Emergency Medicine International最新文献

Background: Although lactated Ringer's (LR) solution is widely used in managing patients with acute kidney injury (AKI), its specific impact on mortality remains unclear. This retrospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the effects of LR administration on survival outcomes in severely ill patients with AKI. Methods: Critically ill patients with AKI were identified using data from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care-IV (MIMIC-IV) database. Propensity score matching (PSM) was employed to address baseline discrepancies between patients who received LR and those who did not. The association of LR administration with survival, duration of hospitalization and intensive care unit (ICU) stay, requirement for renal replacement therapy (RRT), renal function recovery, and hyperkalemia was analyzed using restricted mean survival time (RMST), logistic regression, and linear regression models. Results: A total of 5620 patients with AKI were included. Following PSM, LR administration was associated with prolonged survival at 28 and 90 days compared to non-LR use (28-day survival increase: 1.12 days, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.62-1.63, p < 0.001; 90-day survival increase: 3.73 days, 95% CI 1.70-5.76, p < 0.001). The survival benefit became more pronounced, with higher LR use linked to more remarkable 90-day survival. However, LR administration did not significantly affect renal function recovery or hyperkalemia incidence. Conclusion: Administering LR to critically ill patients with AKI was associated with improved survival at both 28 and 90 days.

Introduction: Acute aortic dissection (AAD) is a severe condition requiring immediate diagnosis and treatment to reduce high mortality rates. This study investigates laboratory markers that may support the diagnostic process and predict surgical outcomes and mortality in AAD patients. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study analyzed data from 85 patients diagnosed with AAD in an emergency setting. Patients over 18 years of age with a diagnosis of acute dissection were included. Key laboratory and clinical parameters were examined to determine their association with mortality and the likelihood of surgical intervention. Results: The study found that younger patients were more likely to undergo surgery, while parameters such as white blood cells (WBCs), neutrophil, and lymphocyte counts were elevated in those undergoing surgery. Mortality predictors included elevated mean platelet volume (MPV), low pH, bicarbonate (HCO₃), and base deficit levels. Each unit increase in MPV was associated with a threefold increase in mortality risk, and DeBakey Type 1 patients exhibited the highest MPV levels. Discussion: WBC and MPV values were linked with surgical and mortality outcomes, respectively. Blood gas analysis parameters, particularly HCO₃ and base deficit levels, were significant mortality predictors, underscoring the importance of metabolic markers in AAD assessment. The findings suggest that incorporating these laboratory parameters into diagnostic and treatment decisions could improve AAD management.

Background: Early identification of septic patients in the ED is important, but high patient volumes and lengthy wait times often delay workups, and typically used noninvasive triage screening tools such as vital signs and qSOFA have poor sensitivity. Nitric oxide (NO) is a molecule in the blood that has been found to be upregulated in sepsis. Since it has a very short half-life in blood, its measurement can be challenging. We aimed to determine if exhaled NO could be used to help predict bacterial infection and sepsis. Methods: Emergency department patients with concern for infection were assessed for enrollment. Patients were included if blood cultures were ordered by the ED provider. The exhaled breath NO levels of enrolled subjects were measured. A score (vital signs and nitric oxide [VSNO]) was then created that included triage vital signs and NO level. Results: 104 patients (41 female) were enrolled. The median exhaled NO level was 9.8 parts per billion (ppb) (IQR: 5.6-17.0). Sixty-two (60%) patients were diagnosed with bacterial infection, and of those, 54 (52%) patients were diagnosed with sepsis. Using cut points of < 7 or > 12 ppb, the VSNO score demonstrated a sensitivity of 0.89 (95% CI: 0.77-0.96) and a specificity of 0.48 (95% CI: 0.34-0.63) for predicting sepsis. The score showed a sensitivity of 0.82 (95% CI: 0.70-0.91) and a specificity of 0.45 (95% CI: 0.30-0.64) for predicting bacterial infection. Conclusions: Exhaled NO measurement combined with vital signs has a high sensitivity for the detection of bacterial infection and sepsis. In a clinical setting, this score would be immediately available at the point of patient triage and would help to direct downstream evaluation and care. Further research is warranted.

Manual ventilation is an essential skill for healthcare professionals, especially in emergency and resuscitation situations where mechanical ventilation may not be immediately available. However, improper manual ventilation can lead to serious complications such as barotrauma (lung injury caused by excessive pressure), hypoventilation (leading to insufficient oxygenation), hyperventilation (which can cause respiratory alkalosis and reduced cerebral blood flow), and gastric insufflation (which increases the risk of aspiration). This review aimed to analyze the definitions and methods used to assess manual ventilation efficiency in recent studies. A systematic database search was conducted for the period between 2014 and 2023. The primary inclusion criterion was the assessment of manual ventilation quality in adults. Out of 47 identified studies, eight met the inclusion criteria in the review. Most of the reviewed studies focused on key ventilation parameters including tidal volume and ventilation rate, which are critical for ensuring adequate ventilation. However, we found considerable variability in how "effective ventilation" was defined. This review highlights the approach that considers both extrinsic and intrinsic factors as a potentially more comprehensive method for assessing manual ventilation quality. This approach may offer a more consistent and effective framework for ensuring safe and efficient manual ventilation practices.

Background: Trauma is a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally, with road traffic accidents projected to be the leading cause of death by 2030. In developing countries like Pakistan, trauma patients face significant challenges in receiving timely and effective care. This study aimed to evaluate trauma centers in tertiary care hospitals in the twin cities of Pakistan to highlight gaps and pitfalls in trauma patient management. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using the World Health Organization's Hospital Emergency Unit Assessment Tool (HEAT) at five major public sector hospitals in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Data collection involved collaboration between the Violence, Injury Prevention and Disability Unit and key informants, including Emergency Room in-charges and Heads of Departments. Information on trauma protocols and guidelines was gathered. Results: All hospitals provided 24/7 emergency services with access to operating rooms and laboratories. However, significant disparities were found in equipment availability, particularly portable X-rays (40% availability) and RDT/HIV testing (20% availability). Protocol adherence varied, with 80% of hospitals having clinical management protocols but only 20% having specific protocols for conditions like asthma exacerbation and maternal hemorrhage. This study identifies infrastructural deficiencies and highlights systemic barriers that contribute to inadequate trauma care delivery, underscoring the need for targeted reforms. Conclusion: The study highlights significant gaps in trauma care management in Pakistani tertiary care hospitals, including shortages of personnel, infrastructure deficiencies, and lack of standardized protocols. These findings underscore the urgent need for systemic improvements in trauma care delivery. Recommendations include increased investment in medical infrastructure, addressing staffing and training deficiencies, and standardizing clinical management protocols to enhance trauma care outcomes and reduce morbidity and mortality rates in Pakistan. This research contributes novel insights into the specific barriers faced by trauma care systems in Pakistan, which have not been previously addressed in existing literature.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the protective effects of sivelestat sodium on the basis of corticosteroid therapy in patients with moderate-to-severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Methods: We retrospectively investigated 127 patients with confirmed moderate-to-severe ARDS treated in the intensive care unit (ICU) at Dazhou Central Hospital. Patients were divided into the control group (corticosteroids alone) and the combination therapy of steroids and sivelestat sodium (CTSSS) group according to the therapeutic interventions. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. And the baseline characteristics and laboratory findings of patients were collected for analysis. Results: The overall mortality rate in 127 patients was 48.8%. There was no statistically significant difference in in-hospital mortality between the CTSSS group and the control group (45.3% vs. 56.1%). In the subgroup of patients aged < 80 years or with an Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score < 30, CTSSS could reduce the risk of mortality (odds ratio [OR] = 0.41, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.17-0.96, p=0.041; OR = 0.31, 95% CI, 0.13-0.77, p=0.012; respectively). Among patients aged 80 years or older, those with CTSSS exhibited a significantly elevated risk of mortality (OR = 13; 95% CI, 1.20-140.73; p=0.035). Conclusion: Compared with corticosteroids alone, CTSSS could improve oxygenation index, increase lymphocyte count, protect extrapulmonary organs and reduce in-hospital mortality rate in patients with moderate-to-severe ARDS in specific subgroups (age < 80 years or APACHE II score < 30). It might be advisable to avoid CTSSS in moderate-to-severe ARDS patients aged 80 years or older. Prospective studies involving larger sample sizes are needed to verify these findings.

Aim: To evaluate the value of the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, a Sepsis-3 criterion, for identification and prognosis prediction among adult patients with sepsis in the emergency department (ED) compared with the Sepsis-2. Methods: Adult patients with suspected sepsis presenting to the ED were retrospectively identified via Sepsis-2/Sepsis-3 criteria. The vital signs, laboratory test results, etc., were collected, and the SOFA/quick SOFA (qSOFA) scores and National Early Warning Score (NEWS) were calculated accordingly. ROC curves were generated to evaluate mortality prediction accuracy. Results: Among the 481 patients included, 288/339 met the Sepsis-2/Sepsis-3 criteria, respectively, with moderate between-protocol consistency (Kappa = 0.507, p < 0.001; concordance = 77.3%); 115 patients (23.9%) died in hospital or within 28 days. SOFA/qSOFA scores and NEWS were significantly greater in the sepsis and death groups (p < 0.001), but there was no between-group difference for Sepsis-2/Sepsis-3. The temperature (T) and respiratory rate (RR) increased in the death group, whereas the systolic blood pressure (SBP) decreased. The usefulness of the SOFA score (AUC = 0.644) for predicting mortality was lower than that of qSOFA score (AUC = 0.716) and NEWS (AUC = 0.718), which could be improved (AUC = 0.701-0.721) by combining with two/three of variables (T, RR, and SBP). Conclusion: Compared with Sepsis-2, Sepsis-3 identified more patients with sepsis and was suitable for ED use. The SOFA score had lower mortality prediction accuracy than the qSOFA score and NEWS, which could be significantly improved by combining with two/three variables (T, RR, and SBP).

Objective: Lung recruitment maneuvers (RMs) is an important treatment for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients; however, assessing lung recruitability is imperative to avoid biotrauma and hemodynamic instability. This study aims to investigate whether the cytokine levels in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of ARDS patients can serve as an indicator of their lung recruitability. Methods: This study included ARDS patients who received mechanical ventilation for over 24 h. Patients were categorized into lung recruitment maneuver effective (RM-E) group and lung recruitment maneuver noneffective (RM-N) group. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in BALF, lung ultrasound (LUS) scores, and the oxygenation index (P/F) were measured. The differences in cytokine levels between the two groups were compared, and correlations between changes in cytokine levels (ΔIL-6, ΔIL-8, and ΔIL-10), ΔLUS, and ΔP/F were analyzed. Results: Sixty-two patients were included in this study (38 in the RM-E group and 24 in the RM-N group). After the RM, compared with the RM-N group, an increase was observed in ΔIL-6 (p=0.013), ΔIL-8 (p=0.045), ΔIL-10 (p=0.039), and ΔLUS (p=0.045) in the RM-E group. A positive linear correlation was found between ΔIL-6 and ΔLUS (r = 0.504, p < 0.001). The area under the lung recruitment potential curve (AUC) predicted by ΔIL-6 was 0.794, the sensitivity was 94.7%, and the specificity was 70.8%. A positive linear correlation was found between ΔIL-6 and ΔLUS (r = 0.504, p < 0.001). The lung recruitment potential curve's AUC predicted by ΔIL-6 was 0.794, with a sensitivity of 94.7% and specificity of 70.8%. Conclusion: Lower levels of cytokines in BALF were observed in the RM-E group. It is possible that the cytokines in BALF, especially IL-6, could be used to determine the need for RM on the basis of lung recruitability.

Introduction: Pulmonary embolism (PE) poses substantial morbidity and mortality risks, necessitating timely and accurate management in emergency departments (EDs). Objectives: This study explores the trends in PE presentations to US EDs from 2006 to 2018 and assesses the impact of different factors on management and cost. Methodology: This is a retrospective descriptive study conducted using the US Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) PE ED visits database. Data on ED visits, dispositions, and related costs were collected and analyzed. Results: From 2006 to 2018 there were more than 2 million PE ED visits in the US. There was an increase in visits per 100,000 persons from 42.17 in 2006-2008 to 64.27 in 2016-2018 (p value < 0.001). The proportion of uninsured patients declined from 5.07% to 4.70%, and the percentage of Medicaid-insured patients increased. There was a decrease in the admission rates from 92.47% to 75.97% in 2016-2018 (p value < 0.001). The mean cost per admitted patient increased from $32,794 to $47,344 in 2016-2018 (p value < 0.001). Conclusion: From 2006 to 2018, PE ED visits in the US increased with a noticeable decrease in admission rates and length of stay, likely secondary to advancement in diagnostic and therapeutic modalities like computed tomography pulmonary angiography and novel oral anticoagulants. However, the observed rising healthcare costs pose challenges to sustainable management. Further research studies are needed to address cost-effective strategies.

Background: Ischemic stroke is one of the major emergency diseases leading to death and disability worldwide, characterized by its acute onset and the urgent need for prompt medical intervention to reduce mortality and long-term disability. Chronic terminal internal carotid artery and/or middle cerebral artery occlusion (CTI/MCAO) is an important subtype of intracranial artery occlusive disease. The superficial temporal artery-to-MCA (STA-MCA) bypass has been proposed to improve cerebral blood flow (CBF) and cerebrovascular reserve (CVR), potentially enhancing neurological outcomes. However, its safety and efficacy in CTI/MCAO patients remain controversial. Methods: A total of 107 CTI/MCAO patients from Nanjing Brain Hospital, enrolled between July 2019 and June 2022, were divided into surgical and medical treatment groups. Cerebral perfusion and collateral formation were evaluated using pseudocontinuous arterial spin labeling (pCASL) and digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Modified Rankin scale (mRS) score and complication rates were compared between the two groups. In addition, correlations between Matsushima grades, early-arriving flow proportion (EFP), and lesion-side cerebrovascular (LCBV) scores were analyzed. Results: The surgical group showed significantly lower mRS scores than the medical group (p=0.018), with no significant differences in complication rates at the 6-month follow-up (p=0.861). CBF differed significantly among affected MCA segments (p < 0.001), particularly in the insular and opercular regions (M2-M3) (p=0.006). Matsushima grades in unilateral CTI/MCAO patients were negatively correlated with preoperative LCBV scores (γ _s = -0.468, p=0.005) and EFP (γ _s = -0.648, p=0.007). EFP demonstrated high accuracy in predicting LCBV scores in CTI/MCAO patients (AUC = 0.902, p=0.004). Conclusion: STA-MCA bypass surgery improved neurological outcomes in CTI/MCAO patients, particularly those with poor preoperative collateral compensation. EFP may serve as a reliable, noninvasive tool for assessing collateral circulation status in this population.