘤は比較的稀な疾患であり，その発生頻度は0.01～2%とされている。Stanleyらの腹部内臓動脈瘤1,118例の集計によると，脾動脈が最も多く656例（58.7%），次いで肝動脈が227例（20.2%），上腸間膜動脈瘤89例（7.9%）と続くのに対し，胃動脈瘤は53例（4.7%）であると報告されている 3。 腹部内臓動脈瘤の成因としては，動脈硬化，神経線維種症I型やEhlers–Danlos症候群などの先天性疾患，腹部外傷，ベーチェット病や高安病，多発血管炎などの膠原病，正中弓状靭帯圧迫症候群，慢性膵炎などの炎症性疾患などがあるが，近年画像診断の進歩に伴って，SAMが注目されている 4。SAMは1976年にSlavinらにより提唱された疾患概念 5で，腹部内臓動脈の中膜が分節性に融解し動脈瘤を呈する病態である。稲田らの報告によると，SAMと診断された患者の35.7%に多発動脈瘤を認めており，一般的には異所性，異時性に動脈瘤を形成することが多いとされている 6。 SAMの確定診断は切除標本からの病理学的診断によってなされていたが，近年，画像診断の進歩や開腹手術と比較して低侵襲であるIVRが動脈瘤治療の第一選択となってきており，病理学的確診が得られる機会が少なくなってきた。内山ら 7は腹部内臓動脈瘤の中で，①中高年の患者，②炎症性変化や動脈硬化性病変などの基礎疾患がない患者，③突然の腹腔内出血で発症，④血管造影で血管の数珠状の不正な拡張と狭小化を認める，の4項目をSAMの特徴とし，これに合致するものをSAMと診断する臨床的診断基準を提唱している。本症例においては，中年女性であること，非動脈硬化性，非炎症性であること，血管造影検査で左胃動脈だけでなく左肝動脈外側区領域にも動脈瘤を形成し，特徴的な数珠状変化も認めていたことから臨床的にSAMと診断した。 また，胃動脈瘤の中では左胃動脈瘤破裂が最も多く報告されている。医学中央雑誌による検索では，左胃動脈瘤破裂の本邦報告例は25例であり，いずれも腹腔内出血あるいは消化管出血によるショック症状で搬送されていた。海外においては，腹部内臓動脈瘤破裂に伴い胸水貯留を呈した症例についての報告 8, 9, 10が散見される。一般に，腹部内臓動脈瘤破裂は血性腹水の貯留を認めるが，本症例の場合は血胸を呈していた。横隔膜を隔てた液体成分の移動に関して，腹腔内圧の上昇に伴い，横隔膜小孔を通じて胸腔内へ液体成分が漏出した症例報告がみられる。本症例では，滑脱型食道裂孔ヘルニアが存在し，腹腔内における血腫が食道裂孔を介して腹腔から縦隔へ連続していた。食道裂孔は伸縮性を持つ約3cmの筋性管で，左右の横隔膜脚内側縁により境界される。食道裂孔を形成する筋束は右脚の内側部から送られ，これが食道を包むようにめぐっており，下部食道～胃噴門部は横隔食道膜という靭帯に固定されている。食道裂孔ヘルニアとは，加齢によりこの横隔食道膜が弛緩することにより胃の一部が胸腔側に逸脱した状態である。食道は漿膜を持たず，周囲は疎な結合組織と脂肪組織に覆われているため，食道胃接合部手術における剥離は容易である。また，右胸腔とは薄い食道臓器鞘で接していることから，剥離操作時には右胸腔開放に注意を要する。腹部内臓動脈瘤破裂症例で，合併する食道裂孔ヘルニアを通じて胸腔穿破，胸水貯留を来した報告は少数にみられ 11, 12，食道裂孔ヘルニア内の胃穿孔から縦隔気腫や膿瘍を形成した報告例 13もある。また，慢性膵炎における仮性膵嚢胞で，嚢胞が後腹膜を頭側へ進展することで食道裂孔を貫き，胸腔へ穿破，内瘻を形成したことで膵性胸水貯留を来した症例も報告されている 14。食道裂孔部が弛緩した状態では，食道周囲の結合組織が疎であることによる血腫の下縦隔への進展，そこに接する胸膜穿破が起こりうると考える。本症例は，画像診断では血胸の原因となる病変を肺，胸膜，食道に認めず，単回の胸腔穿刺ドレナージとIVRによる止血術で血胸の再燃を認めなかった。左胃動脈瘤破裂による出血が，腹腔内の圧が上昇したことで，最も抵抗の少ない食道裂孔ヘルニア部から疎な結合組織を通じて縦隔へ進展し，壁側胸膜を穿破して血胸に至ったものと推測した。 右血胸を伴い出血性ショックを呈した左胃動脈瘤破裂の症例を経験した。腹腔内を出血源とする血液が，食道裂孔ヘルニアを介して主に胸腔内へと進展した可能性が考えられた。 共著者全員が利益相反はない。

Methocarbamol versus diazepam in acute low back pain in the emergency department: a randomised double-blind clinical trial

BackgroundAcute low back pain (LBP) is a common complaint in the emergency department and achieving effective analgesia can be challenging.MethodsIn this multicentre randomised double-blind clinical trial conducted at three EDs...

Multidisciplinary Therapeutic Management in Complex Cervical Trauma

Background and Objectives: In the current literature, mandatory surgical exploration is a controversial topic, with some advocating for it and others against it, proposing a selective conservative management. This multidisciplinary therapeutic approach is based on clinical examination and serial paraclinical explorations associated with supportive drug treatment. Materials and Methods: The study group consisted of 103 patients with complex cervical trauma pathology produced by various mechanisms such as car or domestic accidents, aggression, ballistic trauma, self-inflicted attempts, hanging or strangulation hospitalized in the Ear, Nose and Throat (E.N.T.) Clinic, at "St. Spiridon" Iași Hospital, between 2012 and 2016. Results: The universal clinical indication for urgent surgical exploration of the patient with complex cervical trauma is the presence of the following symptoms: unstable vital signs, significant pulsatile bleeding, hematoma with a substantial increase in size, shock, airway obstruction, open airway wound, hematemesis, or hemoptysis. In this context, we considered it worthwhile to research the management of complex cervical trauma in a reference university medical center, alongside the analysis of the patient's characteristics under different aspects (demographic, pathological aspects, therapeutic). Conclusions: Complex cervical trauma has a variety of clinical aspects, with a variable evolution, which involves multidisciplinary therapeutic management. The increasing trauma rate is one of the main public health problems, requiring epidemiological studies, and the implementation of control strategies.

Outcomes in ED patients with non-specific ECG findings and low high-sensitivity troponin.

Although some emergency department risk stratification tools consider non-specific ECG findings as an aid in disposition decisions, their clinical value in patients with an initially low high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hsTnI) is unclear. Our purpose was to determine if non-specific ECG (ns-ECG) findings are associated with 30-day major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in ED patients presenting with suspected acute coronary syndromes (ACS) who have a low initial hsTnI. Using the prospective Siemens Atellica hsTnI Food and Drug Administration submission observational database, we conducted a retrospective cohort study of the association between ns-ECG findings (defined as left bundle branch block [LBBB], ST depression [STD], or T-wave inversions [TWI]) and 30-day MACE (death, myocardial infarction, heart failure hospitalization, or coronary revascularization). Eligible patients presented with suspected ACS to one of 29 US EDs from April 2015 to April 2016, had stable vital signs, a blood sample for hsTnI (Siemen's Atellica, Siemens Healthineers, Inc, Malvern, PA) obtained at 1, 3, and 6hours after ED presentation, and were followed for 30 days. The relationship between 30-day outcome, initial hsTnI, and ns-ECG was evaluated using chi-square testing. Of 2676 enrolled, 1313 patients met the inclusion criteria and are included in the analysis. Median (interquartile range) age was 62 years (54, 72), 54% were male, with 56% white, and 39% African American. Median (interquartile range) times from symptom onset to presentation and presentation to specimen collection were 92 (0, 216) and 146 (117, 177) minutes, respectively. The most common presenting symptoms were chest pain (84%), followed by dyspnea (9%). ECG findings were categorized as T-wave inversion or non-specific T wave changes (42%), ST depression ns-ECG ST changes (16%), or LBBB (2%). Thirty-day MACE occurred in 72 (5.5%) patients, with coronary revascularization (35 patients, 2.7%) and heart failure (25 patients, 1.9%) being the most frequent outcomes. In patients with an initial hsTnI below the limit of quantitation (LOQ) of 2.5ng/L (n=449), there was no association between ns-ECG changes and 30-day MACE (P=0.42). If the hsTnI was ≥LOQ (2.5ng/L), there were increased rates of 30-day MACE and ns-ECG findings (P=0.01). In ED suspected ACS patients without unstable vital signs, and an initial hsTnI less than the LOQ (2.5ng/L), ns-ECG findings are not associated with 30-day major adverse cardiac events. The use of ns-ECG findings in ACS disposition should be considered in the context of hsTnI levels.

Helicopter Versus Ground Transport for Trauma Victims: A Scoping Review

<h3>Objectives</h3> Efforts to identify which patients benefit most from Helicopter Emergency Services (HEMS) activation can help guide clinical decisions around employing this costly and often risky resource. This scoping review seeks to identify trends in survival outcomes data comparing helicopter and ground emergency services (GEMS) transports directly from trauma scenes to definitive care, critically assess the quality of existing data, and generate questions for further directed study. <h3>Methods</h3> Pubmed was the primary database used for this review. Database search was conducted by a matrix approach utilizing MeSH search terms as well as general keyword search criteria. Included studies were published in 2010 or later and directly compared survival in HEMS and GEMS trauma transports from scene. Studies were evaluated by 3 independent reviewers to ensure inclusion criteria were met. <h3>Results</h3> Forty-one retrospective cohort studies were included for review. HEMS and GEMS survival outcomes were compared overall or based on patient physiologic criteria, injury type, injury severity, and patient age. HEMS activation was associated with improved survival overall in both nation-wide and single-institution studies. When comparing HEMS and GEMS survival based on type of injury, results were mixed with the exception of traumatic brain injury which benefited from HEMS activation across several studies. When patient characteristics were compared, those with unstable vital signs at the trauma scene appeared to benefit from HEMS activation. Patient age (pediatrics patients or those >55 years) was not consistently associated with mortality benefit. <h3>Conclusions</h3> After controlling for injury severity and patient characteristics, HEMS is associated with improved survival in patients transported from trauma scenes. Several studies reported that patients with unstable vital signs on scene and those with traumatic brain injuries benefit most from HEMS activation. The quality of the existing evidence is poor, in large part due to methodological limitations and confounding variables that cannot be controlled for on a trauma scene. Further study is needed to elucidate specific factors that lead to the possible survival benefit of HEMS.

Intra-abdominal hemorrhage due to segmental arterial mediolysis of an ovarian artery pseudoaneurysm and concomitant aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: illustrative case.

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is one of the most severe neurosurgical diseases in which systemic management is important from the acute phase to the chronic phase. The authors reported a case of aneurysmal SAH associated with intra-abdominal hemorrhage possibly caused by segmental arterial mediolysis (SAM). A 60-year-old woman collapsed suddenly at home. On arrival at our hospital, she was comatose and her head computed tomography (CT) showed SAH, probably from an anterior cerebral artery aneurysm. Simultaneous body CT to screen for pneumonia associated with COVID-19 incidentally detected an intra-abdominal hematoma and the bleeding point. Emergent ventriculostomy was conducted first. Because abdominal angiography detected a ruptured pseudoaneurysm of an ovarian artery, emergency embolization was subsequently performed for hemostasis. However, she deteriorated again, and her pupils became fully dilated. The patient died on day 3 of hospitalization. Patients with aneurysmal SAH rarely have intra-abdominal hemorrhage in the acute stage and may have a fatal outcome. Intra-abdominal hemorrhage should be suspected in the setting of unstable vital signs, and prompt treatment is necessary.

Analysis of the efficacy and related influencing factors of pelvic packing in the treatment of intractable postpartum hemorrhage after emergency perinatal hysterectomy

Objective: To investigate the effect of pelvic packing on the control of intractable postpartum hemorrhage after emergency perinatal hysterectomy (EPH). Methods: Eleven cases with complete clinical data of pelvic packing due to failure of hemostasis after EPH were collected to evaluate the outcome, complications, hospital stay of pregnant women, and to analyze the factors affecting the effect of pelvic packing. The cases included patients who were admitted to the Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University after pelvic packing treatment in the other hospital due to continuous bleeding after EPH or who were referred to our hospital for pelvic packing treatment due to continuous bleeding after EPH from January 2014 to August 2021. Results: The median gestational week of 11 pregnant women was 38.3 weeks(38.0-39.9 weeks) , and the methods of termination of pregnancy were cesarean section in 7 cases (7/11) and vaginal delivery in 4 cases (4/11). The median time between postpartum hemorrhage and pelvic tamponade was 10 hours (5-57 hours), the median amount of bleeding was 8 500 ml(4 800-15 600 ml) , the median number of pelvic tamponade was 3 pieces (2-7 pieces), and the median retention time of gauze pad was 6.0 days (3.0-6.0 days). The median frequency of laparotomy in this pregnancy was 3 times (2-3 times), with a maximum of 4 among the 11 cases, the first pelvic packing was successful in hemostasis in 9 cases, and the final successful treatment in all of the 11 cases. All parturients had hemorrhagic shock (11/11) and disseminated intravascular coagulation (11/11) before pelvic packing. Other common complications were multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (9/11), cardiac arrest (4/11), deep vein thrombosis (3/11), septic shock (3/11), and intestinal obstruction (1/11). All parturients took out the gauze after the coagulation function returned to normal and there was no active bleeding. The recovery time of coagulation function in 11 cases was 3 days (3-5 days), the retention time of gauze pad was 6 days (3-6 days), the median length of stay in intensive care unit was 14 days (11-26 days), and the median total length of stay was 22 days (16-49 days). Conclusions: Pelvic packing could be used as a temporary strategy for intractable postpartum hemorrhage after EPH, which provides a key time for injury control resuscitation for patients with unstable vital signs. This technology provides an opportunity for referral to superior medical institutions and further treatment.

Risk Factors Leading to Acute Decompensation of Chronic Heart Failure in Patients Presenting to a Tertiary Care Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan

Objectives: To determine the risk factors leading to acute decompensation of chronic heart failure in patients presenting to a tertiary care hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan Methodology: Study was conducted at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Cardiology department, Islamabad, Pakistan, 164 chronic heart failure patients aged ≥18 years; diagnosed with CHF from both genders were included. Patients with sudden onset of disease and unstable vital signs, impaired mobility; diagnosis with major depression or those having cognitive functioning disorder were excluded from study.Medical records were analyzed for the patient’s chronic heart failure risk factor profile i.e., history of diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemiaand smoking. Details of the coronary angiogram, laboratory investigations, and metabolic and cardiac biomarker were noted. Data was entered and analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 2.0. P&lt; 0.05 will be considered as significant. Results: In study analysis it was found that out of total 164 participants, study included 78 males (47.6%) and 86 females (52.4%). out of which 157 (95.7%) were having history of hypertension and 85 (51.8%) were found to be having history of diabetes. Participant included in study who used to smoke were 92 (56.1%), patients having dyslipidemia were found to be 85 (51.8%) and 85 (51.8%) were obese. Out of all patients 157 (95.7%) were found to be having a sedentary life, while 19 (8.5%) participants have developed new ischemia. Out of all participants 93 (56.71%) were found to be having ECG changes and 72 (43.9%) were found to have cardiac enzyme changes. Mean age of participant was found to be 59.51±45.54. Mean HB level was found to be 12.8±1.8 and mean respiratory rate was found to be 19.12 ±3.4. Mean pulse was found to be 94.7±3.4. Mean BP was found to be 118.22±10.7.

Features and Outcomes of Confirmed COVID-19 Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department

ObjectiveThis study is aimed to determine whether there is a correlation between demographic characteristics, symptoms, initial vital signs, laboratory findings, and clinical outcome(s) of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).MethodsThis descriptive, single-center study retrospectively reviewed data from the medical records of patients confirmed with COVID-19 in a tertiary academic center in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, between March and June 2020.ResultsThe present study enrolled 1039 patients (mean age ± SD, 45.16 ± 19.33 years) suffering from COVID-19, of whom 60.9% were not known to have any medical illnesses. The most common comorbidity was cardiovascular disease (27.8%). Patients with advanced age (p < 0.001), cardiovascular disease (p < 0.001), diabetes mellitus (p = 0.003), asthma (p = 0.008), renal disease (p = 0.020), fever (p = 0.002), dyspnea (p < 0.001), tachypnea (p < 0.001), low albumin (p < 0.001), low alkaline phosphatase levels (p = 0.008), high C-reactive protein (p = 0.003), high fibrinogen (p = 0.047), and high lactate levels (p = 0.015) were more likely to be admitted.ConclusionsPatients with increased age, multiple comorbidities, and unstable initial vital signs at emergency department presentation experienced a more severe course of COVID-19 and required admission.

Improving Access and Decreasing Healthcare Utilization for Patients With Acute Spine Pain: Five-Year Results of a Direct Access Clinic.

Spine pain is one of the largest and costliest burdens to our healthcare systems. While evidence-based guidelines for spine pain have been established, and continue to evolve, the actual management of this condition continues to burden the healthcare system. This has led to increased costs due to inefficient entry to healthcare, utilization of treatments unsupported by clinical guidelines, and patient navigation through our healthcare systems. The purpose of this study was to assess the healthcare utilization and related outcomes for Active Duty Service Members (ADSM) receiving healthcare services in a novel acute spine pain clinic (ASPC) during the first 5 years of operation at a large Military Treatment Facility. In 2014 the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy (PT) services designed a novel acute spine clinic intended to directly receive ADSM with acute spine symptoms for an initial evaluation by a Physical Therapist. The inclusion criteria into the ASPC were: ADSM, pain less than or equal to 7 days, no more than three prior episodes of acute spine pain in the past 3 years, and not currently receiving care from Chiropractic, Pain Management, or PT services. The exclusion criteria were: significant and/or progressive neurological deficits, bowel or bladder dysfunction, unstable vital signs or fever, hematuria or extensive trauma. A total of 1,215 patients presented to the ASPC for evaluation between 2014 and 2019. The most common chief complaint was acute pain in the lumbar spine (73%), followed by cervical spine pain (15%), and thoracic spine pain (12%) represented the fewest. The average number of PT visits per patient was 3.5 (range 1-13) with 61.1% utilizing three or fewer visits. Over 95% of cases returned to work the same day as their initial evaluation. Sixty-six percent returned to work without restriction the same day as their initial evaluation. Light duty recommendations were provided to 412 (33.9%) patients ranging from one to 30 days, with greater than 85% of the light duty being less than 14 days. Recommendations to not return to work (sick-in-quarters) were issued to 56 (4.6%) patients. The sick-in-quarters recommendations were for a 24-hour period in 48 cases, 48 hours for seven cases, and 72 hours for one case. All encounters in which the patient first sought care at the ASPC for low back pain met the Healthcare Effectiveness Data Set standard for low back pain care of having no imaging within 28 days of the first encounter for nonspecific low back pain. A medical record review of 100 randomly selected patients within 12 months of the initial evaluation demonstrated decreased utilization of medication, imaging, and referral to surgical services. This innovative approach demonstrates the potential benefits of rapid access to treatment and education for patients with acute spine pain by a Physical Therapist. Modeling this approach at Military Treatment Facilities may lead to decreased utilization of medications, radiology services, specialty care referrals, and reduced cost of care provided to individuals with acute spine pain.

Psychological impact of COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in an urban setting, Bangladesh

AimThe deleterious impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health has been reported by earlier studies globally. However, such studies are limited in Bangladesh; therefore, we performed a cross-sectional study to explore the psychological effects of COVID-19 among hospitalized patients. MethodologyThe cross-sectional study was performed from 1st June to 31st October, 2020, and included a total of 503 real time RT-PCR confirmed stable hospitalized adult (aged ≥18 years) COVID-19 patients using the convenience sampling approach. However, patients with prior mental illness, unstable vital signs, severely ill, oxygen saturation <92%, impaired consciousness were excluded from the study. We collected data by using a semi-structured questionnaire including Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI-7), and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). Descriptive analysis and multivariable logistic regression were carried out to determine the mental health outcomes. ResultsThe study found that about 42.5 %, 30.7%, 46.7%, and 28.5% of patients suffered from moderate to severe depression, anxiety, stress, and insomnia. The physical symptoms, fever, fatigue, loss of taste or smell, blurred vision, chest pain, and diarrhoea were significantly associated with augmented mental distress among the hospitalized patients. Furthermore, depression, anxiety, stress and insomnia were strongly linked with patients’ education, occupation, infected family members, exposure to COVID-19 patients, smoking, comorbidities, infection among the neighbors or acquaintances, and preexisting stress. ConclusionThe negative psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic comprising depression, anxiety, insomnia and stress worsened the physical condition of hospitalized COVID-19 patients. These patients' poor mental health status needed to be addressed by devising an integrated approach towards improving patients' wellbeing at the post-COVID period.

Prehospital Translation of Chest Pain Tools (RESCUE Study): Completion Rate and Inter-rater Reliability.

IntroductionChest pain is a common reason for ambulance transport. Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and pulmonary embolism (PE) risk assessments, such as history, electrocardiogram, age, risk factors (HEAR); Emergency Department Assessment of Chest Pain Score (EDACS); Pulmonary Embolism Rule-out Criteria (PERC); and revised Geneva score, are well validated for emergency department (ED) use but have not been translated to the prehospital setting. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the 1) prehospital completion rate and 2) inter-rater reliability of chest pain risk assessments.MethodsWe conducted a prospective observational cohort study in two emergency medical services (EMS) agencies (April 18, 2018 – January 2, 2019). Adults with acute, non-traumatic chest pain without ST-elevation myocardial infarction or unstable vital signs were accrued. Paramedics were trained to use the HEAR, EDACS, PERC, and revised Geneva score assessments. A subset of patients (a priori goal of N = 250) also had the four risk assessments completed by their treating clinicians in the ED, who were blinded to the EMS risk assessments. Outcomes were 1) risk assessments completion rate and 2) inter-rater reliability between EMS and ED assessments. An a priori goal for completion rate was set as >75%. We computed kappa with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) for each risk assessment as a measure of inter-rater reliability. Acceptable agreement was defined a priori as kappa ≥ 0.60.ResultsDuring the study period, 837 patients with acute chest pain were accrued. The median age was 54 years, interquartile range 43–66, with 53% female and 51% Black. Completion rates for each risk assessment were above goal: the HEAR score was completed on 95.1% (796/837), EDACS on 92.0% (770/837), PERC on 89.4% (748/837), and revised Geneva score on 90.7% (759/837) of patients. We assessed agreement in a subgroup of 260 patients. The HEAR score had a kappa of 0.51 (95% CI, 0.41–0.61); EDACS was 0.60 (95% CI, 0.49–0.72); PERC was 0.71 (95% CI, 0.61–0.81); and revised Geneva score was 0.51 (95% CI, 0.39–0.62).ConclusionThe completion rate of risk assessments for ACS and PE was high for prehospital field personnel. The PERC and EDACS both demonstrated acceptable agreement between paramedics and clinicians in the ED, although assessments with better agreement are likely needed.

Lumbar Puncture in the prone position for Low Birth Weight Neonates

BackgroundLumbar puncture in the lateral decubitus position will make the neonates uncomfortable and is likely to cause position change and unstable vital signs, and the application of sedative drugs will cause adverse effects. This study explored a novel method for lumbar puncture in the prone position for low weight neonates.MethodsThe neonates were randomly assigned into the standard position group receiving lumbar puncture in the lateral decubitus position; and the improved position group receiving lumbar puncture in the prone position. The success rate of first time attempts and the overall success rate of lumbar puncture, incidence of adverse effects, NIAPAS scores were collected and compared between these two groups. The difference in success rate and adverse effects incidence rate was analysed through Chi-square. Student’s t-test was used for the test of NIAPAS rating.ResultsThe improved position group had a higher success rate of first attempt and overall success rate, significantly lower incidence of adverse effect and lower NIAPAS scores than those of the standard position group (P<0.05).ConclusionThis lumbar puncture in the prone position is safer, more effective, and more comfortable for preterm neonates and those with low birth weight. Thus, this method is worth of further promotion.Trial registrationRegistration number, ChiCTR2100049923; Date of Registration, August 11, 2021; Retrospectively registered.

Central Nervous System Tumors in Children.

Central Nervous System Tumors in Children.

Real-World Long-Term Clinical Outcomes of Ultrathin Strut Biodegradable Polymer Drug-Eluting Stents in Korean ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) Patients with or without Acute Heart Failure Undergoing Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Biodegradable polymers (BDPs) and ultrathin struts were recently introduced to drug-eluting stents (DES) to further improve outcomes. In this study, we analyzed and compared the effect of the ultrathin strut BDP-DES (UBDP-DES) with the conventional durable polymer-DES (DP-DES) in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). A total of 356 STEMI patients (n = 160 in the UBDP-DES group and n = 196 in the DP-DES group) were enrolled. The primary endpoint was target lesion failure (TLF), including cardiac death, target vessel myocardial infarction, and ischemic-driven, target lesion revascularization (ID-TLR). The mean age was 60.3 ± 12.7 years (male 81.7%), and the median follow-up duration was 63.8 months. TLF was numerically more frequent in the UBDP-DES group (8.1% vs. 4.1%; HR 2.14; 95% CI 0.89–5.18; p = 0.091). Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to balance discrepancies in the baseline characteristics due to patients in the UBDP-DES group initially having more unstable vital signs. However, after PSM (n = 116 in each group), there was no significant difference in TLF (5.3% vs. 5.3%; HR 1.04, 95% CI 0.34-3.22; p = 0.947) or other secondary endpoints including ID-TLR. In the subgroup analysis, subjects with initial acute heart failure (AHF), defined as Killip class ≥ 3, were associated with 13.6% chance of 30-day mortality (9-fold of those without AHF), although chances of repeat revascularization were low (3.0%). Among patients with AHF, the UBDP-DES group was associated with a numerically higher chance of TLF compared with the DP-DES group. There was no difference in TLF between groups in patients without AHF. This study showed that UBDP-DES has long-term clinical outcomes similar to those of conventional DP-DES in real-world Korean STEMI patients receiving PPCI, especially in those without initial AHF.

Prognostic utility of CURB-65 and E-CURB-65 scoring systems in healthcare associated pneumonia patients: Short- and long-term mortality.

The aim of our study is to evaluate whether the CURB-65 or expanded-CURB-65 score can be used in healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP) and subgroups of HCAP patients at the same efficiency. Thirty and 90-day mortality rates of the patients and predictive values of CURB-65 and E-CURB-65 scores were compared. This is a retrospective study of patients who presented to the Emergency Department between January 2015 and January 2016. All patient charts above 18 years of age were evaluated according to American Thoracic Society and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (ATS/IDSA) pneumonia diagnostic criteria and pneumonia diagnoses were confirmed. 167 pneumonia patients (27.8%) of all pneumonia cases were grouped as HCAP and 433 (54.4%) were grouped as community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). 43% (n = 72) of HCAP patients were classified as nursing home-associated pneumonia (NHAP) and 57% (n = 95) were classified as HCAP (except NHAP) group. NHAP patients were older than the other groups. HCAP (except NHAP) group had somehow more comorbid diseases when compared with the other groups. However, the NHAP group had more unstable vital signs and confusion rates. Hospital and ICU admissions, 30-90-day mortality rates were all significantly higher in NHAP group E-CURB-65 was found to have better predictive values than CURB-65 for 30-day and 90-day mortalities overall. According to our results, commonly used scoring systems, CURB 65 and E-CURB 65, are not suitable for HCAP, NHAP, and HCAP (except NHAP) patients. NHAP patients have significant worse prognosis compared with CAP and HCAP (except NHAP) in terms of admission to intensive care and 30 and 90-day mortality rates.